"Dave" is Driving Me Crazy

If you distribute music with DistroKid, you know the pain. You have a serious issue—maybe your release date is wrong, or your royalties are missing—and you go to their support page.

Instead of a phone number or an email, you get "Dave".

Dave is DistroKid's AI chatbot. He is programmed to deflect 99% of questions with generic help articles. He is polite, fast, and absolutely useless for complex problems. But don't worry—we spent hours digging through forums, Reddit, and Twitter to find the "Cheat Codes" to bypass him.

Method 1: The "Two-Downvote" Bypass (Best Way)

This is the most reliable way to force Dave to open a ticket for a human.

DistroKid's system is designed to only offer human help if the AI fails. You have to prove that it failed.

1. Go to the Chat Bot (click the bubble icon).
2. Type your question (e.g., "My release is stuck").
3. Dave will give you a generic answer.
4. CRITICAL STEP: You will see options like "Was this helpful?". Click NO / THUMBS DOWN.
5. Dave will try again with a different article.
6. CRITICAL STEP 2: Click NO / THUMBS DOWN again.

After two rejections, the system logic switches. Dave will say something like: "I'm sorry I couldn't help. Would you like to connect with our support team?"

Boom. Now you get the form to type your email. A human will email you back (usually within 24-48 hours).

Method 2: The "Social Shaming" Strategy

If Method 1 fails or if your ticket is being ignored for days, it's time to take it public.

DistroKid's support team monitors Twitter/X very closely because they care about their public image.

• Tweet at @DistroKid.
• Include your Ticket Number (if you have one).
• Be polite but firm. "Ticket #12345 has been open for 5 days with no response. Can you please check?"

Users report that Twitter DMs are often faster than email support for urgent metadata fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a DistroKid Phone Number?

No. Do not call any number you find on Google claiming to be DistroKid support. Those are scams. DistroKid is 100% digital and does not have a call center.

How long does email support take?

In 2026, the average response time is 1-3 business days. If you are on the "Label" plan, you often get priority handling.

What if I need to change my Artist Name?

This is the #1 hardest thing to fix. Before you email them, read our guide on DistroKid Plans to make sure you even have the ability to change names (you need the Plus plan).