No, DistroKid does not pay royalties monthly. Instead, DistroKid pays royalties twice a week. While payments are processed frequently by DistroKid, the actual availability of your earnings depends on when streaming services and online stores deliver their sales reports.
Understanding DistroKid's Payment Schedule
DistroKid operates on a very frequent payment schedule, processing payouts to artists multiple times within a week. This means that once your earnings are reported and processed by DistroKid, the funds can be made available to you quickly.
The Role of Streaming Service Reporting
It's important to differentiate between DistroKid's payment frequency and the reporting cycles of the various streaming platforms and digital stores. Streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and others, typically deliver their earnings reports to distributors like DistroKid on a monthly basis.
Furthermore, these monthly reports often reflect sales and streams from approximately three months prior. For example, a report received in January would likely detail earnings from sales and streams that occurred in October of the previous year. DistroKid then processes these reports and makes the corresponding earnings available for payout shortly after.
To illustrate the different cycles:
| Aspect | Frequency | Details |
|---|---|---|
| DistroKid Payouts | Twice a week | Earnings are made available for artists to withdraw very frequently. |
| Streaming Service Reports | Monthly | Services send sales data to DistroKid once a month. |
| Sales Data Reflection | Approx. 3 months ago | Monthly reports cover sales and streams that occurred about three months prior to the report date. |
Why This Matters for Artists
This distinction means that while you can withdraw your earnings from DistroKid frequently, the source of those earnings — the sales and streams from digital platforms — is reported with a delay. You won't see revenue from last week's streams appear in your DistroKid balance immediately; it will come through once the respective streaming service sends its monthly report covering that period.
Key Takeaways for Artists
- Frequent Payouts: DistroKid itself facilitates payments very often, twice a week.
- Reporting Delays: The main factor in when your money becomes available is the monthly reporting schedule of streaming services, which also typically have a several-month lag in the data they provide.
- Check Your Balance: Artists should regularly check their earnings section on DistroKid to see when new royalties have been reported and become available for withdrawal.
- Patience is Key: Due to the nature of royalty reporting, it takes time for streams and sales to translate into withdrawable earnings.
For the most up-to-date information on payments and earnings, artists are encouraged to consult their DistroKid account dashboard directly.
