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DistroKid has introduced a platform designed to let artists set up online stores and sell merchandise featuring their artwork. Direct is currently in beta with select artists and will roll out more broadly in the coming weeks. Under the model, DistroKid handles production and shipping via on-demand manufacturing, while artists keep 100 percent of revenue from sales. The platform costs $6 per month. The launch puts the firm in direct competition with platforms such as Bandcamp, which already provide merch and fan-sales capabilities.

Direct is "one more way DistroKid helps artists at every step," according to chief product officer Matthew Ogle. "We're building simple tools that let artists share what they create, from music to merch and beyond, and connect directly with the people who care about them most."

Founded in 2013, DistroKid is an independent digital music distribution company that allows artists to upload unlimited releases to major streaming platforms—including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music—for a flat annual fee. The New York-headquartered firm laid off a third of its workforce last November.

Article Originally Posted on www.ra.co