About United Masters Music Distribution
Visit United Masters: https://bit.ly/3PtxdEl
Are you considering United Masters as your music distributor and looking for complete analysis of the service? Join us as we break down all it has to offer
Owned by music industry veteran Steve Stoutte with investments from powerful tech giants such as Google and Apple, United Masters has a lot of industry juice. Their partnerships with corporations like the NBA serve as evidence. The argument for United Masters centers around their “Exclusives” which come as a direct result of their partnerships. Artists can apply to have their music featured across the NBA, in movies, TV shows, video games, and more.
The devil here is in the details, and if there was ever a time to read the fine print, it’s now. Let’s go over the most eye-opening portions of their terms.
Red Flags ?
You hereby authorize Company to sign each License Agreement on your behalf.
In the event the Third Party Agreement requires an exclusive license of your Placed Content (as approved by you in accordance with this section), then during the term duration of such Third Party Agreement you will not have the right to grant any other Third Parties any rights in or to such Placed Content. [Not something any other distributor does nor is it something they need. This passage makes the one above problematic because they appear to be granting themselves the ability to enter you into EXCLUSIVE agreements]
You shall have the right to approve or disapprove each License Request (approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided approval shall be deemed to have been given in the event you fail to notify Company otherwise within three (3) days following the date of Company’s request to you (email notification shall be sufficient for this purpose). You shall not be entitled to withhold your approval in connection with a License Request for financial reasons (e.g., in order to obtain payment of a designated amount). Company’s inadvertent failure to obtain your approval or consent or to consult with you in respect of any matter requiring your approval, consent or consultation shall not be deemed a breach of these Terms. [ This passage seems to take away your control over your music and gives UnitedMasters power over what can be done with it]
United Masters also has a Right-of-First-Refusal clause. Their Right-of-First-Refusal appears to restrict you from signing any agreements with any third party. You must first present the offer to UnitedMasters and obtain their approval. The whole point of digital distribution is freedom from labels so it seems counterproductive to comprise your freedom by agreeing to something like this.
Termination
The Agreement continues until you provide UnitedMasters with 90 days advanced notice of your intent to terminate. Right-of-First-Refusal extends 6 months post-termination. You’re locked into an agreement of some kind with UnitedMasters for a combined 9 months post your decision to terminate.
Normally for this type of agreement, there would be an advance or investment made in the artist. United Masters isn’t making any investment in you, they’re simply providing a service, the same way Tunecore and CD Baby are. These terms are unjustified.
About United Masters Exclusives
When it comes to United Masters Exclusives, which is the core motive for most artists, it’s a layered process. United Masters is under no obligation to actually consider your music. It’s likely that United Masters just uses its “Exclusives” as bait for non-partnering artists.
About United Masters Pricing
United Masters has changed its pricing a number of times. In 2019 it was a percentage-based system where there was no upfront fee but instead a 10% back-end fee. In 2020, United Masters changed its pricing with the introduction of a second tier. They reduced their percentage-based tier to only 4 stores. Artists that didn’t upgrade their account to the new $60 annual plan, had their releases removed from all but 4 stores.
Now, in 2023, the offer has changed again and the percentage-based tier doesn’t get you into any stores at all. With the “Debut” percentage-based plan, you only get Content ID and distribution to audio libraries on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If you have music in the 4 stores Debut previously got you into, they’ll be removed if you don’t upgrade to the $60 Select tier. This is instability. You don’t know if you’re going to get what you signed up for.
United Masters Music Distribution Details
| Debut | Select | Partner | |
| Price | Free | $59.99 / Annually | Inite Only |
| Percentage | Keep 90% | Keep 100% | Negotiated Percentage Rate |
| UPC & ISRC Codes | Free cannot bring your own UPC code | Free cannot bring your own UPC code | Free cannot bring your own UPC code |
| Split Pay | Yes Payee must pay a fee of 10% of revenue | Yes Payee must pay a fee of 10% of revenue | Undisclosed |
| Stores | Only Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. No streaming platforms or music stores. | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| New Stores | Doesn’t apply | Included | Included |
| Youtube Content ID | Yes Keep 70% | Yes Keep 70% | Yes Negotiated Rate |
| Threshold | $50 | $50 | Undisclosed |
| Cancelation/ Failure to Pay | Doesn’t Apply | Takedown | Doesn’t apply |
| Release Date | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Releases | 1 Release per month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Artists | 1 Artist | 1 Artist | Undisclosed |
| Pre-Orders | No | No | No |
| Transaction Fees | $1 per withdrawal for Direct Bank Transfer 2.9% of the amount being withdrawn through Paypal | $1 per withdrawal for Direct Bank Transfer 2.9% of the amount being withdrawn through Paypal | Undisclosed |
| Advances | No | No | Undisclosed |
| Sync Deals | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Taxes | Subject to 30% Tax | Subject to 30% Tax | Subject to 30% Tax |
| Red Flags | Yes | Yes | Customized |
