Feedback: DistroKid support delays affected my release planning
I've been using DistroKid since 2020 and currently pay for their multi-artist plan (5 artists). I've released music through multiple projects before and never had an issue like this.
One of the reasons I originally chose DistroKid was the emphasis on fast delivery to platforms, because timing matters when you're planning a release strategy. I uploaded a release more than a month in advance specifically so I'd have enough time to claim Spotify for Artists and submit an editorial pitch.
Weeks later I still had no Spotify artist URI, no Spotify access through DistroKid, and no way to submit a pitch.
I contacted support early because timing mattered. During one of the conversations, the bot said an agent was processing my request and that my release was being resubmitted. I also received a support email, so I assumed a normal support process had started.
After that, nothing really happened. No human contact, no explanation, mostly automated messages. I even later received a satisfaction email despite the issue still not being resolved.
After finally reaching an actual agent, I was told that the release had apparently only been submitted recently, even though my release page still showed the original upload date.
The result is that I may have effectively lost around 3 weeks of lead time that I intentionally planned for. For independent artists trying to use Spotify editorial pitching properly, that's a pretty significant impact.
My feedback here is less about the delay itself and more about the process. I uploaded early, planned ahead, contacted support early, and followed the tools and guidance provided by the platform. Clearer communication about what support actions and tools actually do would help avoid situations like this.