Data Analytics for a Music Distribution Platform

A music distributor is a middleman that allows record labels to upload music and have it sent to services like Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok. A problem that record labels face is that these big distributors take a big cut of artists' and label's revenue. A major record label approached me with the goal of creating a tool that removes the big middleman and allows them to self-distribute and monitor the progress of their own catalog through robust analytics.

Lead Product Designer

I researched competitors, noted their strengths and weaknesses, and designed a music distribution and analytics platform that stands out from the current landscape in terms of user experience.

The first part of the platform I designed was the release upload flow. Labels have to input album information and provide audio files and delivery information before they release an album. Existing upload flows do not organize content in a thoughtful manner with attention to user experience, so I capitalized on this gap in the market.

Within each page of the upload flow, I categorized form fields into two groups: primary and details. Primary form fields must be filled out in order to release an album, and form fields listed under details are optional.

This hierarchy expedites filling out information for releases.

Competitor's upload flows are rigid, requiring users to fill out all form fields on a page before moving to the next step. We designed an upload flow that allows users to move freely from page to page, autosaving information as they go. Users can review missed fields and errors on the review page of the flow.

One of my tasks was to design a style guide for the platform's suite of analytics tools. To prevent visual noise and allow the data to shine, I took a minimalist approach to UI design. Every element included in the interface has a function.

I modified the brand palette to create a color palette for data. The brand calls for the motif of fire, and I communicated this by crafting a qualitative palette that assigns larger values to warmer colors.