DistroDirect Shortlisted For Global Music Tech Startup Award

DistroDirect, the Brisbane-based white-label distribution platform, is a finalist in the Music Ally SI:X competition, a new global showcase, contest and mentorship support for music tech startups.

The announcement was made early this morning (Oct. 27) out of London, and is “extremely exciting news for us,” DistroDirect co-founder Vivienne Mellish tells TMN.

Presented annually from this year, Music Ally SI:X taps startups in six categories, with the 36 finalists to be profiled in Music Ally’s” Q3 Startups Report.”

Winners from each frame earn more than bragging rights.

The super-six will be invited to present as part of the NY:LON Connect conference in London next January, and they’ll participate in a mentoring program from its supporting sponsors and Music Ally, alongside other business and educational resources, a statement explains.

DistroDirect is shortlisted for the “Distribution & Consumption” category, where it locks horns with AfroCharts, Gramrphone, Music Health, Nusic and OnJam.

Awards will also be handed out for the best and brightest in “Music Creation & Hardware,” “Marketing, Promotion & D2C,” “Live, Experiential & Gaming,” “Music Education,” and “Data, Analytics & Tools.”

Winners in each category are selected by the SI:X project sponsors, which include Amazon Music, FUGA, PRS For Music, The Raine Group, Reed Smith and Universal Music Group.

An arm of independent Australian digital distributor GYROstream, DistroDirect launched in 2020 with a suite of integrated and personalised support services, enabling record labels, industry professionals or music companies to distribute their own tracks to digital service providers (DSPs) under the name of their own brand.

Currently, the service delivers music to more than 100 DSPs globally including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer and TikTok.

“Offering collaborator split payments, integrated Spotify and Apple Music analytics, extensive reporting, and monthly statements,” reads a company statement, DistroDirect “is a modern, robust and customisable system for the modern music industry.”

The business claims to have welcomed over 200 hyper-local micro-distributors in over 30 markets worldwide, and recently expanded with teams in Baltimore, New York and Mexico City.

“What sets us apart is the level of detail and customisation we’re able to provide our music artists, “says DistroDirect CEO Andy Irvine, in the company’s submission video, “which include a comprehensive A&R referral tool, that incentivises our client’s network to earn royalty commission from referrals.”

Based in London, Music Ally launched in 2002 “with a mission to help the global music industry to thrive from digital disruption rather than fear it.”

The subscription title also hosts several regular get-togethers, including NY:LON Connect and Sandbox Summit in London and New York.

Winners in the Music Ally SI:X comp will be announced next month. Click here for more.