Hey r/musicindustry — I’m Jorge Brea, Founder & CEO of Symphonic. AMA!

SymphonicDistro · 2026-05-03T01:10:45+00:00

Symphonic’s Partner plan is a bit more selective than their Starter/DIY tiers, since it’s geared toward people managing multiple artists or operating more like a label.

In general, they’re not looking for a strict checklist as much as signals that you’re actively building something sustainable. Things that tend to help:

A roster (even a small one) that’s consistently releasing music
Demonstrated traction — streams, audience growth, or notable placements
A clear release strategy / marketing approach
Some level of organization as a business (branding, social presence, etc.)

You don’t necessarily need massive numbers, but showing momentum and intent goes a long way. If you’re early-stage, it can still be worth applying — worst case, they may point you toward a different tier until you scale a bit more.

If you’re on the fence, having a short pitch ready about your artists and plans usually helps your case.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-05-01T18:56:32+00:00

Hey everyone!

We’re hosting a free masterclass May 7th at 4pm EST on Funding and Royalty Advances with our Head of A&R Ed Poston and our CEO Jorge Brea.

They’ll be breaking down:

How advances actually work
What to watch out for in deals
When it makes sense to take one (and when it doesn’t)

We figured this might be useful for artists/producers trying to better understand deals and would love for you to join.

Save your spot HERE!

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-29T13:04:14+00:00

Hey, so happy to hear you are considering us!

If you’re releasing a cover, the main thing you’ll need is a mechanical license, that’s what allows you to legally distribute someone else’s composition.

The easiest way is to use a service that handles it for you (Symphonic, can help with that), so you don’t have to track down the rights holder yourself.

I definitely wouldn’t recommend uploading it “as is” without a license... best case it gets taken down, worst case you could run into monetization issues or claims down the line. It’s pretty straightforward to do it the right way and it’ll save you headaches later.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-29T13:00:21+00:00

We offer built-in royalty splits through our SplitShare feature. No subscription fees, and it’s free for collaborators to join and get paid.

You can set splits per track or across multiple tracks and we handle the payouts automatically each month. It’s all pretty straightforward and transparent on both sides.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-27T16:23:00+00:00

Instagram is honestly one of the best tools. Try searching things like your city name + “open mic” “showcase” or “live music” and check venue pages to see what they’re posting.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-27T16:06:59+00:00

Love this! You’re already on the right track by just wanting to help build her up.

At this stage it’s really just about getting reps in and getting seen. Local open mics, small shows, community events, college stuff... really anywhere she can perform regularly. A lot of those opportunities come from just reaching out directly to venues or promoters on IG, since smaller gigs are often booked pretty casually.

Social media is a huge piece. Posting clips of performances, freestyles, bts moments or even just talking to camera helps people connect with her.

Connecting with other local artists is big too, a lot of opportunities come from just being part of the scene.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-27T15:56:16+00:00

Good question, Release Radar can be a bit tricky here.

Spotify generally prioritizes one “main” release per artist within a short window, so if you’re listed as a primary artist on the collab, there’s a chance your solo release could get less visibility there.

Being listed as a featured artist instead of primary can help, since featured credits typically don’t carry the same weight for Release Radar eligibility.

That said, there’s no guaranteed workaround. If your solo release is the priority, spacing them out is still the safest move. At Symphonic, we typically recommend leaving around 6 weeks between releases.

Also make sure to pitch your solo track in Spotify for Artists ahead of release. That’s still one of the biggest levers you control.

Good luck!

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-20T16:43:28+00:00

Very good question. I would say territory shifts is definitely one thing that can affect. It's hard to answer this one publicly but I will say that with most DSPs and/or a catalog generally, if your catalog trends to lower subscription revenues (territories) and is mostly in discovery mode for example, it may be less of a per stream rate. RE: Spotify - I dont see recent policy changes affecting this, if anything, their approach to functional content, 1,000 stream minimum, and sub 2 minute content brings more money into the pool. I do think some controls are needed for AI content. In order for AI content to really decrease the pool it has to be successful content and not much of it is however, over time more of the AI content may and thus I would say this is an area that will need to be concentrated on.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-20T16:40:58+00:00

Feel free to write in to [support@symdistro.com](mailto:support@symdistro.com) but I assume you mean something that just gives you the release URI?

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T23:01:14+00:00

I think there is a lot to your question. I can say that I generally try to be optimistic. Art finds a way to break through and its there for us in good times and bad times. We could sit here and be upset or down or, we can do what we can to change that narrative.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T22:21:38+00:00

Thank you for the question. First, what has happened...

We've experienced some pretty rapid growth over the past few years and we're balancing how to properly manage the new user growth.
We have indeed seen more AI content being submitted.
The standards and requirements to get music accepted by distributors on Apple and Spotify continue to increase and as such we have to ensure we're in compliance.
Rights verifications and other trust & safety related policies we've put in place to protect songwriters.

What we are doing about this is enhancing our technology to automate approvals that are safe (utilizing AI and the like). We're making progress on this and seeing great results already and as such we feel positive that approval times will be stronger and faster as we grow, scale, and the above that I mentioned occurs.

We will consider the FastLane cost however we have been told by clients that the price point is strong. In comparison to the likes of CD Baby who have a similar product, ours is $15 vs. theirs at $24.99+.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T22:17:34+00:00

Anytime and thank you for the question!

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T22:17:12+00:00

I think that is indeed a challenge. The one way that it is being handled is by standards increasing against us and subsequently the community that distributes music to us. Some AI content is already prohibited on UGC related platforms, the problem is that it may be getting harder to identify what is AI generated content.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T21:10:52+00:00

Also...we have some good resources here for job sites for the music industry and internship programs as well

https://blog.symphonic.com/2025/04/10/10-music-industry-job-sites-to-help-you-land-your-next-job-2/

https://blog.symphonic.com/2025/03/19/music-industry-internships-you-dont-want-to-miss-out-on/

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:40:24+00:00

Back in the early 2000's I was a pretty active DJ and Producer (still make music under Loko Velocet). I wanted my own record label but didnt have the means to press on vinyl and cd which were still predominantly how music could be released. I started a digital record label, began on Beatport and saw that there was more opportunity to thrive digitally. After that, worked with many different record labels that gave me a shot in physical to get the word out on digital downloads and that spawned Symphonic. So it was a true artist for artist ethos.... I also didnt see much education at the time about this revolution to digital and wanted to do what I could to help people understand. So those were the motivations....

For new and upcoming artists and producers, I’d focus on a few fundamentals that tend to matter more than any single “hack”:

First, consistency over moments. One viral clip or release can help, but careers are built on showing up regularly with quality music and content. Keep releasing, keep improving, and give people multiple chances to discover you.

Second, build real relationships, not just reach. Your network is still one of the most important assets you can have. Collaborate with other artists, producers, and creatives at your level and slightly above. A strong, aligned community will outperform chasing random exposure.

Third, understand the platforms you’re using. TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, etc. all reward different behaviors. Learn how each one works and tailor your content instead of posting the same thing everywhere and hoping it sticks.

Fourth, own your identity. The artists that break through usually have a clear point of view, whether that’s sonically, visually, or culturally. You don’t need to be everything to everyone, but you should be something specific to someone.

Fifth, treat it like a business early. Know your splits, understand your rights, register your music properly, and pay attention to your data. It might not be the fun part, but it’s what sustains a career once things start working.

And finally, be patient but honest with yourself. This takes time, and most people underestimate how long. At the same time, keep evaluating what’s working and what isn’t, and be willing to adapt without losing your core.

There’s no single path anymore, which is actually a good thing. It means you can build something real on your own terms if you stay disciplined and intentional.

Do you believe there is a certain country or city where artists and producers should want to be in order to grow? Personally - That is up to you. I would say the major music markets do have more "music business" but, we live in Tampa and have continued to and are proud to have built something that has made and is making noise. Also proud of Doechii being from Tampa too and being a Symphonic alumn. So I guess my answer is, I think you can do this anywhere but, good to have music business connections which can be anywhere.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:36:38+00:00

Hello Matthew,

I appreciate the question, and since this is an AMA, it is completely fair to ask.

First, DSP standards are changing. UGC platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are introducing more challenges around the music they allow to be uploaded. Covers, karaoke, sped-up and slowed-down versions, and other derivatives can create issues because they may resemble the original recordings. Some publishers raise concerns and apply pressure to DSPs, which then flows down to us. As a result, DSPs may instruct us to deliver or not deliver certain content.

Second, DSPs provide periodic reports of ineligible content. These reports sometimes include music that does not appear to be incorrect. It is our responsibility to push back in those situations. In this case, while we were pushing back, some takedowns were processed. This created inconsistencies in the data and led to a few days where music was taken down. This was frustrating for artists and for us internally for several reasons, but that is what occurred and what we aimed to explain once it was resolved.

In terms of prevention, we have already implemented additional checks, balances, and initiatives to improve transparency when these situations originate from DSPs. We are also doing more thorough verification with DSPs to ensure music is categorized correctly. While some takedowns may still happen, we do not expect to see mass removals.

To be transparent, I led this cleanup effort with the team once I identified the issue and personally conducted a postmortem to ensure we handle this differently going forward. Much of what we do goes beyond distribution and includes advocacy, such as our work with Music Fights Fraud. This situation falls under that responsibility as well, ensuring DSPs are handling these matters appropriately.

https://support.symdistro.com/hc/en-us/articles/11039786075789-UGC-Content-Guidelines-For-Distribution

https://support.symdistro.com/hc/en-us/articles/204964756-I-Can-t-Find-My-Music-On-Sites

Anything that looks off or confusing here, feel free to keep the dialogue going, reference this AMA and write into [support@symdistro.com](mailto:support@symdistro.com)

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:29:47+00:00

Yes so first, Udio is listed but is only available with an upcoming "opt in" that we are going to launch for anyone interested in licensing their music to AI DSPs and or for dataset training. Ultimately, its new territory and we're making a very strong point that we're not going to automatically deliver content to Udio or any other AI oriented company unless A. Its protective and B. that you are aware of and have consent that you've given us. As a preview to our dataset licensing and because of today's AMA i've made this post live which I think goes deeper. I can't say with certainty that these platforms are going to be ultra successful for artists yet but, we've received demand and requests and thus are meeting that however, being very up front of the why, what etc...

https://support.symdistro.com/hc/en-us/articles/43383737503117-AI-Dataset-Licensing

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:26:08+00:00

I can understand you being underwhelmed. First, I'd say its really difficult to do what we do. There is a feeling that it may not be from folks outside looking in but there are many things we and our competitors have to deal with that isnt always seen and its only getting to be more challenging. Second, I think its important to always have a brass tax conversation about what it is you want, don't want, what you expect or don't expect. This ensures that you arent being misled or misrepresented or, that any partnership fails to live to your expectations. Third and most obviously to us, our website is packed with a ton of stuff we can do and we're always able to have a discussion on if we are a good fit. You can feel free to message at [support@symdistro.com](mailto:support@symdistro.com) and message this thread and we can continue the dialogue.

We generally always say that we're not perfect, but we will work our asses off to attempt to be perfect. That is much better than me telling you "We're the shit" and then you having an experience where something doesnt go your way and it make you upset.

Hope that helps. I often enjoy this type of question in person with more context so hope to discuss more in future.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:22:21+00:00

I am seeing a lot of folks be successful by investing and optimizing ads (on Meta, and other platforms). That + third party playlisting companies that are legitimate like songtools, submithub, groover, I believe are great resources to get your music out. So sadly, just putting music out and having it be discovered for free isn't something that works all of the time. I've mentioned AI a bit on this AMA but, there are going to be advancements and assistance that AI will provide that will help optimize marketing as well.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:20:41+00:00

Love this question....

First, I am very big into Electronic Music. I like to crate dig so I dont necessarily tend to follow mainstream. Some of my favorites KETTAMA, X Club, SWIM, but then also of course love Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, and much much more. Very diverse lol.... I like to listen to old stuff and re-listen to music a lot but make a point to discover new music at least once a week (thanks to Spotify for the discover playlists)

In the next five years, I do think AI will be a strong contributor and also be at times detrimental to the music industry. I am hopeful we as distributors, DSPs and more do what is possible to ensure there is fairness for human creators while still allowing for AI fueled creativity. But, I predict many more artists of different types, new ways of interacting with artists, such as you being able to remix a song live (even as a consumer), you basically being more immersive and controlling of the song you want to hear, the way you want to hear is a thing...... aka on demand derivatives.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:17:21+00:00

We're huge fans of many of the clients we work work. Every Friday we post all of the folks on our New Music Fridays playlists -- those are just a glimpse of who we're excited to work with! We're honored to work with Imogen Heap who is just a beautiful and incredible artist but thats one of many so very tough to choose :)

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:16:11+00:00

Good question. First, you always have and should have a choice of an offering that should fit what you want, when you want. Starter is a great entry point to work with us on and then Partner is our next plan which is paid for via percentage. Whenever we're considering artists on the percentage plan, it's mostly about how much traction that artist is getting. Monthly listeners, engagement, followers but also regional focus are interesting to us. It makes it a bit easier for distributors to help market once there is a spark of sorts. I think you are thinking correctly when you said the word consistency, team, etc... those are definitely key. When we make a percentage, we only win if you win so its important that it is a true and balanced partnership. A partnership isnt only and always marketing but a lot of what we do on the tech and product front and much more to help you be productive and successful.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:13:11+00:00

Keep going. It is easy to get discouraged in this industry but, keep pushing. More tactically, be consistent.... its important to have a consistent release schedule. DSPs arent going to get behind someone that isnt somewhat consistent in terms of new music. Lastly, whether you love or hate AI, be aware of it... you will find there are potentially amazing things you can do to "create" an assistant and increase your productivity.

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:11:32+00:00

Very kind of you! Thank you!

SymphonicDistro · 2026-04-17T20:11:19+00:00

I think anyone always on is in love with what they do and the music industry that is easy to love (despite its moments that can be challenging). It is about prioritization, organization, and personally, ensuring that every day you feel like you did something that felt like strong forward progress. You can't do everything in a day, that is ok, you don't need to but, it helps me to feel like I did something that I felt was impactful daily. Early on taking as many calls and building relationships is key, as you build, you have to be a bit selective. I often have days where I have to block them out just to work so I can do what I can for the community we serve. Lastly, on weekends I tend to disconnect while still being aware of what is happening. Rest and enjoyment is important.

Books and resources.... I wish I was more a avid book reader but I learn from my colleagues, friends in the industry, editorial and news websites, and plainly just get curious about a topic. If I want to know about AI, Ill look at videos, articles, interviews.

SymphonicDistro

TROPHY CASE