If you have any question or just wish to learn more about Ditto please review our frequently asked questions below.

Why should I trust Ditto Music?
At Ditto, we believe that trust is earned, so we've worked hard to earn the trust of our clients. Check us out on Facebook or Twitter to see what other artists just like you have to say about us.

We also took home last year's R.E.C.S.S. Customer Support Award for ‘Best Online Service Provider’. Past winners include Apple, Adobe and Amazon. So you know the support you get will always be the best.

How much will it cost me?
It's pretty simple. A yearly Ditto subscription costs £6.00*/$8 for a single or £12*/$20 for an EP or £18.00*/$25 for an album. Add to that either our standard distributions package (Loads of stores worldwide for $1 for a single, or $10 for an album), or hand-pick which stores you want your music to appear in (33p/50¢ per track per store).

*Includes VAT where applicable  

Then pick which of our great services you'd like to take advantage of. You can pick a few services, just one, or none at all. The cost of these services ranges from £2 to £80.

So, distribution + services (optional) + subscription = What you pay.

First time users will also get free distribution to iTunes. 

For iTunes, Sales data comes thru around 50 days after sales month end and you can then request payment.  For example, if you release in November you will be paid around January 20th.  Other stores vary wildly depending on when they submit data.  Spotify and Amazon are always a few months after, 7Digital is longest - paying 40+ days after quarter-end. 

If you offer free or cheap distribution how do you make money?
While other companies focus purely on distribution, we offer a wide range of unique record label tools and consulting options. This allows us to offer distribution at zero-profit and generate profits from other services.

Why should I choose you over Tunecore, CDBaby, or other distribution services?
This one's easy: Firstly because we provide cheaper distribution to more places than Tunecore or CDBaby. And we never charge a commission.

Apart from that, we don't just sell your music. We give you the tools and services to develop your career. We are your record label, not a digital truck driver. That's why we put on countless gigs for our artists at events like SXSW, Liverpool Sound City and more. That's why we claim your songwriter royalties, get your music in films and on television, assist you with your career, and much more - all for free.

Why should I pay you to do something i can do myself?
Releasing your music independently is not as simple as it seems, believe us, we tried (see our About page for the gory details).

Digital stores will only deal with someone who has a very large catalog of music that can also release weekly or monthly. These stores rely on companies like Ditto to represent thousands of independent artists like you.

Is Ditto Music a 'preferred partner' of digital stores?
There is no such thing as a ‘preferred partner’. It's just a fancy way of saying “we do business together.” We do communicate with music retailers daily and directly and we're always working with them to promote your music.

Will my subscription ever increase?
No way.

Why should I pay you a subscription fee on top of a delivery charge?
Ditto Music is charged 33p/50¢ per track to place your music in stores, so we don't actually make any money from delivery. There are also costs we have to pay to safely store your music,and to keep your accounts safe and accurate.

Think of it this way: Your yearly subscription costs less than one chocolate bar a month.

How much are your subscriptions?
Our yearly rates are £6*/$8 for a single, £12*/$16.50 for an EP £15*/$25 for an album.

*Includes VAT where applicable

I signed up and paid £5.30, do I pay this every year?
No. You pay 30p to deliver to the store and £5 for every year you want to keep your music on sale.

Are you the quickest distribution?
Frankly, yes. We have a dedicated team based in Liverpool who ensure this. You can contact them any time by telephone phone or email.

Will you ever give my email address to anyone else?
No. We'll always respect your privacy.

Why pay for chart registration? Isn't every release chart eligible?
Unfortunately, No.

Being ‘chart eligible’ and being ‘chart registered’ are two different things. Here's how it works:

Every day stores report your music sales to the chart company in country the music is sold (OCC, Nielsen, etc.), but if you are not registered with the chart companies then they will simply ignore your sales. If you're not chart registered you could sell 10,000 copies and never make the charts. What a waste!

We take care of chart registration for you. That's how we've been able to place 11 singles in the UK Top 40 from unsigned and independent artists.

Can I distribute through you for some stores and someone else for others?
Sure. But keep in mind that it will cost more money, and stores won't accept two copies of the same release.

Do you offer physical distribution?
We have contracts with two leading physical distributors, and can help you through the process.

It's standard to need a PR plan to present to retailers. This plan should include TV and radio airplay, print reviews, tour dates, and other logistical information.

Will you ever raise prices to fund system development?
No. We pay for our own development out of pocket. You'll never have to pay our bills.

Can I start a record label through Ditto Music?
Yes. Our record label service is one of the tools we offer that we're most proud of. Starting your own record label is great for business branding and marketing.

We'll handle the administrative side of the label and you will get free advice, and 10% off all Ditto Music services for life.

Can I sell music via SMS/cell/mobile phones?
Yes. We offer a great SMS service.

How do I sell my single for free on iTunes?
To do this, you need to be our iTunes pick of the week. Speak to anyone on the Ditto team and we'll tell you how.

Can you get me on the front page of iTunes?
We'll certainly try. There's an application process behind this that we can help you with. The competition is fierce but we will call in every contact and favour we can to help.


Uploading My Music

What kind of audio files can I submit?
We accept .wav, .mp3, or .m4a files at any bitrate.

Do I need to embed ISRCs and IDV3 tags before upload?
No. Stores accept and compile audio, data and artwork separately.

Can I sell a remix?
Only if you have written permission to do so. 

Yes.  If you are selling in the US and/or Mexico then you will need licensing from Limelight or Harry Fox etc.

It can not be misleading, for instance using song lyrics or song titles as the artist name and vice-versa.  The purchaser must not think they are buying anything else but YOUR music and any use of another artist's name or songs is not allowed by stores.

Can I add a track after my official release date?
Afraid not. Stores won't let us. Any added tracks count as a whole new release.

What is an ISRC code?
International Standard Recording Codes are used by the whole music industry to uniquely identify every song ever released.

Do you provide ISRC codes?
Yes. We provide genuine, registered ISRCs for your release.

Can I use a Tunecore Song ID to submit to the charts?
No. They are not valid codes. Don't worry, we'll issue you official ISRCs for free.

How can I be sure you won't mess up my release?
Our UK and US based teams are made up of highly trained specialists who personally look over all of our releases to make sure there are no spelling or formatting errors. If we find any problems we'll email you immediately to come up with a solution.

How long before you send my music to stores?
As soon as we've verified that the release is error free. We then box it and ship it to the stores of your choice as quickly as possible.

What if my track is more than 10 minutes long?
iTunes (and no one else) counts songs longer than 10 minutes as an entire album, and the price will change accordingly.

Will stores rush my music if I want to get it out next week?
Unfortunately, not. If you have a urgent need to release then please contact us, and we will contact stores on your behalf and chase them as much as we can.

Can I pick which countries I sell my music in?
Yes. When you submit your music you'll have the option to exclude territories.

What happens if I made a mistake on my release?
Call us as soon as you catch it. On iTunes we can correct mistakes at no cost, but it will take a little time. If you need to correct your release in other stores please contact us.


Existing Customer FAQ

Why isn't my release update showing on stores?
We get your music to stores within 24 hours and then it's up to the stores to do their job. iTunes takes up to 48 hours to show new releases. In other stores it can take up to three weeks for your music to appear.

What if I want to stop selling my music?
We don't charge you to remove your music from stores. Just request a takedown via your user dashboard and we take care of the rest. You can remove your music from individual stores all stores at no charge.

How do I know when my music goes on sale?
The stores don't tell us so we don't have the information. If you uploaded you music several weeks before release date then it won't show up at stores until the release date. If you selected an immediate release date then it will show up in stores as soon as they process it.

Sales Data

I just downloaded my music to test and I can't see the sale in my dashboard.
Unfortunately stores don't provide real-time sales data. As soon as we're notified of a sale, we'll let you know.

When can I see my sales data?
As soon as it's available to us we'll get it online. Look out for iTunes data around the third week of the month, Spotify the week after and the rest whenever they report. This is approximate.

Do stores all report at the same time?
No. Sales report times vary from store to store.

I've sold over 1000 copies, but only made a about $70 dollars. Where's the rest?
Stores report each individual stream as a download, but you won't get paid as much from streams as download. Just click on a track/album to see if the payment is from a stream of a download. You may have 900 UK streams, making £1.80 and 100 US downloads making $70.


My Money

How much do I get paid from Spotify?
It varies between countries and platforms. Right now it's about 0.0008¢/0.002p per play.

How much do I get paid from iTunes?
That depends on what country you sell your music in, and how much you sell it for. Right now it's about 70¢/0.71€ per track.

Why don't I get 79p/99¢ for each download? I thought you said you don't take commission!
We don't. We pass 100% of what we receive from the retailer on to you. When a fan buys your music they'll pay 79p (UK) or 99¢ (US). The difference is due to taxes and the percentage the retailer keeps.

When do I get paid?
Whenever you want. Sales come in all the time from different retailers so just log in and download your money. Please allow up to seven working days to process requests.

How do I get paid?
Either via bank transfer or PayPal.

Do certain distributors give better terms and payment to artists?
No. Every distributor has the same contract with stores. Everyone receives the same payment for streams and downloads, no matter which distributor they use.


Legal Stuff

What happens if someone says they own the right to my music?
We will represent you. As your label, we've got your back.

Do I need to own the copyright to the music I want to sell?
Yes.

What if I upload music that isn't mine?
We monitor every release, and we'll alert you that it's been removed from our database.

Karaoke, Cover songs and Tribute Acts

Can I sell Karaoke?
Yes, as long as it's named correctly. That means having the word “Karaoke Version” appear in the track title. You may also use “originally performed by” with the name of the original artists as part of your song title. Your artwork can't suggest that it was recorded by the original artist or that it's the original version. The word 'karaoke' must be more prominent than the name of the original artist.

Can I sell karaoke videos? No. None of our partners accept karaoke videos at this time.

Can I sell cover or tribute versions?
In the UK, yes, as long as it's a strict cover and not a remix. In the US you will need to speak to Limelight, and in other countries you'll need to contact the local IFPI office.

How do I sell cover/tribute songs?
You need to name them correctly. You won't be able to use the original artist name anywhere within the data you submit. Your artwork also can't suggest that the track was recorded by the original artist.

What If you haven’t answered my question here?
Speak to us via email/telephone/online or any way you wish. We are always here to help.