Avoid Symphonic Distribution

[SixStringGeek]

In the event anyone is still deluded enough to try to distribute songs to the masses, there are several distributor options around like TuneCore, CDBaby, and the like. I was persuaded to try an up and coming distributor called Symphonic for my one and only commercially released track. It being a holiday track, I worked on promotion a lot up until Christmas and then shut down my computer and waited for those sweet royalty bucks to roll in.

Instead I got two emails in my email box on April 30.

Hello,

We're reaching out to remind you to log in to your Symphonic Distribution account and finalize your identity verification through our partner, iDenfy. Without completing this step, you won't be able to access your account or its features.

If you've already completed the identity verification process, thank you for your cooperation. You're good to go, and there's no need for further action on this matter. Feel free to disregard the remainder of this email.

For those who haven't completed the identity verification process, the next time you log into SymphonicMS, you'll receive a prompt to verify your identity using our provider, iDenfy. Please note that only the account owner can complete this process.

Upon successfully verifying your identity by submitting the requested documents and information, you'll regain access to your SymphonicMS account and our services, provided there are no additional issues with your account.

If your identity verification is denied, it could be due to document quality or other reasons. Feel free to reach out to us at trustandsafety@symdistro.com for assistance. We'll review accounts that don't pass identity verification, may request more information, and may allow further verification attempts via iDenfy at our discretion.

Clients who fail to complete the identity verification process may face denial of account establishment or termination by Symphonic. These measures are implemented to benefit and protect our clients.

Thank you,
The Symphonic Trust & Safety Team

I missed. that one as I wasn't really checking emails around then. The same day they also sent this one:

From: Legal, Trust & Safety
Subject: Rights Verification Request - UPC(s) [MyUPC]
Apr 30, 2024, 5:42 PM EDT

Hello,

I trust you are well. This message is to inform you that your Symphonic account has been flagged due to potential improper activities, specifically potentially infringing on third-party copyrights. We are reaching out to kindly request proof of rights for the following content uploaded to your SymphonicMS account:

UPC(s): [MyUPC]
Title: [MySongTitle]
Artist: [MyArtist]

Please provide documentation verifying you have all necessary rights to distribute this content to DSPs. Sufficient documentary evidence may include: contracts, artist agreements, record agreements or licenses. Specifically, this documentation should include the date you contend you acquired rights in or to the Client Content, complete details for the “chain of title” starting with the creator(s) and/or master owner(s) of the Client Content, the type of rights acquired by each rightsholder, compensation related to the ownership such as sample clearance payment or percentage, artist splits, work-for-hire, licensing agreements, etc. that may be relevant.

Please provide this documentation within three (3) business days of the date of this correspondence. If we do not receive a sufficient response from you within this deadline, this Client Content will be removed from all DSPs. Symphonic may also investigate your account further. If during this investigation, Symphonic detects any further improper activity associated with your Client Content, at Symphonic’s own discretion, we will take further action, which may include termination of your Symphonic account and retaining all Royalties.

All rights and remedies are respectfully reserved.

Sincerely,

---
Symphonic Legal Team

I missed that email too. I didn't realize I was on call 24/7 with them. Three days later I get this:

Legal, Trust & Safety (Symphonic Client Relations)
May 3, 2024, 1:19 PM EDT

Hello,

As you have not replied to that notice with sufficient documentation asserting your rights, your Client Content has been removed from all remaining DSPs. As a reminder, improper activity, such as copyright infringement, is strictly prohibited, and violates Symphonic’s Starter Terms & Conditions and the terms of use of Symphonic’s services.

This communication serves as notice of termination of your Starter account(s) and services. Effective immediately, access to your account(s) and Symphonic’s services is revoked. As a result of this termination, you are not permitted to create or access any additional Symphonic accounts, or use any of Symphonic’s services. Any further accounts created by you will be subject to immediate termination. Please refer to the message below for further information.

Takedowns: Symphonic has issued takedowns of any and all Client Content associated with your Starter account(s).

Royalties: Royalties that are suspected or deemed to be the result of improper activity are not paid, this includes content which possibly infringes on third party copyrights. Given the determination of improper activity associated with your account(s), you are not eligible to collect any further Royalties.

Due to the volume of communication that Symphonic receives, this message will be our final communication to you concerning this matter, unless Symphonic determines further response is necessary.

Symphonic reserves all of its rights and remedies.

Sincerely,

---
Symphonic Legal Team

My account disabled, my track taken down everywhere (bye bye hard earned holiday play list placements and play counts ), and they refused to communicate further or provide clarification of alleged "improper activity".

If you check their reviews on TrustPilot, it is clear they are dumping low volume artists in an attempt to hi grade their clients. They allege misconduct, grab your pennies, and cut contact.

Dicks. I have started over again with LANDR who promise never to take down tracks unless requested.

Tell your friends - Symphonic is a bad bet.

[HCMarkus]

Lame. So sorry this happened.

[daniel.sneed]

Sorry to hear your bad experience, SixString.

IMOE, bandcamp has proved to be relevant with small business.
AFAIK, it takes care of some big business, too.

BTW, one of my favorite dead horse beating:
Playing and listening music may be considered as spiritual experiences, while musical business never does.
(something I've learned the hard way).

[stubbsonic]

As someone who's main communication medium is email, it's hard for me to imagine not checking-in with email for days on end. But that's just me. And starting a new service-- then not checking email for days on end-- again, not something that would likely happen to me.

What is inexcusable is their lack of communication, and response when you tried to follow up.

[SixStringGeek]

As someone who's main communication medium is email, it's hard for me to imagine not checking-in with email for days on end. But that's just me. And starting a new service-- then not checking email for days on end-- again, not something that would likely happen to me.

What is inexcusable is their lack of communication, and response when you tried to follow up.

I have half a dozen email boxes that get hundreds of spam messages a day each. I would consider email to be irretrievably broken as a communications medium.

Beyond that, I signed up last October, launched a Christmas song, and after the holidays, unplugged for awhile. I've also been forced into retirement and I have cardiac issues (heart attack survivor working hard at breaking my sedentary habits) so breaking the daily computer tether has been a huge focus on improving my longevity.

Beyond that, I had already established my identity, set up a banking relationship, and released one track six months prior. WTF do they need a 3 day response for? If you need me NOW, text me. I check email about once a week and 99% of it is autogenerated BS I can't seem to stop coming (and yes I created a NEW email for this relationship, it too is now overrun with spam despite only using it to set up accounts relevant to the music endeavor)..

I encourage you to go to TrustPilot.com and look them up. I'm one of many victims with the exact same experience. The positive reviews there are clearly astroturf intended to keep their score from cratering.

[HCMarkus]

I can assure anyone who may be interested that Six String Geek knows more about the ins and outs of computers than even the well-above-average bear.

[stubbsonic]

For me, email had for many years hit the sweet spot between a phone call and a letter me-- in part because I can't stand typing on touch screens-- but I just like the pace of it. I also like storing emails locally (POP) and being able to search them easily.

However, services have gotten unreliable and stupid. Centurylink is my main email service, and it's had many problems. Hotmail/Outlook used to be reliable, and now is an absolute $#!+ show. In 6 weeks, I'll loose the ability to use it with Mac Mail-- at least in the way I want to.

[bayswater]

Yes, email has gone weird all round, at least with Apple Mail. We also seem to be seeing email providers blacklisting each other after the recent security fiascos.