Sell & Distribute Your Concert Recordings Online with TuneCore
Back in 2007 when I was still teaching music in the public schools, I held a Battle of the Bands as a fundraiser to help school music programs in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In addition to the ticket sales and some donations that we raised, my students thought it would be a cool idea to record the concert and sell it on iTunes. I told them that it wasn’t possible due to licensing difficulties, but in truth, I had no idea how I would get the recording to be posted on iTunes. One of my students came to me with a tip: check out TuneCore. At the time they were a startup from Brooklyn, NY and they did exactly what I was looking for - they get your recordings distributed to online music platforms. Nearly 20 years later, they are still doing just that, and I think that as a music teachers, we invest countless hours nurturing our students' talents and preparing them for performances - but once the performance is over, it vanishes into history. By recording them and using a service like TuneCore, you can easily share your school's music performances on popular platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. There are other similar platforms that do exactly the same thing (DistroKid is very popular) - but I’m focusing on TuneCore because I’ve actually used it.
There are many reasons to distribute your recordings online. Here are a few:
Student Motivation: Knowing their work will be available to a global audience can inspire students to give their best performances.
Fundraising Opportunities: Selling recordings can generate additional funds for your music program.
Community Engagement: Parents, alumni, and the local community can enjoy performances even if they cannot attend in person.
Professional Development: It provides an opportunity for students to experience the real-world process of recording and distributing music.
Now that you know the WHY, here is a step-by-step tutorial on the HOW:
Step-by-Step Guide to Distributing Recordings with TuneCore
Step 1: Prepare Your Recordings
Before diving into TuneCore, ensure your recordings are high-quality and edited to meet professional standards. Consider hiring a sound engineer to actually make the recording of your concert. In my opinion, you want the best possible representation of your program if you’re going to distribute recordings online, and there are PLENTY of highly qualified sound engineers that can help you make these recordings.
Step 2: Create a TuneCore Account
Sign Up: Visit the TuneCore website (www.tunecore.com) and create an account. If you already have an account, simply log in.
Choose Your Distribution Plan: TuneCore offers different pricing plans depending on your needs. For a single release, the basic plan is usually sufficient.
Step 3: License the Music
Licensing is crucial if you're distributing works not originally composed by you or your students. Here’s how to do it:
Identify the Works: Make a list of all pieces included in the recording. Note whether they are original compositions or covers.
Obtain Mechanical Licenses: For covers, you need to secure a mechanical license. Services like the Harry Fox Agency (www.harryfox.com) and School Music License (https://www.schoolmusiclicense.com) can help with this.
Public Domain and Creative Commons: If you are using public domain works or compositions licensed under Creative Commons, make sure to verify and document their status to avoid legal issues.
Attribution: Properly credit all composers, lyricists, and arrangers in your distribution information.
Step 4: Upload Your Music to TuneCore
Upload Audio Files: Once your recordings are ready and properly licensed, upload them to TuneCore. You’ll need to provide track details such as title, artist name, and genre.
Add Cover Art: Create and upload cover art that represents your school or the concert theme. Ensure it meets TuneCore’s specifications. A best practice idea is to have the STUDENTS submit artwork for the cover art and select one or more to represent the school.
Metadata: Fill in all required metadata fields, including release date, label name (you can use your school's name), and copyright information.
Step 5: Choose Distribution Platforms
TuneCore allows you to select from various streaming services and digital stores. You can opt for all available platforms or select specific ones that best suit your audience. Ask your students where they get their music from - and then distribute it on them!
Step 6: Set Pricing and Release Date
Decide on the pricing for your recordings (if applicable) and set a release date. Consider timing it around a special event, such as the end of the school year or a holiday, to maximize impact. You can make this a fundraiser for your program like I did. Even after paying the fees that are collected by TuneCore as well as the licensing, you’ll still have plenty of $$ for your program (while doing it the right way).
Step 7: Promote Your Release
Once your recordings are live, promote them through your school’s communication channels, social media, and local media outlets. Encourage students and parents to share the music with their networks.
That’s it! The only other decision that you have to make is how long you want the recordings to stay on these platforms. There are fees associated with doing so, so you should make sure that they are actually still selling to justify keeping them online.
I think that your students AND the school community will think that it is REALLY cool to make their recordings available on sites like Spotify and Apple Music. It is also a wonderful opportunity to teach students about how the music industry actually works. This process could actually be handled by students in a music technology class in the school - or even a school record label. I know MANY teachers and schools that already do this. I think that distributing your school’s concert recordings through TuneCore not only highlights the hard work of your students but also extends the reach of your music program. Whether you’re raising funds or simply celebrating your students’ achievements, TuneCore provides a straightforward and effective way to bring your performances to the world.
I hope this is useful! If you do something like this already, let me know! I’d love to hear from you.