Billboard reports that Apple Music has named three distributors as part of their “Apple Preferred Distribution Program”: CD Baby, The Orchard, and Kontor New Media.
Apple bases its programs on several thresholds, primarily size and rejection rate, according to Digital Music News. A qualifying Preferred Plus distributing partner, for example, crosses the threshold of 40,000 songs per quarter, has a low Apple Music rejection rate, and supports basic and advanced customer features. A Preferred distribution partner crosses 10,000 songs per quarter, has a low rejection rate, and supports basic customer features.
CD Baby is an online music store specializing in the sale of CDs, vinyl records, and music downloads from independent musicians to consumers. The Orchard is a leading music, film and video distribution company operating in over 40 markets worldwide.
The Kontor New Media emerged from the music label Kontor Records. Since 2003, the year of its foundation, the company has specialized in digital distribution of music and other media.
