Career

Rising Above: Strategies for EDM Artists to Break Through in a Crowded Market.

Blogs:
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Monetization
Trends
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Blogs

All
Monetization
Trends
Career
Marketing
Production
Streaming

Music Contracts 101: How to Choose, Read, and Negotiate the Right Agreement

A practical guide for independent artists to understand common deals, key clauses, and negotiation priorities

Feb 2, 2026

Work on Your Artistic Identity Before Releasing Music: A Practical Guide for Independent Artists

How to define your sound, visuals, and strategy so your first releases reach the right listeners

Feb 1, 2026

Your Music

in over 200 stores worldwide.

7 Digital Electric JukeBox / ROXi Exlibris Fan Label Others...	Boomplay	Joox	Netease	Tencent QQMusic KuGou Kuwo Others...
ACRCloud	Claro Música	Junodownload	Pandora Sirius XM	TIDAL
Amazon Music Amazon Music Amazon Music Unlimited	Deezer	Kanjian Acer (Audio) Artistxite (Audio) Audiojungle (Audio) Others...	Peloton Audacy	TikTok Capcut
Anghami	Flo	KDigital Media Samsung Music Hyundaicard music Melon Kt (olleh+genie) Others...	Qobuz	Traxsource
Audible Magic Fingerprinting Audible Magic Database	Gracenote	KKBOX The HMV Music Service (Japan) UTAPASS Service J:Com Service Others...	Napster	Trebel
Audible Magic JPay ViaPath (formerly GTL) Keefe Group Others...	iHeart	KUAISHOU	Soundcloud Soundcloud pro	TunedGlobal Rythm.fm
Audiomack	iMusica	LICKD	Soundexchange	Volumo
AWA	iTunes/Apple Music iTunes Apple Music Shazam	LyricFind	Spotify	Youtube Content ID
Beatport	Jaxsta	Meta Facebook Instagram Messenger Others...	Supernatural	Youtube Music Shorts Creator music
BMAT	JioSaavn	MixCloud	Taobao (Alibaba)

EDM Stores Distribution Application

Customer Name *

Customer Email *

Subject *

Before submitting this application: *

I confirm that my music genre is included in the list of permitted genres and that I have at least 3 existing releases

Releases may already be distributed, uploaded to the platform, or hosted on a streaming service like SoundCloud, Audiomack, etc.

Check the list of permitted genres here.

Label Name *

Label link on Music Cast Distribution Center

Find the information in the Catalog > Labels section: https://web.musicca.st/labels (click on the label and copy-paste the link)

This label already has at least 3 releases approved in the Music Cast Distribution Center?

Yes

Please provide streaming links to at least 3 releases *

Separate each link with a comma or a space

Genre 1 *

Genre 2 *

Transferring From Another Distributor?

Yes

Select YES if you already have a label page created by another distributor

Which Distributor Are You Transferring From? *

Provide the distributor name

Where are you currently? *

Beatport

Traxsource

Provide the URL for your label page on Beatport *

Go to: https://www.beatport.com

Provide the URL for your label page on Traxsource *

Go to: https://www.traxsource.com

Provide the URL for your label page on Junodownload

Go to: https://www.junodownload.com

Website/Social Media *

Please share at least 1 link to any of the label's social media accounts or website

Upload Label Logo *

Logo must be at least 500x500 pixels on a solid black or white background, JPG files only. No transparent images. If the logo does not meet criteria, your application will not be submitted.

Label Biography

This is optional, but we recommend adding a brief description of your label to publish on Beatport and enhance your presence on the platform. Alternatively, you can add this yourself after your label is approved on Beatport by visiting this link: https://research.beatport.com/jfe/form/SV_0kXT12AihgD0MV8

Please select the partners you wish to apply to *

Beatport

Traxsource

Can take up to 2 weeks to review for approvals. Please note, that not all applicants will be approved for these partners.

Do you plan to release compilations? *

Yes

Submit

YouTube Content ID Application

Customer Name *

Customer Email *

Subject *

Before submitting this application: *

I confirm I have read and understood the Help Center about Content ID and fraud prevention

Check the YouTube Content ID & Anti Fraud sections in our Help Center

Label Name *

Label link on Music Cast Distribution Center

Find the information in the Catalog > Labels section: https://web.musicca.st/labels (click on the label and copy-paste the link)

Does this label generate revenues with other DSPs than YouTube? *

Yes

Share Music Cast Sales information or any other proof of revenue on the main DSPs during the last 3 months

Upload the sales report of the last period (minimum of 3 months) *

You can download your report in the Royalties > Reports section: https://web.musicca.st/sales/reports

Brief catalogue description and artists’ roster/list *

~~This information should be available in the~~ ~~Catalog > Labels~~ ~~section:~~ ~~https://web.musicca.st/labels~~

Share a description. Any information that can support and explain the plan and strategy of a label will be useful. Please stipulate artists who are part of the label's roster. Take into account that the Content ID eligibility criteria is based on this

Official video content available on YouTube

Artists represented by the label should already have their own content available on YouTube (videoclips, live performances, etc).

Please share the links of official channels and videos

Links to 3 approved releases in the Music Cast Distribution Center *

The label should already have distributed the content to other DSPs through Music Cast

If the label haven't distributed through your platform yet, you can also share the links to any releases previously distributed to DSPs

Label representative ID document *

The ID verification can help to ease and speed up the process of the label approval. Your ID card, Passport, or Driver's License

Social Media Presence *

The label and its artists should have social media presence with healthy organic behavior.

Please share Label and Artists Social Media Links

Label official website

Is this content going to be promoted online? *

Please make sure you or your marketing partner only uses legit advertising such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc. Any unofficial promotional or pitching services are usually working with bot-generated streams, fake views, fake followers, etc. which are againsts DSP's terms of service and can get your content permanently banned.

Please share any relevant information (name of PR or marketing company, type of promotional methods, etc.)

Submit

Digital Advertising Campaign

Full execution of release or brand campaigns
Audio, video and visual advertisements available, in-house design team to assist in creation
Flexible Campaigns for YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook, Google, TikTok & SoundCloud
Recommended 3 week lead time before launch & 5 business day lead time for approval of assets
Flexible Campaign Budgets starting at $1,000/30% Campaign Management Fee

Message Subject *

Full Name *

Email Address *

Company Name

Customer Phone

UPC/EAN Code of Release *

Heve you completed the Music Cast Drivers form yet? *

Yes

What is your relationship to the artist releasing music? *

Please specify *

What does your everyday marketing support/implementation team look like? *

I am on my own and will likely need a hand in implementing the strategy

I have a small team but would benefit from some additional digital marketing support

I have a strong label / management team supporting me and will be fine implementing the strategy

I am unsure and would like to consult about this

What is the earliest targeted release date for which you are requesting services? *

Are you interested in any other marketing services to implement in your release?

Marketing Diagnostic / Audience & Brand Analysis (one-time fee & deliverable)

Other

Please specify *

Submit

VIDEO DISTRIBUTION

VEVO
iTunes (Coming soon)

Customer Name *

Customer Email *

Subject *

Do you need a VEVO channel? *

Yes

-No

Take into account that the creation of a new channel will add $40 to the final price

-Your VEVO channel name *

Please let us know the name of your VEVO channel (ArtistnameVEVO), for example, Mr DeaoVEVO

Next, we'll need the data to manage the VEVO channel creation and video delivery *

Continue

Before you continue, make sure you have:

Video Metadata

Image of the Artist

Thumbnail of the video

Imagen of the Banner on YouTube

Video file/s (Through WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox or similar)

-Next, we'll need the data to manage the video delivery *

Continue

Before you continue, make sure you have:

Thumbnail of the video, Metadata of the release and

Video file/s (Through WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox or similar)

Artist name *

This will be used for the creation of your Vevo channel. For example, if your artist name is DJ Noel, then your VEVO channel will be DJ NoelVEVO.

Artist label *

Upload the image of the artist *

Upload the image of the Banner on YouTube *

-Artist name *

-Artist label *

Video Title *

-Video Title *

Upload thumbnail of the Video *

-Upload thumbnail of the Video *

Video Language *

-Video Language *

Musical Genre *

-Musical Genre *

Other featured artist/s

List them comma separated. Example: artist 1, artist 2, artist 3...

-Other featured artist/s

List them comma separated. Example: artist 1, artist 2, artist 3...

Description for Youtube

A brief description of the video

-Description for Youtube

A brief description of the video

Key words for Youtube

List them comma separated. Example: word 1, word 2, word 3...

-Key words for Youtube

List them comma separated. Example: word 1, word 2, word 3...

Video credits

List them comma separated. Example: director: name 1, producer: name 2,...

-Video credits

List them comma separated. Example: director: name 1, producer: name 2,...

-Copyright *

-Copyright year *

Release Date & Time *

The time at which the video will be released

-Release Date & Time *

The time at which the video will be released

Finally, upload the Video file *

I have read the technical requirements and my video is in accordance with them

Title of the file: has to be the same title as the video

Type of compression: H.264

Format of the file: .mov | .mp4

Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 o 1280 x 720

Frame rate: 29.97fps or superior

Bits frequency: 24mb/s minimum 50mb/s maximum

Speed adjustment: Two-step coding preferred

Audio format:

Format AAC

Channels: Stereo (L-R)

-Finally, upload the Video file *

I have read the technical requirements and my video is in accordance with them

Title of the file: has to be the same title as the video

Type of compression: H.264

Format of the file: .mov | .mp4

Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 o 1280 x 720

Frame rate: 29.97fps or superior

Bits frequency: 24mb/s minimum 50mb/s maximum

Speed adjustment: Two-step coding preferred

Audio format:

Format AAC

Channels: Stereo (L-R)

Video URL *

You can use WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox or similar

-Video URL *

You can use WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox or similar

Do you need to set up the Premiere function for this video? *

Yes

Adding a video to Premiere on VEVO means scheduling the release of a music video on the VEVO platform using the Premiere feature.

This allows for building anticipation and excitement among fans before the official release of the video.

-Do you need to set up the Premiere function for this video? *

Yes

Adding a video to Premiere on VEVO means scheduling the release of a music video on the VEVO platform using the Premiere feature.

This allows for building anticipation and excitement among fans before the official release of the video.

Specify the date and time you want to set up the Premiere for this video *

The label and its artists should have social media presence with healthy organic behavior.

Please share Label and Artists Social Media Links

-Specify the date and time you want to set up the Premiere for this video *

The label and its artists should have social media presence with healthy organic behavior.

Please share Label and Artists Social Media Links

Submit

Coming soon

Marketing Drivers

Expand your Reach!

Our Marketing Drivers help artists get their tracks discovered on DSPs like Apple, Spotify, Beatport and more!

To learn more, please read this .

To get started, please fill out this form.

Full Name *

Phone Number

Email Address *

Company Name

Message Subject *

IMPORTANT/REQUIRED *

Please note these mandatory requirements to follow:

Your release must be scheduled to be released in stores at least 4 weeks in advance (We recommend 6 weeks.

Release Name *

Go to

Release Link *

Go to

Release Date *

-IMPORTANT/REQUIRED *

Please note these mandatory requirements to follow:

Your artist profile must be fully completed with all links to your social media and biography.

Artist Name *

Go to

Artist Link *

Go to

.IMPORTANT/REQUIRED *

Please note these mandatory requirements to follow:

Your track must be completely NEW.
If you’re submitting an EP or an album, you must select only one track (focus track) to be pitched to the DSP

Focus Track Name *

Go to

Focus Track Link *

Go to

What is the story of the track? *

Is this track part of a larger release schedule? *

Yes

Provide Details *

What artists are similar to the artists on this release? When you describe your music, what artist(s) come to mind? *

Track Mood *

Chill

Energetic

Happy

Romantic

Fierce

Sad

Sexy

None of these

*Select up to two

Track Attributes

Cover

Remix

Instrumental

Live Recording

Track Style

Acoustic

Ballad

Beats

Christmas

Experimental

Holiday

Kids

Traditional

None of these

Do you plan to have any of the following for your track? *

Confirmed press or interviews

Upcoming shows, tours, or livestreams

Visual assets (e.g. Music videos)

Advertising campaign

Radio campaign

Physical product

Other press releases

[Confirmed press or interviews] Please list with relevant details, including dates if known. *

[Upcoming shows, tours, or livestreams] Paste a link to the schedule or enter the routing below. *

[Visual assets (e.g. Music videos)] Will there be a video accompanying this release (official, lyric, visualizer, etc)? Please provide a link to the content, if possible. It will not shared outside of Music Cast, apart from our conversations with DSPs *

[Advertising campaign] Please provide us with details on any campaigns you are running. How much is the advertising budget? Where will you be spending it? *

[Radio campaign] Please list the company you’ll be working with and any relevant details about the campaign and/or confirmed station adds. *

[Physical product] Will there be vinyl, merch, or any physical product around this release? *

[Other press releases] Got something else going on around this release that doesn’t fit one of the above areas? Tell us about it! *

Upload marketing plan, press release, or any additional information you wish to provide.

Submit

Clain Your OAC

Full Name *

Phone Number

Email Address *

Company Name

Subject *

I understand the notes and requirements listed here *

You need your own artist channel and topic channel to process this request.
We won't be able to proceed with this request if the owned channel is empty, does not have content related to its corresponding topic channel, and/or is missing the official artist links.
Note that in order to request an OAC, the artist channel should contain music videos, lyric videos, or other similar content related to the art tracks on the topic channel.
Artist's social networks must also be linked to the channel

Share the artist's topic channel link. *

Go to

Share the artist channel link. *

The minimum requirements for the Artist Channel are:

At least one music video published
At least one social media linked to the channel
Same name as the Topic Channel

Note: Take into account that these are the requirements of Youtube and any links not meeting these, won't be eligible for the request. Make sure that everything is correct before proceeding with your request.

Go to https://youtube.com

Do you want to merge the VEVO channel into the OAC? *

Yes

Your VEVO Channel URL. *

Go to https://youtube.com

Submit