My NIGHTMARE with Landr Distribution: Is the Entire Music Industry a Scam Now?

Let me tell you a story, a cautionary tale, about my experience with Landr distribution and how it's made me seriously question the state of the entire modern music industry. I'm not saying Landr is a scam (though my experience certainly raises that question), but it's gotten me thinking... is the whole system rigged? Are we, as independent musicians, being systematically exploited? It feels like falling into a trap: everything seems fine at first, but then…

I'm an independent musician, just trying to get my music out there. Like many others, I turned to digital distribution, believing it was the path to reach listeners worldwide. Landr, with its polished website and promises of easy distribution, seemed like a good option. At first, things were… okay. But then, things started to unravel, and fast.

The Support Black Hole: Landr boasts 24-hour support. That's a flat-out lie. I've waited weeks for responses, sometimes getting nothing at all. And when they do reply? Often, it's to answer the wrong question entirely. It's like talking to a brick wall. Worse than that, I've experienced what I can only describe as bullying, racist behavior, and gaslighting from their support team. I'm not going into specifics here, but it was incredibly unprofessional and frankly, disturbing.

Content ID Catastrophe: Content ID is crucial for protecting your music on platforms like YouTube. It's supposed to identify your tracks and prevent unauthorized use. Landr's Content ID? Completely broken. Doesn't work. At all. So, not only am I not getting the support I need, but I'm also not getting the basic copyright protection I'm paying for.

Release Limbo: Ever tried releasing music only to have it vanish into thin air? That's my reality with Landr. My releases to YouTube Music and TikTok have been "pending" for months. Stuck in some digital purgatory. Meanwhile, I've used other distributors without a single issue. My music goes live quickly and efficiently. So, what's the deal, Landr?

Data Security Nightmare: Here's where things get really shady. Landr asked me for a mountain of personal information: bank statements, proof of address, the works. Okay, fine, I thought. It's for payment processing. But then, they blocked my payment options! Just like that. No explanation. So, they have all my sensitive data, and I can't even get paid? That's a huge red flag. And don't even get me started on the taxes, commissions, and those mysterious FX recalculations that seem to drain my already meager earnings.

The Final Straw: No Refund, Just Runaround: After all this, I demanded a refund for my annual subscription. Fair, right? They haven't delivered on their promises. They've ignored my emails, refused to refund my money, and my releases are still frozen. Their “solution”? They suggested I just delete my account! Seriously? Delete my account and lose any chance of ever seeing the money I’m owed, including royalties?

The Bigger Picture: Is the Music Industry a Scam Now?

This whole experience has been a nightmare. It feels like I've been scammed. And it makes me wonder: is this happening to other musicians? Are we all being taken advantage of? Is the entire music distribution industry becoming a breeding ground for fraud? Are these platforms, like Landr, just preying on our dreams?

It's not just Landr, though. I'm starting to see a pattern. The whole system seems designed to benefit the platforms, not the artists. Fake streams, hidden fees, convoluted contracts... it's all incredibly opaque. It's making me think we need to find new ways to connect with our fans, new ways to monetize our music, ways that bypass these gatekeepers who seem more interested in lining their own pockets than supporting artists.

Time for a Change?

Maybe it's time to explore alternative models. Direct-to-fan platforms, crowdfunding, building a dedicated community… maybe these are the answers. Maybe we need to take control of our own destinies and stop relying on these potentially predatory services.

I'm sharing my story because I want other artists to be aware. Do your research. Read the fine print. Be wary of promises that sound too good to be true. And if you've had a similar experience with Landr or any other distributor, please share your story in the comments. We need to hold these companies accountable and protect ourselves from these shady practices. We work hard on our music, and we deserve to be treated fairly. We deserve transparency. We deserve better. And maybe, just maybe, we deserve a music industry that actually supports artists, not exploits them.