United Masters Review

United Masters Music Distribution Review: Read This First

Source: Hiphopwiki

Rating: 4/5

Founded in 2017 by Steve Stout, a former music executive, UnitedMasters is an artist-owned music streaming company that gives artists more control over their music.

It has a library of millions of songs and offers exclusive content from popular artists. Artists can also choose to release new songs through UnitedMasters first, before other streaming platforms.

Let's review UnitedMasters music distributor together.

Our Honest UnitedMasters Review

Things we like about UnitedMasters:

  1. The company is artist-owned, which gives artists more control over their music.

  2. It has a library of millions of songs.

  3. Offers exclusive content from popular artists.

  4. Artists can choose to release songs through UnitedMasters first, before other streaming services.

Things we didn't like:

  1. Less marketing and promotion to attract listeners/fans and boost their music career.

  2. Need more features that allow fans to interact with artists (e.g., Q&As, live chats).

  3. Improvements are needed to the user interface.

UnitedMasters is a great music distribution company for artists who want more control over their music. The company has a wide range of exclusive content, and its partnership with YouTube allows artists to connect with their fan base directly. 

UnitedMasters is headquartered in New York City, United States.

How does UnitedMasters work?

UnitedMasters is a music distribution and marketing platform that allows artists to either keep 100% of their royalties and pay upfront costs or the artists can choose to get 90% of it without paying any upfront costs. UnitedMasters has received funding from Andreessen Horowitz, 21st Century Fox and Google’s umbrella company, Alphabet.

The company's main product is its music distribution platform, which gives artists the ability to upload their music to major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as over 100 smaller ones.

Artists can also track their streaming data and see how much money they're making from each platform. UnitedMasters also offers marketing and promotion services to help artists reach new fans and grow their music careers.

Overall, UnitedMasters is a great option for independent artists who are looking for a distribution platform that gives them complete control over their music and 100% of their royalties.

How to get started with UnitedMasters?

1. Visit the UnitedMasters website and create an account.

2. Upload your music to the UnitedMasters platform.

3. Track your streaming data and see how much money you're making from each platform.

4. Use the marketing and promotion services offered by UnitedMasters to reach new fans and grow your music career.

Pros - UnitedMasters review

If you're an independent artist looking for a music distribution platform that gives you complete control over your music and 100% of your royalties, UnitedMasters is a great option. Here are some of the pros of using UnitedMasters:

  1. Complete control over your music - With UnitedMasters, you have complete control over your music. You can decide which platforms to distribute your music on, and you can also track your streaming data.

  2. 100% of royalties - One of the best things about UnitedMasters is that you get to keep 100% of your royalties. This is a great way to make sure that you're making the most money from your music. UnitedMasters offer rights to the master recording too.

  3. High brand exposure- As UnitedMasters is backed by some of the biggest names in the venture capital world, it gives artists a high level of brand exposure. This can be helpful for independent musicians who are new to the music business side and want to get involved with a responsible record label.

  4. Widespread social media integration- UnitedMasters is integrated with many social media platforms, which makes it easy for artists to share their music with a wide audience.

  5. Analytics and insights are clear- UnitedMasters provides artists with clear analytics and insights, which makes it easy to track the performance of your music.

  6. Marketing and promotion services - If you're looking for help promoting your music, UnitedMasters offers marketing and promotion services that can help you reach new fans and grow your career. Artists can track the performance of their songs, social media impact, etc. One can also make music videos through UnitedMasters.

  7. Easy to use platform - UnitedMasters is easy to use, so you'll be able to start distributing your music and promoting your career right away.

  8. Affordable prices - UnitedMasters offers very affordable prices for its distribution and marketing services.

  9. Stellar customer support team.

Cons - UnitedMasters review

There are a few potential downsides to using UnitedMasters, which include:

  1. Limited reach - While UnitedMasters gives you the ability to distribute your music to major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, it doesn't have the same reach as some of the other music distribution platforms.

  2. UnitedMasters serves only independent musicians - In order to use UnitedMasters, you need to be an independent artist. This platform is not meant for signed artists or bands.

  3. Some features are only available in the US - Some of UnitedMasters' features, such as its marketing and promotion services, are only available to artists in the United States.

Key features of UnitedMasters

Here are some key features of UnitedMasters music distribution service:

  1. You can upload music and retain the rights to your master recordings.

  2. You split the royalties with the label if you are on the free plan, ratio is 9:1.

  3. If you become the member of UnitedMasters SELECT, you keep 100% royalties.

  4. There is no long-term contract, so you can cancel at any time.

  5. You can distribute your music to major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

  6. You can also distribute your music to smaller, niche platforms.

  7. UnitedMasters offers marketing and promotion services to help you get your music noticed by a wider audience.

  8. If you're looking for a fair and affordable way to get your songs out there, UnitedMasters is the way to go. Their prices are competitive, they don't lock you into long-term contracts, and you retain full control of your music.

Some additional features include:

  1. A "project management" tool that helps artists keep track of their song releases;

  2. A "podcast" feature that allows artists to share songs with their fans; and

  3. An "iheart radio" feature that helps artists promote their songs to radio stations.

  4. A “Beat Exchange” feature where artists can buy or sell freshly brewed beats for their upcoming venture.

UnitedMasters App

UnitedMasters is a great music distribution app for independent artists who want to control their music and make the most money from their royalties.

The platform is easy to use, affordable and provides artists with clear analytics and insights. The UnitedMasters app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

The app allows you to upload your music, track your streaming data, and use the marketing and promotion services offered by UnitedMasters.

UnitedMasters offers master recording rights

UnitedMasters is a new type of record label that's committed to giving musicians the fair deal they deserve.

With UnitedMasters, you pay a competitive rate to distribute your music across the internet, and you split the royalties with the label while retaining the master recording rights.

It's a great deal for musicians, and it's about time someone came up with an alternative to the exploitative record labels that have been the norm for far too long.

If you're looking for a fair and affordable way to get your music out there, UnitedMasters is the way to go.

Free Artist Websites

UnitedMasters offers free artists' own websites for free. This is a great way to get your music out there and build up a following from one location. With your artist website, you can:

  • Upload your music and videos.

  • Create a blog to share your thoughts and musings on the music industry.

  • Connect with your fans through social media.

  • Sell your music and merchandise.

Analytics

UnitedMasters offers detailed analytics and music reports so you can see how your music is performing. This is a great way to track your progress and see where you need to make improvements. With UnitedMasters, you can see:

  • If your song has received more streams

  • What countries your music is being played in.

  • Which social media accounts your music is being played on.

  • How many sales you've made.

  • What keywords people are using to find your music.

This is just a small sampling of the data that UnitedMasters provides. With this information, you can make changes to your marketing and promotion strategy to better target your audience.

UnitedMasters reviews

UnitedMasters has positive reviews from both critics and users. Critics praise the platform for its affordable prices, easy-to-use interface, and ability to distribute music to major streaming platforms.

Users also appreciate these features, as well as the platform's marketing and promotion services.

UnitedMasters has a 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.7/5 rating on the App Store.

UnitedMasters and NBA TV Partnership

The UnitedMasters and NBA TV collaboration will bring original programming to the network featuring today’s biggest independent artists.

The content will be a mix of live performances and documentary-style segments, giving fans an inside look at the creative process of some of their favourite musicians.

This is a great opportunity for musicians to reach a wider audience, and it's another example of UnitedMasters commitment to giving artists the fair deal they deserve.

UnitedMasters has also partnered up with other big names like TikTok, Twitch and many more.

If you're looking for a way to get your music out there, this is definitely worth checking out.

My thoughts on UnitedMasters' Brand Opportunities

When it comes to music distribution, there are a few things that I look for.

First and foremost, I want a company that is fair and affordable. UnitedMasters meets both of these criteria. They have competitive prices, and they don't lock you into long-term contracts.

I also like that UnitedMasters offers marketing and promotion services. This is a great way to get all my songs out there and build a successful career.

With the artist's website, one can upload your music and videos, create a blog, connect with your fans through social media accounts, and sell your music and merchandise.

The marketing and distribution tools include:

  • A "smart link" that allows artists to track where their fans are listening to their song and how they're sharing it;

  • A custom URL that can be used for promoting an artist's music;

  • A "tip jar" that allows fans to directly support an artist;

  • A "fan gate" that allows artists to give away free songs or other content in exchange for fans signing up for their mailing list;

  • A "paywall" that allows artists to charge for certain content;

  • A "merch store" that allows artists to sell merchandise; and

  • A "tour date" feature that helps artists promote their live shows.

Finally, I appreciate that UnitedMasters provides detailed analytics so you can see how your music is performing. This is a great way to track your progress and see where you need to make improvements.

UnitedMasters Approval

The approval process for UnitedMasters can vary depending on the song and artist. However, the company typically approves a song within a few days.

MasterLinks

UnitedMasters offers a unique feature called Master Links. Master Links allow artists to make their music easily accessible.

The Master Link will be generated automatically, and the recipient of the link can then listen to the song on any device or platform, including Spotify, Apple Music, and more.

This is a great way for artists to promote their music to a wider audience. It's also a great way for fans to discover new music that they may not have otherwise found.

Brand ambassador of United Music

Shemuel Parker is the current brand ambassador for UnitedMasters. He is a music industry expert who has experience working with major labels and independent artists.

Parker provides artists with honest and unbiased reviews of music distribution platforms, so they can make the best decision for their careers.

FAQs - UnitedMasters

Which artists use UnitedMasters?

Many artists from the hip hop genre use the UnitedMasters music platform, including:

  1. Snoop Dogg

  2. Busta Rhymes

  3. 50 Cent

  4. The Game

And more coming artists!

How do I reach the UnitedMasters support team?

The UnitedMasters support team is available to answer any questions you have about the platform. They kindly request you to reach customer support through the live chat option.

Is UnitedMasters legit?

Yes, UnitedMasters is a legitimate company that provides fair and affordable distribution deals for musicians.

The company was founded by Steve Stoute, a music industry veteran, and is backed by some of the biggest names in the business, including Google, Sony Music, and Universal Music Group.

If you're looking for a fair and affordable way to get your music out there, UnitedMasters is the way to go.

Is the UnitedMasters email address invalid?

The UnitedMasters email address is valid and active. You can reach the support team by emailing support@unitedmasters.com.

How much does UnitedMasters cost?

UnitedMasters has a monthly subscription fee of $19.99. There is also a one-time sign-up fee of $49.99. The platform does not charge any additional fees for its services.

What is the UnitedMasters SELECT service?

UnitedMasters offers a service called SELECT, which is designed for artists who are looking for more control over their careers. With SELECT, artists can gain access to additional services, and they can also customize their distribution and marketing plans.

You can also select a release date within 10 days with this service, though Universal Masters generally take 3 weeks for music approval.

SELECT is a great option for artists who are serious about their careers and want to have more control over their music.

What are UnitedMasters Artist Profiles?

Artist Profiles are another unique feature offered by UnitedMasters. These profiles allow artists to showcase their work and connect with fans. Artists can share their photos, videos, tour dates, and more on their profiles.

Fans can also follow artists on their profiles to stay up-to-date with valuable information regarding new releases and tour dates.

Does UnitedMasters offer any marketing or promotion services?

Yes, UnitedMasters offers a number of marketing and promotion services to help artists reach a wider audience. These services include:

  1. Social media promotion

  2. Radio promotion

  3. Podcast promotion

And more!

Does UnitedMasters promote your music through the artist page?

Yes, UnitedMasters does promote music through artist pages. Artist pages are a great way for artists to connect with fans and share their work. Fans can also follow artists on their profiles to stay up-to-date with new releases and tour dates.

How long does it take for UnitedMasters to pay you?

All artists who meet the minimum payment threshold of $50 will be paid on the 15th of each month. Payments are made through PayPal, and you will need to have an active PayPal account in order to receive your payments.

Is UnitedMasters better than DistroKid?

UnitedMasters and Distrokid are two of the most popular options to release music and distribute songs online. They both have their pros and cons, so let's take a closer look at them side by side:

Price:

UnitedMasters is a free website for their most basic plan but takes away 90% of your royalties, while Distrokid costs $20 a year for their most basic plan and $35 per year plan for additional features.

Ease of Use:

Both UnitedMasters and Distrokid are easy to use, but Distrokid is slightly simpler and more straightforward.

Royalties:

With UnitedMasters, you retain the rights to your master recordings and split the royalties with the label, while with Distrokid, you collect 100% of the royalties.

Features:

Both UnitedMasters and Distrokid offer a similar set of features, including the ability to distribute your song to major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

However, UnitedMasters also offers additional features like marketing and promotion services, which can be helpful if you're trying to get your music noticed by a wider audience.

Quality:

There is no clear winner when it comes to quality, as both UnitedMasters and Distrokid offer high-quality distribution services.

Overall, it's hard to say which service is better because it depends on your needs and budget. If you're looking for a cheap and simple way to get your music out there, then Distrokid is a good option. However, if you're willing to pay more for additional features and services, then UnitedMasters is the better choice.

How much do you get paid from UnitedMasters?

UnitedMasters takes a 10% commission on all music sales and streaming royalties at no upfront fees, or choose the UnitedMasters Select service and keep all of the music sales earnings.

Final Thoughts

UnitedMasters is a powerful distribution and marketing platform that can be extremely helpful for independent artists. The company's wide range of features and tools makes it a great resource for artists who are looking to promote and distribute their music.

The approval process for a song typically takes only a few days, and the company offers a number of marketing and promotion services to help artists reach a wider audience. Additionally, UnitedMasters is used by a number of well-known artists, including Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and 50 Cent.

You don't need to create an independent new site for the time being - UnitedMasters can create you a profile with the artist's name for free!

If you're an independent artist looking for a distribution and marketing platform for your music career without the ownership of a record label, UnitedMasters is definitely worth checking out!