Upload-only distributors get your music live, then disappear. Serious artists need funding, global distro, and real promo. Here is what to look for.

Don’t follow the herd

Distro-only platforms promise speed and a green “delivered” check. Then what? For serious independents with momentum, “upload” is step one, not the finish line. Artists regularly report issues that slow them down:

• Metadata chaos and broken releases. One creator says two albums were “ruined” when artist names were merged after a metadata edit, and support “refused to accept any responsibility.” Reddit

• Customer support that disappears. Multiple threads describe tickets looping or chats closing without resolution. Reddit+1

• Moving price tiers and plan confusion. TuneCore users saw the “New Artist” plan discontinued in June 2025, prompting forced plan changes. Reddit

• Pay-for-speed support models. Even when help exists, response times can depend on which plan you pay for. support.tunecore.com

Upload-only also struggles in today’s fraud-heavy landscape

The easier it is to upload, the easier it is for bad actors to game the system. That hurts honest artists:

• Fake albums and imposters keep slipping through distributor pipelines and landing on Spotify artist pages. The Verge

• Botting and fraud siphon royalties and sometimes trigger wrongful takedowns of legit indie tracks. The Guardian
  Even Spotify ended its brief direct-upload experiment years ago, opting to work through distribution partners rather than keep the gates wide open. Pitchfork

If you are a serious artist, “upload” is not enough

Upload ≠ growth. To turn a release into momentum, you need four things upload-only distributors usually skip:

1. Forecasted funding
   Advances sized by real royalty forecasts so you can invest in production, marketing, and timeline discipline. Forecast → Advance.

2. Global delivery with QC
   Distribution that actually checks metadata, rights, and splits, and helps you migrate or fix catalogs without nuking release pages.

3. Promotion that moves needles
   Playlist pitching, campaign planning, and paid media that ties spend to recoupment. Playlist Pitches + Ads.

4. Aligned support
   A partner who earns when you do and is reachable when things break. Not a ticket queue that replies next week.

How Kahuna is different

Don’t follow the herd. Kahuna backs serious artists with cash and reach so releases do not die in the queue.

• Forecasted Advances: We forecast your royalties and propose a right-sized advance so you can fund creative and promo.

• Global Distribution: We deliver worldwide and help fix messy metadata to protect your artist identity and catalog health.

• Real Promotion: Editorial pitching, audience growth, and paid campaigns linked to recoupment so spend is accountable.

• Aligned Terms: Clear economics. We win when you win.

Stop uploading into the void. If you are building momentum and need more than a submit button, apply to Kahuna for funding, distribution, and promotion that actually supports your next release.

#IndependentArtists #MusicBusiness #MusicMarketing #MusicDistribution #IndieMusic #Streaming #Kahuna