Music Business

Symphonic for New Artists: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started

Randi Zimmerman
Randi Zimmerman
October 14, 2025
7 Mins Read
A performer on stage raises one arm while singing into a microphone, capturing the excitement of getting started as colorful lights shine and the audience raises their hands in the foreground.

If you’re an independent artist looking for a smarter way to release your music, you’re in the right place. Symphonic gives you the tools to distribute your tracks to major platforms, collect your earnings, and grow your career, all in one place with a team that actually cares about your success. If you’ve been thinking of working with us, but aren’t quite sure if you’re ready to make the next step, this article is for you. ✨📚

Knowledge is power, and in this post, we’re breaking down how to get started, pick the right plan for you, and make the most of all the tools and services available to you. Let’s dive in…

Getting Started with Symphonic: Starter vs. Partner, How To Apply, Beyond Distribution, and More

Why Distribution Matters

Getting your music onto Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok (and all the other platforms) may seem simple, but it’s not always as straightforward as it should be. It can get complicated fast, and the distributor you choose can make the difference between a smooth release and a massive headache.

Independent artists especially often run into issues like long approval times or delays, metadata mistakes in track names or artist credits, limited access to marketing or playlist pitching, confusing royalty tracking, the list goes on… all of which can be a real setback when you’re just trying to bring your music to the world and a dream to life.

That’s why great distribution is more than just uploading a file and calling it a day. It’s about making sure you maximize your music’s reach, impact, and earnings to the highest level possible. All of this is why Symphonic offers two plans (Starter and Partner) to help artists navigate these challenges and get their music out as efficiently as possible with the proper level of support that fits their specific goals.

Choosing Your Path: Starter vs. Partner

You get it, proper distribution is important. Now, the next step is choosing the right plan that fits your needs. We offer two options, each designed for a different level of support and involvement.

Starter is ideal if you’re just starting out and want a simple, affordable way to manage your releases yourself. With Starter:

  • You pay $19.99 per year (for one primary artist).
  • You keep 100% of your royalties.
  • You get access to core distribution tools, including uploading tracks, artwork, and metadata.
  • You can manage royalty splits for collaborations or features.
  • You can view basic analytics to track streams and earnings.
  • You can distribute to over 200 platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and more.

Partner is built for more established artists or labels looking for more hands-on support. For example, with Partner:

  • When your music earns money, Symphonic takes a percentage as your distributor (so we succeed when you succeed).
  • You get full distribution, plus marketing support, including playlist pitching and DSP promotion.
  • You have access to publishing administration to collect royalties from around the world.
  • You can use advanced tools like sync licensing opportunities and rights management.

Keep in mind that each Partner application is reviewed to ensure the artist or label is a good fit. Starter is open to any artist at any level. Think of Starter as the right option if you’re just starting out and only need the basics. Partner is built for established artists or labels who want more hands-on support and advanced tools to scale their career on a larger scale.

Ready to apply? 🎉 // Once you’ve chosen the plan that fits the stage of your career, the next step is to create your account. Starter artists can sign up directly and begin the process of uploading music right away. On the other hand,  Partner artists must submit an application for review first. Either way, once you’re in and your account is set up, you’ll be ready to prepare for your first release.

Preparing Your First Release

Congrats! It’s time to make some magic. Now comes the exciting part: preparing your first release. The key to making this go as smoothly as possible is being as prepared as possible. Whether you fall under Starter or Partner, there are some things all artists need to have ready to go, no matter what. These include:

🎧 Audio Files & Quality: Use high-quality WAV or FLAC files, properly mixed and mastered.

🎨 Artwork: Make sure it meets platform specs (usually 3000x3000px, JPEG or PNG) and is free of copyright issues.

📝 Metadata & Credits: Double-check track names, artist names, and any collaborators. Set up royalty splits for features, producers, or co-writers.

📅  Release Planning: Decide on a release date in advance, keeping in mind promotions, holidays, or key events.

🔗 Extra Assets: Consider adding lyrics, ISRC codes (if you have them), and links to your social media or website.

KEEP IN MIND: If you’re a Starter client, you’ll handle uploading, scheduling, and promo yourself. If you’re a Partner client, you still prepare all the same files and metadata, but you go a step further to coordinate with our team for marketing, playlist pitching, publishing admin, and more.

PRO TIP: Create a release folder with all files and information organized. It’ll make uploading faster, prevent mistakes, and help you stay consistent across multiple releases.

Promoting & Maximizing Your Release

Releasing your music is only the first step. Promotion is what helps it reach fans and make an impact. How you approach this will differ depending on whether you’re on Starter or Partner, so we’ve broken it down for both.

For Starter: Even without a whole team behind you, there are plenty of ways to get your music heard. As a Starter client, one of your greatest resources is our blog. We are very proud of it, as it’s packed with free (yes, FREE) articles, step-by-step guides, videos, tips, tricks, and in-depth strategies that many other distributors simply don’t offer.

For example, planning your social strategy around your release is a big task… but some of these could help you out:

DIY playlist pitching can be tough, but we’ve written these to guide the way:

What about pre-save campaigns, contests, and other ways to boost visibility? You better believe we’ve got resources for these, too!

And these are just a few of the resources available right here on the Symphonic Blog.

Even as an independent artist, you can absolutely handle your own promotion, engage your audience, and maximize the impact of each release on your own. That’s the beauty of this new age of DIY artists all over the world. And that’s why we’re so proud to offer this information for FREE to any artist who needs it. 💪

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For Partner: Everyone has access to the blog, our YouTube channel, socials, etc., but Partner artists specifically get access to our full suite of services and professional tools, like:

  • Marketing Support: Collaborate with a dedicated team to plan campaigns that include social media strategy, DSP promotion, and press outreach. Your team can help create a timeline, suggest content ideas, and coordinate promotional efforts to maximize streams and engagement.
  • Playlist Pitching: We submit your tracks for editorial consideration across major DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music, and get access to our network of trusted third-party curators.
  • Publishing & Sync Opportunities: We collect royalties globally and explore potential sync placements in TV, film, and commercials through our in-house sync licensing team, Bodega Sync.
  • Advanced Analytics: Track streams, playlist pickups, and revenue across platforms like Spotify, TikTok, and YouTube to understand your audience, optimize future releases, and make data-driven decisions that grow your career.

 And that’s not all. To see more, check out this page for the full range of Partner features we have to offer.

It’s More Than Just Distribution to Us…

Putting your music out is just the beginning. What sets us apart from other distributors is that we don’t just upload your music and walk away. We provide the infrastructure, insights, and support that independent artists often don’t get elsewhere. Things like free checklists, guides, masterclasses, and YouTube videos explaining how to do whatever your heart desires are just the start. We go deeper with royalty tracking, in-depth analytics, next-level tech built specifically to make your life easier, and most importantly… a real team of people here to support your journey.

Being independent comes with so much freedom. You control the music, the vibe, your brand, your path. But those same freedoms come with challenges, and that’s where we come in. Think of your first release as the foundation. With the right preparation, the right plan, and the right support, your music can reach farther, resonate deeper, and open doors to new opportunities… no matter what stage you’re in.

📌 To learn more about all the tools and tech we have to offer, check out this page.  

You got this!

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