Music FAQ
Music & Music Video FAQ
How do I use DMDS to promote music and music video?
Yangaroo Music’s DMDS specializes in the distribution of music and music video to promotional outlets like radio stations, TV networks, Media/Press outlets, DMDS is both a delivery system, and radio / video promotion tool in the sense that you’re delivering Releases that can contain promotional information and other elements like links, bios, reviews, personal messages, etc. Setting up an eye catching and attention grabbing release can go a long way to promote your music, but it doesn’t replace the person to person relationship building that’s key to success in radio and video promotion.
Who’s using DMDS for promotional music and music video distribution?
A wide range of record labels from multinationals like Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, to large influential indies like Beggars Group, Sub Pop, eOne, Domino, artist services companies like 300 Entertainment, Kobalt Music, INgrooves, Empire Distribution, to a large number of small indie labels, indie artists, indie radio and video promotion companies, management companies, publicity companies, and more. Basically, all companies and individuals who’ve taken steps to embrace the new digital media paradigm and use it to their advantage, use DMDS for their online music distribution.
How is DMDS video distribution better than sending download links via email or other methods?
The most important benefit is that DMDS is the broadcasters’ preferred method of acquiring new music videos for airplay consideration. DMDS is preferred for a variety of reasons:
- all decision-makers/influencers at the network can instantly watch the video as opposed to waiting for the weekly music meeting.
- integration with DMDS on the back-end helps broadcasters’ streamline the acquisition => review => broadcast workflow, giving DMDS delivered videos a much better chance of airplay.
- they can search a library of submitted video releases to find yours instantly if and when needed
- they can use DMDS to organize and simplify communication with the submitter.
There are key benefits for the submitter as well:
- Networks receive your submission on the same platform as all the other A-list artists, making their job easier and showing them you’re a professional
- get direct feedback on the status of your submission.
- view reports to see which individuals at which broadcasters have streamed and/or downloaded your video(s).
- video(s) instantly delivered – not overnight, not 1 hour rush – instantly delivered as soon as you click Send.
- Include accompanying promotional info/materials with your submission. eg, pics, links, bios, etc.
- Nielsen/BDS Tracking option provides you with accurate airplay data
What is the difference between DMDS and other music distribution companies like Tunecore, CD Baby, etc.?
DMDS specializes in the distribution of music and music video to promotional outlets like radio stations, TV networks, Media/Press outlets, etc. These are the people and places that expose your music to the masses, which drives sales and performance royalties and exposes your music to new potential fans. The music distribution companies mentioned above provide online music distribution for streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
Where can I find pricing for music and music video distribution / delivery services?
The available destination packages and prices for the free-to-access basic account option can be viewed here. For a detailed breakdown of pricing across the basic and Pro account options, sign up as Music and Video Sender here.
What’s the difference between Yangaroo and DMDS?
Yangaroo is the name of the company, Yangaroo Music is the music division of the company, and DMDS (Digital Media Distribution System) is the cloud-based platform technology used to send and receive new music and broadcast video.
What type of video files do broadcasters require?
Detailed file specification information can be found here. When music videos are uploaded, our video team will perform a manual QC (quality control) and email you the results. If it meets the specs, we’ll confirm it’s ready to send as a broadcast file. Please note: initial submissions to most broadcasters don’t need to be broadcast spec, most decent web-quality video files will work for the submission. If/when the broadcaster accepts the submission, you can then send the broadcast version at no extra charge.
Do you provide the contact information for each radio/TV station?
The Yangaroo Music DMDS Terms & Conditions prevents us from disclosing end user contact information to any third parties. You can view the names of the individuals registered at each station on the DESTINATIONS page after selecting your packages and by accessing REPORTS after the release has been sent. Now that you know the name of the person you need to talk to about your music, you can simply google the station call letters to find the phone number and ask for that person.
I’ve delivered my release to radio. When will they start playing it?
YANGAROO Music’s DMDS provides access to your promotional release for radio programmers to stream and download in broadcast-quality (provided you upload your music as a broadcast-quality wav file). There is never a guarantee your release will be listened to by a programmer, or played on air. That depends on the quality of your music and what the radio programmer is looking for. However to increase your chances of airplay, it is strongly recommended you hire a radio tracker/promoter to communicate on your behalf about your release to the stations selected for delivery. If you’d prefer to follow-up on your own, here’s a tip sheet on how to work your track at radio.
How can I find out exactly when and where my songs and/or videos have been played on air?
We provide a radio tracking/monitoring package via Nielsen’s BDS Radio service as an optional add-on that will provide you with 8 weeks of airplay reporting data detailing exactly which Nielsen monitored stations (terrestrial, satellite, and online) have played your songs, how many times, and the size of the audience for each spin. If there is any airplay history prior to this current release to radio that data will be provided for the song as well. There is a Tracking step when creating your release where this additional service can be selected.
DMDS allows me to upload wav and mp3 files. Which type is best?
Radio holds very high standards for the quality of audio they play on-air. Wav is the standard uncompressed digital file format suitable for radio. The compression used in converting music to mp3 degrades audio quality. Distributing a less than pristine audio file will limit your chances of gaining airplay, especially with satellite and HD broadcasters. We highly recommend that your track be sent in full wav format. In short, the higher the quality of the submitted track, the better it will represent your music, increasing the chance for consideration by programmers. Note: the source must be CD quality. Converting an mp3 to wav does not improve audio quality and will likely make things worse.
What is Closed Captioning and why do I need it?
Closed Captions (CC) are the text that appear on a video, which contain dialogue and audio cues such as music or sound effects. The purpose of closed captions is to make video accessible to those who are deaf or hard of hearing, for viewers whose native language is not English, and for when the audio cannot be heard due to noise (restaurants, public spaces, etc.) or a need for quiet (libraries, hospitals, etc.).
All final broadcast deliveries MUST be closed captioned.
The FCC requires the majority of English and Spanish programming seen on broadcast TV in the United States to be captioned. The CRTC requires the same for Canadian broadcasts.
Closed Caption Requirements:
- SD: CEA-608 (Line 21) or DTV-608 (QuickTime close caption track) required.
- HD: CEA-608 or DTV-608 required. CEA-708 and DTV-708 are optional.
- Captions need to be the last step in creating/submitting a final master, as you cannot edit a video once captions have been applied or they will be lost.
How To Caption Your Video:
Work with An Expert
Your existing production house might offer this service. Ask them for more information, but make sure they are captioning correctly and digitally! You don’t want to lose time having the file rejected due to incorrect captioning or because of a loss of quality due to ‘old style’ bounce to tape captioning.
YANGAROO Captioning Services. YANGAROO can also closed caption your video. You’ll find this option in the Media Services step when creating your release.
Are there more video destinations available than what I see in the Destinations step?
Yes! With a Pro upgrade, you will have access to our full database of music industry promotional destinations. A listing of the main music destinations can be viewed on this page. Upgrades can be done instantly via the Upgrade to Pro button on your Dashboard after logging in. More info about the Pro account option can be found here.
What is the Comments & Approvals button I see beside my release on the Dashboard?
This is where you will be able to view any approvals notices networks have posted on the release, any comments they may post about edits/censorship that is required, or general feedback on the video.
My video contains explicit language and content – should I be submitting a clean version only?
Yes and no. If you’re submitting to one of the CBSViacom networks (BET, CMT, MTV, Nick Music), you can submit the explicit version (without closed captioning) and upon acceptance, their Standards & Practices department will review the video and post a list of edits they will need before playing it on air. Other TV broadcasters will typically expect you to submit a clean, broadcast ready video file. Remember, Yangaroo provides post production services including editing and closed captioning, you can order these services from your account manager and/or [email protected] / 1 855 534 0607 x401.
What are the chances of an emerging artist getting a music video played on a national TV broadcaster?
Much better than you might think! In many cases acceptance/pass notices are posted by the broadcaster to the submitter on DMDS, so to a large extent, we’re able to see what’s being accepted and what’s not. In the past few years we’ve found that acceptances notices on indie videos has consistently topped 50%. This means that if your video has the production value that’s right for TV and the song is appealing, chances are very strong it will be accepted for national airplay.