ABOUT

In business for over 20 years, Independent Distribution Collective is a marketing, distribution, and event production company headquartered in San Francisco.

IDC has produced hundreds of live events in the San Francisco Bay Area and has executed successful music marketing campaigns for a diverse array of independent labels and artists.

To receive a FREE CUSTOMIZED IDC MARKETING PROPOSAL for your project, including a detailed cost breakdown based on the size and scope of the effort, please let us know some general information by filling out our IDC REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FORM.

IDC Promo

IDC maintains long-standing business relationships with an assortment of retailers, publicists, radio promoters, social media experts, graphic designers, videographers and editors, and various other industry professionals that could be assembled for an IDC Promo campaign.

IDC encourages PR and social media marketing as a standard part of any campaign effort, along with digital distribution and often physical distribution (CDs still have value and greatly assist with marketing of a release). Other components IDC might include could be radio, streaming playlist promotion, music video marketing, virtual event performances, and more depending on the project.

These efforts are all scalable, and at the very least include music distribution, development of bio and press release text, and digital delivery of a press release to hundreds of targeted media outlets worldwide to increase SEO and generate initial interest in the release.

Pricing is customized to every campaign and depends on the size of the IDC team, the number of months contracted, and the scope of the overall project. IDC Promo is built to be a flexible service, and every campaign is specifically customized to each project.

IDC Promo campaigns can be targeted around music releases (single, EP, and full-length), as well as other products and general brand building.

Please feel free to send us any information about your project or releases via our IDC REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FORM.

IDC Events

IDC has partnered with Illuminate the Arts (illuminate.org) and the SF Recreation and Parks Department to bring free live music to San Francisco over the past six years. Together they have produced multiple free concert series across the city at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell, along the JFK Promenade at The Whale’s Tail in Golden Gate Park, the Civic Center Soundtrack at Fulton Plaza, Sounds of the Street at India Basin Shoreline Park, and more.

Thousands of artists have been hired to bring joy through live music to hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors, with free shows held across San Francisco almost every weekend throughout the year! All performances are curated and booked by Steffen Franz and his team at IDC, who have emerged as one of the city’s most trusted partners for live music.

In 2025, IDC also began producing the San Anselmo Live on The Avenue concert series that runs every weekend from June to September.

IDC founder Steffen Franz has been involved in large-scale event production for almost 30 years and brings his technical prowess and management skills to any project in which he's engaged. His recent clients include SONY (SIE), UCSF, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Google, Facebook/Meta, Prometheus, Asana, Hitachi, City of Hope, and GAP Corporate Summit. He also produces a handful of annual events for Women In Product, a major women-focused nonprofit organization. Steffen is also the Technical Director for AfroTech Executive events.

Steffen has been in the music business in some shape or form since he was 17 years old. Growing up in Manhattan, he started his live production career at the now legendary CBGBs and worked at many of NYC's major clubs including Danceteria, Limelight, The World, and Red Zone. He designed various lighting and sound installations, DJ'd, and even built and ran a few clubs in and around New York City in the 1980s. Founding Positive Sound Massive Recordings (PSM), a 100% conscious reggae record label, in the 1990's. PSM released over 20 albums, and Steffen has produced over 25 albums for other artists/labels as well. He has a catalog of hundreds of songs and instrumentals, many of which have been placed in TV shows, movies, and video games. On top of all that, it's clear that his heart is in San Francisco's parks. He has served as Chair of PROSAC (Park, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Committee) and he's currently President of Friends of Lafayette Park Board.

Steffen knows the music industry inside and out. He expertly, authentically, and respectfully works with everyone, from musicians and technicians to managers, performers, politicians, park rangers, and police. He is detail-oriented while mindful of the big picture, always tying his decisions to a larger vision. He makes smart choices and is cool under pressure, naturally blending talent, sharing opportunities, and building relationships.

For more information about IDC Events please email info@independentdistro.com or call (415) 292-7007.

IDC's Mission Statement

Independent Distribution Collective is a type of music company that has never existed outside of the major label system. The only way for independent labels and artists to flourish is to use all tools available in order to compete on the same playing field as other larger and more powerful players. IDC's unique structure and business model provides these tools and teaches independent labels and artists how to best utilize them to further their careers.

IDC is a one-stop shop to build a successful independent career, enabling a new generation of music products to reach a worldwide audience.

Management & Operations

Steffen Franz, President and Founder - standout@independentdistro.com

Ben Lang, Director of Operations and A&R - ben@independentdistro.com

Jerome Forney, Director of Digital Operations & Marketing – jerome@independentdistro.com

Advisory Board

Kurt Kunselman, aka Kurt Andrew MBA, IDC Business Development - kurt@independentdistro.com

Melissa Baker

IDC Team

King I-Vier, Manager of Reggae A&R - kingivier@gmail.com

Kevin North, Additional Booking and Show Management

Evan Wardell, Show Management

Tyler Ross, Show Management

IDC Disclaimer

IDC and their personnel expressly disclaim any liability for damages, direct or consequential, arising out of or related to any information provided in writing, orally or otherwise regarding any transaction with IDC. The recipient expressly understands and agrees that any estimates, projections and assumptions are, by definition, uncertain. Any party considering a transaction with IDC agrees to look solely to its own due diligence and any representations, warranties and/or covenants set forth in a fully-executed, definitive written agreement with IDC relative to the transaction.

Parties are presumed to be familiar with the recording industry in general, and accordingly, are advised to determine their own interest in the transaction based on its own investigations. Upon request, IDC will make available reasonable additional information or data necessary to verify the accuracy of the information provided, to the extent it possesses such information or can acquire it without unreasonable expense or effort.