📑 Sections (7)

1. Choosing a distributor

What a distributor does, the three payment models, what to ask before signing up and what happens if you later want to leave.

Platforms don’t accept music from just anyone: they take it from distributors. A distributor delivers your song to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and so on, collects what it earns and pays you. It isn’t a label: it shouldn’t keep your rights.

The three models

Annual subscription

You pay per year and upload as much as you want, with 0% commission on distribution. Worthwhile if you release several songs a year. Look closely at what happens if you stop paying: on some services your music can come off the platforms.

Examples: DistroKid, TuneCore, Amuse and Ditto. See the comparison below.

Pay per release

You pay once per release and the distributor keeps a percentage of what it earns. Worthwhile if you release rarely and want to leave it online without further thought.

Example: CD Baby, with a commission of around 9%.

Free with commission

You pay nothing up front and share what it earns. Worthwhile for trying it out without spending. Check which stores it includes and how long payments take.

Examples: RouteNote (keeps 15%) and SoundOn, from TikTok.

Comparison, as of November 2026

DistroKid (official prices)

Musician USD 24.99 a year (1 artist), Musician Plus USD 44.99 (2 artists) and Ultimate from USD 89.99 (up to 100). You keep 100% and uploads are unlimited.

Watch the extras: if you stop paying, your music comes off the platforms, unless you paid for Leave a Legacy (USD 29 per single, USD 49 per album). Content ID and social cost USD 4.95 per single a year plus 20% of ad revenue, and delivery to new stores USD 7.95 per album a year.

TuneCore (official prices)

Rising Artist USD 24.99 a year, Breakout USD 44.99 and Professional USD 54.99. It includes Content ID and revenue splits, and keeps 20% of earnings from TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. It also has pay per release: USD 24.99 a year per single.

CD Baby (external sources)

A one-time payment per release, about USD 10 per single, and a 9% commission. Sources don’t agree on the exact price. It stopped distributing physical formats in 2023. Not confirmed on its official page.

Others (external sources)

  • Amuse: about USD 24 a year for the entry plan, and a 25% commission if you let the plan lapse.
  • Ditto: about USD 19 a year, with 100% on streaming.
  • RouteNote: free with a 15% commission, or pay per release.
  • UnitedMasters: paid plans from USD 20 a year. Sources don’t agree on whether the free plan continues.
  • SoundOn (TikTok): free, with terms that change from the second year. We cover it in TikTok and Instagram.

What to ask before signing up

  1. Do I keep 100% of my rights? The answer has to be yes.
  2. What happens if I stop paying? Does the music come off the platforms? Does a commission start?
  3. How do I leave? Can I take the song with the same ISRC? Before leaving, copy the ISRCs and deliver to the new distributor first, so you don’t lose streams.
  4. How much do extras cost? Content ID, revenue splits and your own codes often have a cost.
  5. Can they split payments among band members?
  6. How do they pay me? Withdrawal minimum, fees and whether it works in your country.
  7. What do they say about AI? Whether their terms let them license your music to train models. We cover it in the AI section.
🟠 Better to set it now· in distribution

You can change distributors, but it means re-delivering everything carefully so you don't lose streams. It's worth reading the terms now rather than when you already have a catalog.

How to decide without getting stuck

Do this math: how many songs will you release in a year?

  • One or two: pay per release, or a free plan.
  • Three or more: annual subscription.
  • An album in blocks: subscription, and release the singles ahead of time.

The differences between serious services are minor. It isn’t worth a week of research. Pick one and publish.

Common mistakes

What NOT to chase yet

Quick path: distributor

Quick path

  1. Estimate how many songs you'll release in a year.
  2. Choose the matching model.
  3. Confirm the current price on the official site.
  4. Read what happens if you stop paying or leave.
  5. Check that you keep your rights.
  6. Review what they say about AI use.
  7. Create the account under your legal name.

Expected result

Expected result

A distributor chosen on purpose and without losing weeks, and the peace of mind of knowing your rights are still yours. What comes next is preparing what you’ll upload: metadata and cover art.