Credit: UnitedMastersUnitedMasters CEO, Steve Stoute
Independent artist distribution platform UnitedMasters has launched a new subscription tier that allows acts to keep 100% of their royalties from digital services.
To date, the US-based company has operated a model in which it keeps 10% of an artist’s royalties on any distributed platform.
From today (July 9), however, UnitedMasters artists have a choice: They can either stick with the 10% option, or choose to pay $5 per month for a ‘Select’ subscription, whose benefits include keeping 100% of their royalty payouts.
Other perks for ‘Select’ members include access to exclusive branding deals with UnitedMasters partners including ESPN, the NBA, Cash App, Apple and more.
The multi-year ESPN partnership was also announced today, with the sports network agreeing to feature curated music from UnitedMasters ‘Select’ artists across its sports programming and promotional content.
‘Select’ subscribers will also be granted ‘Express’ distribution, says UnitedMasters, with their music landing on services 10 days or less after they upload.
“Disruption and democratization are in our DNA,” said Steve Stoute, Founder and CEO of UnitedMasters.
‘We’re tearing down the construct of ‘gatekeepers’ and putting independent artists in front of the biggest brands, allowing them to choose the terms of their deal, and maintain 100% ownership of their careers – all from their phone.”
“From its inception, UnitedMasters was designed to give artists the power of choice and control over their future.” said Lauren Wirtzer-Seawood, President of UnitedMasters.
“As we continue to build the new blueprint for the music industry, we’re dedicated to providing artists with new options for what a modern day music career looks like.”
“As we continue to build the new blueprint for the music industry, we’re dedicated to providing artists with new options for what a modern day music career looks like.”
Lauren Wirtzer-Seawood, UnitedMasters
Discussing the new ESPN partnership, Steve Stoute further commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering with ESPN. They have a massive platform with the potential to make a career-changing impact on up-and-coming, independent artists.
“The UnitedMasters ‘Select’ roster will serve as an unparalleled library of new and untapped music, and we can’t wait to hear our artists on ESPN shows for years to come.”
Jimmy Pitaro, president, ESPN and co-chairman, Disney Media Networks, commented: “ESPN has always covered the intersection of sports and culture, and music plays a key role in that.
“We’re looking forward to strengthening that connection through this new collaboration with UnitedMasters, while at the same time giving up-and-coming artists a platform for national exposure to showcase their music to a broad, diverse and engaged audience of fans.”
Eighteen months after its launch, UnitedMasters says it has amassed over 400,000 artists, 5 billion streams, and over half a million distributed tracks.Music Business Worldwide
