Thanks for this! I've been looking at Symphonic for the past few weeks, so it's great to see a review. I'm with SoundOn, but a little bit uneasy with the TikTok link with them. I might try them now.
Thanks so much. I want to ask, as a Nigerian living in Nigeria, what method of payment should I use to pay for the distribution in Symphonic? I want to distribute my FIRST SINGLE.🙏 2) Will i be renewing the $19.99 every year for the same song?
One thing you didn't mention is that in Symphonic's Starter plan, when releasing your music, you can only include one primary artist. The plan is limited to just one artist. I was quite disappointed with Symphonic because the option to have multiple artists on a track is crucial for me as I do a lot of collaborations. Unfortunately, a refund is not possible.
@@MakeMusicIncome according to this th-cam.com/video/JSSzUwB31vI/w-d-xo.html they offer a split share option ....but i am not sure if it's available on a starter plan. Their website suggests that it is included.
Yes, exactly the same for me. I had already released tracks on Distrokid under a different artist name and wanted to move my tracks across. I got in touch to ask about this - they were very helpful and even suggested I reapply for their partner programme. But they didn't pick me up for that, instead suggesting I open another starter programme - that was not something I was willing to do. I'm dealing with it another way now. Happy to continue with Symphonic, but must admit, I found this quite frustrating.
please add more than "one primary artist" in starter plan. This feature is really important...i like symphonic too but if i can't add another primary artist, it's really weird
Hey there! Is there a customer service number that you can provide, please? I'd love to get started but haven't had luck getting a human on the phone. I did leave a VM😊
So if I'm a small indie LABEL with 15 artists can I use the $14.99 package and put me as the LABEL and add each artist name or group as they release or do I have to apply for the other package? I don't need all the bells and whistles of the other and we just started so I wouldn't have any impressive stats yet.
The only way you could do that would be for you to be the artist as the label, and then just do featuring the other artist. But I don't think that's what you wanna do. I think you have to do the larger package to have more artists.
@@MakeMusicIncome It's not even released yet, but it could be for licensing down the road. What does this mean if it's potentially for licensing? The line and the song that I want to use would be sung near the end of the song. Not during the song prior to the end. Thanks.
Thanks for your video you did about motion array. In your video you said vocal music was accepted well from that site. I have to let you know they rejected all my 5 vocals songs and they were my best. They told me to listen to the recomended songs on their site which were practiclly all instruments. So I made a big error in listening to your advice on what to submit. It takes a long time to upload those songs and I wasted my time. But I'm going to submit my best instrumental songs and hopefully it will be accepted. The thing is I submitted my best instrumentals to ARTLIST and got burned and they did'nt accept them. WTF ? If Motion Array rejects my instrumentals , Im going to blow my stack. I'll let you know what happens and you need to do a video about this and update to the people that Motion Array don't accept vocal songs.
Sorry you did not have luck with your initial songs. MA is really tough on quality. A lot has changed since I did that video so yes, maybe a update video might be good about MotionArray. Remember our discord is available if you want to get some feedback on your songs. I know many songwriters have checked their songs with our Discord before they submit to MotionArray. It worked for Alex B who eventually got into MotionArray and had a pretty good month this year.
I cannot find a way to do staggered releases. If I wanted to release the first 4 singles 4 weeks apart before releasing the entire album how do I do that?
That would mean releasing each one separately with different release dates.Then you could put them together on a collection later. You can't release one album with staggered release dates.
@@MakeMusicIncome thank you for your information, I've been producing since I was 18 and I've never heard anyone mention stock music libraries, most producers talk major label placements, sync placements, leasing beats and mixing
Well there is certainly PLENTY of info on my channel about stock music. Check out this playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLhhyJp8xL87ORzIXf0qo8KmyLTSp7RgD2.html
What happens to your tracks if you quit the service or they go out of business? Are they taken down from the streaming sites? Distrokid charges something like $30 to make your tracks perpetual.
As with DistroKid or others, if you quit paying, your music will be taken down. You can always put it back up with another service with the same ISRC codes. Did not see a perpetual price.
@@MakeMusicIncomeDistrokid has a "leave a legacy plan" where if you pay the extra fee your music will continue to stay up if you were to pass away or for whatever reason stop paying.
🤬😡😠I have been with Symphonic for 5 years. I have just found out that the releases I submitted with them that I distributed under the agreement of about $10 per single, 0% royalties, has now been changed to them taking 15% under their new plan - after I already agreed many years ago to distribute with them under the terms: 0% royalties. Let's say I end up killing it with a single and make $100,000. That's like a bank saying, "we promise to keep that $100,000 safe for you", and then 5 years later saying, "actually, we're taking $15,000. You can have $85,000 now. Sorry." It's thievery. What's to say that in another 5 years they won't change their mind and add another 15%, and say, "sorry, now we're taking $30,000."?? Nothing. That's what. They already changed their mind exactly like this already. Can't trust them. Lost a customer. Finding out how to move on and distribute my previously released tracks through another service without losing my streams. They haven't been helpful so far. NOT FUCKING OK.
Identifyy is better at collecting Content ID from TH-cam videos. if your music is played behind a video, TH-cam’s Content ID system tracks that. Identifyy works to find that income and distributor it to you. Yes you will need to register with the MLC to collect mechanical royalties from US streaming.
anyone have experience with symphonic customer service? my biggest issue right now is that services like distrokid is you can’t even contact a real person anymore
Yes, it seems so. I got in with CD Baby, but it took a while. But another friend of mine, who is a classical composer, got a piano piece into Apple Music classical with symphonic
@@MakeMusicIncome Sorry if I am bothering you, but which service would you recommend, Routenote or Symphonic? They both let you keep 100% royalties and apparently both distribute to Apple Classical. I just thought I’d ask a seasoned professional just as yourself-before I proceeded. Thanks!
Well, I would use CD Baby, but only because I already have been using them. And I don't have any experience with route note. But symphonic is very detailed.
@@MakeMusicIncome Thanks. I’m trying to find a distributor who can facilitate this and it’s not easy. The information I’m getting is all a bit vague. There’s a distributor called Modern Classical X who does, they say releases need to be in an album format. Their commission rates are quite high though and I’m looking for alternatives. The distributor I’m with at the moment is great for support but he’s not getting any joy trying to facilitate this for me.
@@MakeMusicIncome Thanks for investigating. I understand that a lot of detailed metadata is required and specific categorisation of the pieces. Looking forward to your video, I’m sure it will be very helpful as always.
Thank you, Eric. Do you also own your own record company for your own music? I have been debating about doing this since any music I create is just my work, and I want to ensure I keep everything in one place, including doing my own graphics, art, photography etc. Thanks!
@@MakeMusicIncome I, too, have been composing since the 80s, recorded tons of demo tapes and have locally performed back in Colorado years ago (trust me, nothing major…), but now have the instruments, education, tools, etc. to finally go for it and move out of the hobby stage.
Hey, do you know if they do apple digital masters, Apple music instant gratification, and Apple motion artwork (the apple music animated cover art things$
🤬😡😠I have been with Symphonic for 5 years. I have just found out that the releases I submitted with them that I distributed under the agreement of about $10 per single, 0% royalties, has now been changed to them taking 15% under their new plan - after I already agreed many years ago to distribute with them under the terms: 0% royalties. Let's say I end up killing it with a single and make $100,000. That's like a bank saying, "we promise to keep that $100,000 safe for you", and then 5 years later saying, "actually, we're taking $15,000. You can have $85,000 now. Sorry." It's thievery. What's to say that in another 5 years they won't change their mind and add another 15%, and say, "sorry, now we're taking $30,000."?? Nothing. That's what. They already changed their mind exactly like this already. Can't trust them. Lost a customer. Finding out how to move on and distribute my previously released tracks through another service without losing my streams. They haven't been helpful so far. NOT F***ING OK.
It’s easy to do. Just go to DistroKid, or whoever you want to go to, and when you re-upload use the exact same ISRC codes, titles, and Covers for each song and you will keep all your streams. Do that and you should be fine. And if you don’t mind, edit your post for language for my channel please.
Thanks for this! I've been looking at Symphonic for the past few weeks, so it's great to see a review. I'm with SoundOn, but a little bit uneasy with the TikTok link with them. I might try them now.
Good luck!
Thanks Eric, I signed up and gave you credit when they asked how I heard about them. I'm finally getting my music out of just MA! LOL
Awesome! Thank you! And good luck there. Remember to put your releases about a month out so you have time to pitch through Spotify for Artists.
Amazing! Welcome to our #SymFam!
did they get you the artist Page?
Thanks so much. I want to ask, as a Nigerian living in Nigeria, what method of payment should I use to pay for the distribution in Symphonic? I want to distribute my FIRST SINGLE.🙏
2) Will i be renewing the $19.99 every year for the same song?
its 19.99 for the service. You can have as many tracks as you want. If you have 1, or 50 songs doesnt matter, it still costs 19.99 per year total
One thing you didn't mention is that in Symphonic's Starter plan, when releasing your music, you can only include one primary artist. The plan is limited to just one artist. I was quite disappointed with Symphonic because the option to have multiple artists on a track is crucial for me as I do a lot of collaborations. Unfortunately, a refund is not possible.
Good thing to mention on here. Maybe @symphonicdistro can take a look at this!
@@MakeMusicIncome according to this th-cam.com/video/JSSzUwB31vI/w-d-xo.html they offer a split share option ....but i am not sure if it's available on a starter plan. Their website suggests that it is included.
Yes, exactly the same for me. I had already released tracks on Distrokid under a different artist name and wanted to move my tracks across. I got in touch to ask about this - they were very helpful and even suggested I reapply for their partner programme. But they didn't pick me up for that, instead suggesting I open another starter programme - that was not something I was willing to do. I'm dealing with it another way now. Happy to continue with Symphonic, but must admit, I found this quite frustrating.
So if you want to upload a track and list more than one primary artist for it thats not possible? Or has this changed?
@@wildcalmxtra How are you dealing with managing multiple artists? @wildcalmxtra
Thank you for such a good and honest review!
My pleasure! I’ll be talking more about Symphonic as I truly feel it has some strong aspects that eclipse other distributors.
please add more than "one primary artist" in starter plan. This feature is really important...i like symphonic too but if i can't add another primary artist, it's really weird
Hey there! Is there a customer service number that you can provide, please? I'd love to get started but haven't had luck getting a human on the phone. I did leave a VM😊
Great Stuff Eric! Thank you!
I can't find any option for Content ID
Look at the video at 5:51. They call it TH-cam UGC.
So if I'm a small indie LABEL with 15 artists can I use the $14.99 package and put me as the LABEL and add each artist name or group as they release or do I have to apply for the other package?
I don't need all the bells and whistles of the other and we just started so I wouldn't have any impressive stats yet.
The only way you could do that would be for you to be the artist as the label, and then just do featuring the other artist. But I don't think that's what you wanna do. I think you have to do the larger package to have more artists.
Very interesting presentation as always 👍👍
Thanks Tony
Hey, please do they create a spotify artist page or apple artist page for you?
If I have an original song but I use one line from a another artist's song, would that fall under Easy Song Licensing? Thanks.
Why not just change that line and not worry about the license😀
@@MakeMusicIncome Because I really want to put it in there as an ode to my favorite singer who influenced me. Would the answer to my question be yes?
Yes, is this song for licensing?
@@MakeMusicIncome It's not even released yet, but it could be for licensing down the road. What does this mean if it's potentially for licensing? The line and the song that I want to use would be sung near the end of the song. Not during the song prior to the end. Thanks.
Thanks for your video you did about motion array. In your video you said vocal music was accepted well from that site. I have to let you know they rejected all my 5 vocals songs and they were my best. They told me to listen to the recomended songs on their site which were practiclly all instruments. So I made a big error in listening to your advice on what to submit. It takes a long time to upload those songs and I wasted my time. But I'm going to submit my best instrumental songs and hopefully it will be accepted. The thing is I submitted my best instrumentals to ARTLIST and got burned and they did'nt accept them. WTF ? If Motion Array rejects my instrumentals , Im going to blow my stack. I'll let you know what happens and you need to do a video about this and update to the people that Motion Array don't accept vocal songs.
Sorry you did not have luck with your initial songs. MA is really tough on quality. A lot has changed since I did that video so yes, maybe a update video might be good about MotionArray. Remember our discord is available if you want to get some feedback on your songs. I know many songwriters have checked their songs with our Discord before they submit to MotionArray. It worked for Alex B who eventually got into MotionArray and had a pretty good month this year.
I cannot find a way to do staggered releases. If I wanted to release the first 4 singles 4 weeks apart before releasing the entire album how do I do that?
That would mean releasing each one separately with different release dates.Then you could put them together on a collection later. You can't release one album with staggered release dates.
Good video. Are those post release services paid plans? or how it works? How you tried promotional services?
Most of them look like paid plans to me…
I have used some services, but tend to do my own promotion via socials.
Question about the stock music libraries, how does hip hop/ workout music do?
Great!
@@MakeMusicIncome thank you for your information, I've been producing since I was 18 and I've never heard anyone mention stock music libraries, most producers talk major label placements, sync placements, leasing beats and mixing
Well there is certainly PLENTY of info on my channel about stock music. Check out this playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLhhyJp8xL87ORzIXf0qo8KmyLTSp7RgD2.html
What happens to your tracks if you quit the service or they go out of business? Are they taken down from the streaming sites? Distrokid charges something like $30 to make your tracks perpetual.
As with DistroKid or others, if you quit paying, your music will be taken down. You can always put it back up with another service with the same ISRC codes. Did not see a perpetual price.
@@MakeMusicIncomeDistrokid has a "leave a legacy plan" where if you pay the extra fee your music will continue to stay up if you were to pass away or for whatever reason stop paying.
🤬😡😠I have been with Symphonic for 5 years. I have just found out that the releases I submitted with them that I distributed under the agreement of about $10 per single, 0% royalties, has now been changed to them taking 15% under their new plan - after I already agreed many years ago to distribute with them under the terms: 0% royalties. Let's say I end up killing it with a single and make $100,000. That's like a bank saying, "we promise to keep that $100,000 safe for you", and then 5 years later saying, "actually, we're taking $15,000. You can have $85,000 now. Sorry."
It's thievery. What's to say that in another 5 years they won't change their mind and add another 15%, and say, "sorry, now we're taking $30,000."?? Nothing. That's what. They already changed their mind exactly like this already. Can't trust them. Lost a customer. Finding out how to move on and distribute my previously released tracks through another service without losing my streams. They haven't been helpful so far. NOT FUCKING OK.
@@OMCollective Sorry to hear that, which services are you looking for? Which distribution services are you gonna use?
That’s not how leave a legacy plan works, leave a legacy only keeps your tracks up if you die.
Tell me please, what exactly is Identifyy better at? And after registering with Symphonic, do I need to register with MLC?
Identifyy is better at collecting Content ID from TH-cam videos. if your music is played behind a video, TH-cam’s Content ID system tracks that. Identifyy works to find that income and distributor it to you. Yes you will need to register with the MLC to collect mechanical royalties from US streaming.
@@MakeMusicIncome thanks a lot👍
what about signing a 3 year contract? and giving 30 percent royalties on select dsp's
There is no 3 year contract and you keep 100% of the Starter Package I reviewed and you will find here: symphonic.com/starter/
How do I activate my account they keep telling me is user must be active, pls what should I do about it ?
That's a question for them I'm afraid.
anyone have experience with symphonic customer service? my biggest issue right now is that services like distrokid is you can’t even contact a real person anymore
It’s seems to be a problem but always had good luck getting in touch with CDBaby and Symphonic.
i got real service with them and im so thankful. they are so responsive and its the reason i switched
Hey Eric... Please if my yearly payment has ended and i don't resubscribe will my music stay up on platforms?
@MakeMusicIncome please I'd love it if you could get back to me on this
I'm not exactly sure but think it comes down if you quit paying.
@@MakeMusicIncome ok thanks for the info
Can they get you in apple music classical? (I’ve seen your other video).
Yes, it seems so. I got in with CD Baby, but it took a while. But another friend of mine, who is a classical composer, got a piano piece into Apple Music classical with symphonic
@@MakeMusicIncome Sorry if I am bothering you, but which service would you recommend, Routenote or Symphonic? They both let you keep 100% royalties and apparently both distribute to Apple Classical. I just thought I’d ask a seasoned professional just as yourself-before I proceeded. Thanks!
Well, I would use CD Baby, but only because I already have been using them. And I don't have any experience with route note. But symphonic is very detailed.
Thanks for the insight. Does Symphonic distribute to Apple Classical?
Hmmm, that's a good question. I'll ask!
@@MakeMusicIncome Thanks. I’m trying to find a distributor who can facilitate this and it’s not easy. The information I’m getting is all a bit vague. There’s a distributor called Modern Classical X who does, they say releases need to be in an album format. Their commission rates are quite high though and I’m looking for alternatives. The distributor I’m with at the moment is great for support but he’s not getting any joy trying to facilitate this for me.
They actually do but there are some strict rules to get it through. I will be doing a video about it soon.
@@MakeMusicIncome Thanks for investigating. I understand that a lot of detailed metadata is required and specific categorisation of the pieces. Looking forward to your video, I’m sure it will be very helpful as always.
Has anyone tried doing sync with Symphonic?
Not me, but not sure why I would.
perfect review. Congrats
thank you!
Interested! 🙂
Thank you, Eric. Do you also own your own record company for your own music? I have been debating about doing this since any music I create is just my work, and I want to ensure I keep everything in one place, including doing my own graphics, art, photography etc. Thanks!
Yes, I have been creating my own recordings since the 80s and had a record label for over 25 years.
@@MakeMusicIncome I, too, have been composing since the 80s, recorded tons of demo tapes and have locally performed back in Colorado years ago (trust me, nothing major…), but now have the instruments, education, tools, etc. to finally go for it and move out of the hobby stage.
@@danecolfax2458 Nice go get em!
great subscribed today
Thank you!
Hey, do you know if they do apple digital masters, Apple music instant gratification, and Apple motion artwork (the apple music animated cover art things$
I am not sure about this. But I can check it out for you.
@@MakeMusicIncome okay, thank you
If I don't have a label what do I put under "label name?"
Make something up or use your name!
@MakeMusicIncome even my artist name I'm already using?
Usually just Something Music or Something Records.
@@MakeMusicIncome thank you sooooo so much!
🤬😡😠I have been with Symphonic for 5 years. I have just found out that the releases I submitted with them that I distributed under the agreement of about $10 per single, 0% royalties, has now been changed to them taking 15% under their new plan - after I already agreed many years ago to distribute with them under the terms: 0% royalties. Let's say I end up killing it with a single and make $100,000. That's like a bank saying, "we promise to keep that $100,000 safe for you", and then 5 years later saying, "actually, we're taking $15,000. You can have $85,000 now. Sorry."
It's thievery. What's to say that in another 5 years they won't change their mind and add another 15%, and say, "sorry, now we're taking $30,000."?? Nothing. That's what. They already changed their mind exactly like this already. Can't trust them. Lost a customer. Finding out how to move on and distribute my previously released tracks through another service without losing my streams. They haven't been helpful so far. NOT F***ING OK.
It’s easy to do. Just go to DistroKid, or whoever you want to go to, and when you re-upload use the exact same ISRC codes, titles, and Covers for each song and you will keep all your streams. Do that and you should be fine. And if you don’t mind, edit your post for language for my channel please.
Amazing. Thank you for this.@@MakeMusicIncome
Hey what's the single you're talking about? I'm considering using them so I wanna look into your claim.
@@ForrestGrindstaffGarner symphonic.com/starter/