Just updating regarding DistroKid.
Avoid them.
They are great until they decide to cut you off.
In our case, with a 10 artist Label Account, they sent us an email telling us to find another distributor.
Hi,
We've been notified that this release has been rejected due to editorial discretion.
There are a few reasons why this may have happened. Some possible reasons are:
- "Businesses" such as beat libraries, sample packs, karaoke collections and sound effects
- Similar content already in stores (ex: "rain sounds" and that sort of thing)
- Poor quality sound recording
- Poor quality artwork
- Too many similar releases from same artist (flooding)
Sorry about this.
While the vast majority of releases are approved for distribution, stores do occasionally curate content. This is to ensure that end-users have a high-quality experience. This doesn't mean your music is bad. It just means that stores don't need this release at the moment.
This happens from time to time for some arbitrary reason only known to DistroKid.
They will tell you that a store has rejected a release due to "editorial discretion", however the reality is that DistroKid act as gatekeepers and when they send these notices they haven't even submitted the release to a store.
In our case, we have a backup distributor and got the release onto stores, however those solely relying on DistroKid may find themselves in a pickle.
However further releases have also been blocked and now we have been told by DistroKid to find another distributor.
Hi,
We've been notified that one or more of your releases has been rejected due to editorial discretion.
There are a few reasons why this may have happened. Some possible reasons are: Too many similar releases from same artist (flooding) Poor quality sound recording Poor quality artwork Similar content already in stores (ex: "rain sounds" and that sort of thing)
Sorry about this.
While the vast majority of releases are approved for distribution, stores do occasionally curate content. This is to ensure that end-users have a high-quality experience. This doesn't mean your music is bad. It just means that stores don't need this release at the moment.
Stores are no longer accepting releases from you via DistroKid. Please try another distributor.
There's no real reason given, but to have a 10 artist label account cut loose is pretty bad.
In our case we're just going to methodically move our releases to another distributor.
We have already now released the albums that DistroKid rejected via our backup distributor without issues.
I had read a lot of reviews about DistroKid and decided anyone playing by the rules wouldn't be affected by such arbitrary decision making, I was obviously wrong. Anyone at any time with a DistroKid account and distribution may find themselves in the unenviable position of being cut loose.
There are various threads on Reddit and other places regarding this behaviour on the part of DistroKid, I wish now that I had given them more credit.