Landr Review – Does This Distribution Platform Work? 

Music distribution platforms disseminate singles, EPs, albums, and sometimes ringtones to streaming music sites like iTunes, Pandora, and Amazon. They do not help musicians with public relations or publicity, but they are an excellent first step to getting your music out to the public for a nominal fee, and one sets itself apart from the rest. In this Landr review, you’ll find out that they are one of these platforms. 

The Landr music distribution platform provides an attractive cost structure that allows new artists to use their services with minimal risk and make more commission as their music distribution grows. They work with major streaming platforms and have mastering capabilities for artists. 

Traditional music distribution entails a distributor to get albums into stores while the record labels execute the public relations and promotion to persuade potential customers to purchase them. Landr will work with artists to help them sample songs with professionals, produce and master music, and then distribute it worldwide.  

What is Music Distribution? 

Music distribution is how your music gets into the hands (and ears) of your fans. Gone are the days when the music distributor’s only avenue to agree with a record label that sells the music to stores. This process still exists, but technology allows music creators to work directly with music distributors. 

Now, this is not to say that digital music distribution cuts out the middleman so that the creator can keep 100 percent of their royalties. There will always be someone who should be paid for the hard work of marketing and distributing music to platforms. However, music distribution is simple today due to technological services.  

Music distribution platforms differ in cost, royalties, distribution extension, and other services. Although a few music distribution platforms still distribute your music to physical locations, most work with these:

• iTunes
• Google Play
• Spotify
• Pandora
• YouTube
• TikTok
• Other Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Choosing a platform depends on how often you will distribute music. But, what is the best way to distribute music in today’s online world? In this case, we will expose Landr. 

Landr’s Technological Services 

Landr made it to the top spot amongst the other music distribution sites because they do not just disseminate songs, EPs, and albums worldwide. In addition to partnerships Landr has with industry leaders, the company is widely known for offering a one-click mastering service to ensure work is professionally-mastered before distribution. 

Landr’s professional audio mastering gives new musicians instant music mastering. The company polishes and balances the sound to stream-ready your music these steps:

• Demos
• Singles
• Final masters
• Mix referencing
• Entire albums. 

How does this technology work? You upload your audio and work with the controls to find the proper sound. Landr uses AI and machine learning to duplicate what high-paid engineers accomplish to master a music track. They do this in three quick and easy steps :

1. Analyze the track’s production style based on the type of music. For example, Landr’s AI looks at a massive library of music within that genre for heavy metal and rock to create a distinctive mark on that type of music industry.
2. Process the music based on the analysis in step one. Landr has a fantastic set of audio-post production processes to make your track.
3. Renders the music using mastering software to finalize the best track possible.

Landr also offers a reporting dashboard that allows musicians to track the success of the distribution and fan base. They are a one-stop-shop for independent artists trying to break into their music scene from the technology side. But, how do Landr’s technological achievements compare to similar music distribution sites?

Is Landr’s Mastering Service Easy to Use? Yes.

Landr offers AI (Artificial Intelligence) mastering that is simple on both the musician’s and the professionals’ sides. You do not need to be an engineer, as you drag and drop your music files and then let the expert do their magic. There are also bulk upload options if you develop an entire album for a more integrated sound. 

Unlike some other music distribution sites discussed that focus on particular genres, Landr has different sections for a wide range of music genres. For example, do you play mostly rock or heavy metal? There is a sample section for you through Landr for inspiration. You also receive automatic cloud backup, so you are less likely to lose files.

Another unique aspect that makes Landr the top choice for music distribution services is its volume matching opportunity. This feature allows musicians to compare and contrast different volume levels and see what sounds best for their genre and track.

How Other Companies Compare with Landr

CD Baby is probably next on the list when it comes to comparisons. It is one of the oldest music distribution companies and is known for respecting the physical form of music. CD Baby also offers these services:

• Duplication
• Manufacturing
• Publishing administration
• Advance payments

CD Baby also organizes things by detailing information on streams and purchases. You can get geographic and demographic data on your fans. However, this is very similar to Landr’s reporting dashboard. As technology goes, Landr still comes out on top in production and post-production.

Other companies also have similar technology and tracking advantages:

• TuneCore offers sales statistics to help musicians track their transactions, and they feature a Music Publishing Administration to help license your music. Their interface is also easy to navigate. 
• Ditto is convenient for government registration, label registration, domain services, and contract drafting software. They also have tracking systems for sales and trends but have come under fire in recent years with numerous complaints.
• Symphonic is a bit unique in that they work as a one-stop shop that markets, licenses, and publishes music. 
• AWAL has numerous similarities, including Sync licensing and funding, marketing and distribution efforts, playlist campaigns, personal guidance on distribution, backend analytics, and lyric and credits distribution. However, they do not accept all musical artists onto their distribution site.

Some sites have similar capabilities and different offerings than Landr. However, they do not have the quality and speed of mastering that Landr has, especially for new artists breaking into a field. However,

Landr does help with label registration and domain services. Band seeking these specific services might want to look elsewhere. 

Cost, Fees, and Royalties are No-Risk with Landr

Landr also has another aspect that makes it a step above its competitors, and that is cost. Landr breaks out its worth on a sliding scale, which is perfect for musicians just starting out and then, as they get bigger, will pay for more services. The three things you want to analyze are as follows:

• The annual cost, if any
• How much does it cost per release
• What percentage of royalties will you receive on your work. 

There are different pricing plans to choose from; the right one for you depends on your potential music spread. Landr takes a larger commission instead of no annual fee for you to try them out under the “free plan”:

Type of Plan	Annual Cost	Features	Commission
Lite	Free	·       $9 single release ·       $29 EP/album release	15%
Complete	$20	·       $5 single release ·       $19 EP/album release	9%
Unlimited	$89	·       No fee, single release ·       No fee, EP/album release	0%

As you can see from the chart above, Landr is excellent for the cost. The “free version” is also beneficial for musicians who only have a few songs to put out right away. As your musician catalog grows, you can grow with Landr.

Simply put, Landr minimizes your risk through an attractive cost structure. If you want to try out their services, you will pay zero annual fees. However, you will pay more for your single and EP releases, and you will receive 75% of your royalties. However, these costs go down as you feel more comfortable with your music.

How Do Landr’s Costs Compare with Other Sites?

CD Baby

CD Baby, which is probably one of Landr’s biggest competitors, is almost double for an album release after one year:

• A set-up fee and a 15 percent commission of the musician’s royalties.
• $9.95 per single and $49 per album.
• Pro-single with total monetization for $29.95 per single.
• Pro-single with complete monetization for $69 per album. 

TuneCore

TuneCore does allow you to keep 100 percent of the profits you earn from the revenue made from sales, downloads, and streaming. However, TuneCore includes additional costs:

• $9.99 per single
• $19.99 per ringtone
• $29.99 per album for the first year and then $49.99 per album the following year
• One time $75 publishing fee
• One time $10 YouTube fee
• Monthly $7.99 TuneCore Social fee 

Ditto Music

Ditto is probably the most similar cost structure to Landr, and they also assist record labels and the artist themselves with a service called “Record Label in a Box.” This Record Label in a Box package is available in three tiers, and Musicians keep 100 percent of the royalties earned on their music: 

1. Artist – after a 30-day free trial, $19 per year for unlimited music for one artist
2. Professional – $29 per year for unlimited music for two artists
3. Label – $69 per year for unlimited music for five artists 

 Symphonic

Symphonic does not charge fees upfront for the basics. Instead, the company collects a 15 percent commission on standard distribution revenues and depends on distribution features, analytics, monetization, public relations, and customization: 

• YouTube Content ID, Channel Management, or Composition – 30%/Custom
• YouTube Optimization – One time $300 fee
• Soundcloud Profile Monetization  – 30%
• Video Distribution – Starts at $95 and 30%
• Publishing Administration – $100 signup fee, 15% of royalties 

 DistroKid

The most competitive cost structure compared to Landr is DistroKid. The company allows payments to be split with collaborators. You can upload your first song for free, and then, for a yearly fee of $19.99, DistroKid will distribute music major streaming platforms and music stores for a fee, and you keep 100 percent of their royalties and rights through these plans: 

• Musician – Unlimited uploads for $19.99 a year
• Musician Plus – Unlimited uploads for two artists for $35.99 a year
• Label Plan – Unlimited uploads for up to 100 artists for $79.99 a year 

Landr Distributes to All Major Streaming Outlets Worldwide

Landr is designed for independent artists to sell their music to today’s streaming platforms. You can have your music released on all of the largest and most popular streaming stores:

• Apple Music
• Google Play
• Pandora
• iTunes
• Amazon
• Deezer
• Tital
• Spotify
• iHeart Radio
• Boomplay
• Tencent
• Beatport
• Instagram
• Shazam
• TikTok

How Landr Compares to Other Distributors on Connections 

Landr’s distribution is not that much different from other music distribution sites. CD Baby also works with major platforms and will distribute your music to more than 100 various streaming and downloading services. At the same time, TuneCore gives musicians worldwide distribution to more than 150 platforms for singles, albums, and ringtones. 

Ditto distributes to more than 200 streaming sites, including all the big ones (Apple Music, Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, etc.). Symphonic is another worldwide music distributor that does digital and physical music distribution. CD Baby and Symphonic are the only music distribution sites that are digital and physical.

Amuse may seem like the other distribution sites in that it distributes your music into all of the major streaming platforms. However, they do not spread to China, and there is no lyrics distribution.

What About Landr’s Collaboration Efforts?

Landr also has your future in music in mind with its Landr Network of vocalists, producers, mix engineers, and artists. They built a network of more than three million creators to help you find the perfect talent to collaborate with on your project. In addition, their “Sessions” concept gives you real-time feedback on your work:

• You can get real-time feedback from collaborators while you are working on your music
• Writing and producing your songs and preview tracks for clients right from your home through the Sessions online collaboration tool.
• Online music lessons. 

Landr keeps things simple – download their plug-in, add it to your master bus, and you can start hosting a Session for smooth, easy collaboration and workflow. Amuse may be the only other “app of ease,” as they allow you to upload to all the main distribution sites right from your phone. But this ease does not include collaboration. 

Other companies do work with outside teams. For example, SpinnUp delivers music to more than 40 music stores and streaming platforms and the Universal Music Group A&R team. This feature could allow the record label to hear you, something Landr doesn’t have. 

How Other Music Distribution Sites Compare With Landr

How Does Horus Music Compare to Landr?

One company that may give Landr a run for its money is Horus Music. Horus is a UK company that has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise of International Trade, a significant award in their country.

They do not collect a commission, are open to all musicians, and even split payments. In addition, Horus Music has followed suit and distributes to China and Tiktok and allows for both lyrics and credits distribution. 

Some other benefits of Horus Music include:

• Easy and efficient
• Offer direct deposit for payments through a relationship with Western Union.
• Horus can also split royalties amongst collaborators, labels, and artists.
• Different pricing for single, EP, and album distribution (in euros) 

Horus Music offers Custom Music Tools that provide unlimited music releases for labels, which come with a 20 percent revenue option. They also offer:

• Video Distribution
• Music Mastering
• Playlist Pitching
• Radio Plugging
• PR and Marketing
• Social Media Marketing 

Why would you not go with Horus Music? Are you rock and heavy metal? Horus Music has cornered the Latin American and Asian markets. It is also successful in Korea and India and is growing in China. This international popularity can be attractive for musicians trying to break into these markets. 

Record Union vs. Landr

Record Union has been working with the major online music platforms to give musicians global digital distribution. They work with Beatport for the electronic side and entered into a partnership with Sony Music to offer more lucrative opportunities for up-and-coming musicians, something else Landr does not have

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwrMTKwj7Oo

More recently, Record Union upgraded their Discovery Tool to give their artists much more visibility in the online download industry. They also offer distributors their way to distribute music through Juno Download. Registration is free, and then they make pricing simple by offering different tiers for a monthly fee: 

• Artist Unlimited – Unlimited releases for three artists for $4.99 per month
• Label Unlimited – Unlimited releases for up to 10 artists under an indie label for $9.99 a month. 

Social media bundles are also available for a monthly fee and upgrades for a royalty share for labels from 85-92.5 percent. In addition to these fees, Record Union allocates a commission of 15 percent on all artist royalties. These prices should be compared to Landr, as they are commission-free with the unlimited plan. 

Symphonic vs. Landr

Symphonic has worked with the Latin, urban, and electronic music markets. They have electronic projects on Beatport as a specialty for this genre of music. However, Beatport may not be an issue if you are not breaking into those specific markets. If not, Landr again wins over the others. 

SpinnUp vs. Landr

SpinnUp may rival Landr in the indie music market, so it is vital to take a look. SpinnUp under Universal Music Group, which has its advantages. The company encompasses many famous labels that have promoted high-quality artists:  

• Capital Music Group
• DefJam Recordings
• Abbey Road Studios
• Capitol Records UK
• Bravad
• Decca Records
• EMI
• Island
• Motown
• Republic Records 

With the flat rates of $9.99, $19.99, and $39.99 for singles, EPs, and albums, respectively, Spinnup may be the music distribution site that can rival Landr in the future. 

Conclusion

Landr made it to the top of the music distribution site list for a reason. It is an excellent option for musicians who want a straightforward way to master their work before entering the streaming world. If you are just looking to get your work out without mastering, the cost is a respectable, no-risk option with no annual fee and small commission fees.

There are many similar sites today that offer free music distribution and even free online mastering services. However, Landr’s ease of use, vast distribution, and attractive cost spectrum makes it a lucrative option for musicians wanting to break out in the streaming world.