Fandalism
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital music distribution |
| Predecessor | Fandalism |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Philip Kaplan |
| Headquarters | United States , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Digital music distribution, DistroVid (music video distribution) |
| Website | distrokid |
DistroKid, initially launched under the name Fandalism, is a U.S.-based independent digital music distribution platform created in 2012 by entrepreneur Philip Kaplan. This service empowers artists and rights owners to distribute and monetize their music on various digital storefronts including Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube Music. Originally developed as a musician-focused social networking site, it transitioned to concentrate solely on music distribution with a rebranding to DistroKid in mid-2013.
History
The origins of DistroKid trace back to Kaplan's social media music platform Fandalism, introduced in early 2012, where it first existed as a feature. The platform was rebranded as DistroKid in 2013, while the original Fandalism service was separated into an independent company by 2015.
DistroKid attracted significant attention in July 2015 when the duo Jack & Jack achieved the top position on the iTunes charts through its platform. A key differentiator for DistroKid is its policy of not taking any commissions or royalties, enabling artists to keep all revenue generated—a notable advantage within the digital distribution sector.
In May 2016, the company rolled out "Teams," a system designed to automate royalty distribution among collaborators and stakeholders. By 2018, DistroKid had secured a strategic investment from Spotify and formed a partnership that facilitated cross-platform uploads for artists on Spotify.
Broadening its services, in 2021 DistroKid introduced a data-driven matchmaking tool that assists record labels such as Republic Records in identifying unsigned artists through the platform, earning referral fees when artist signings are finalized.
In 2020, Brazilian YouTuber Dan Vasc publicly criticized DistroKid’s handling of U.S. tax withholding regulations impacting his royalty payments, underscoring challenges related to international tax compliance.
DistroKid further diversified its portfolio in 2022 with the launch of DistroVid, a subscription-based service for distributing music videos available to both subscribers and non-subscribers.
On June 7, 2023, the company was sued by indie label Doeman Music Group Media over allegations of improper management of a copyright takedown involving an artist’s EP removal and deficiencies in the dispute resolution process.
In September 2023, DistroKid expanded its global footprint by acquiring Bandzoogle, a platform specializing in music distribution and website hosting, thereby strengthening its comprehensive suite of products and services offered to musicians worldwide.