Guide to Music Distribution in South Africa

Releasing music today is easy. Releasing music correctly is where most artists fail.

This Audiovarsity guide breaks down, in simple practical terms, how music moves from your studio to streaming platforms, social media, and ultimately into your bank account. You will learn how digital distributors work, how your music gets onto major platforms, what metadata and ISRC codes really do, how distribution agreements affect your ownership, and why many South African artists see streams but never see money.

This guide also explains the role of YouTube Content ID, TikTok, WhatsApp sharing, and social platforms as modern distribution channels, and shows you how independent artists can distribute music professionally without a record label.

By the end of this ebook course, you will understand how to release music the right way, choose the right distributor, protect your catalogue, and align your distribution with royalties, publishing, and marketing for maximum income.