Music Distribution Services Compared: DistroKid vs TuneCore vs CD Baby

Your music distributor is the company that gets your releases onto Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, and dozens of other streaming platforms and download stores. Every independent artist needs one. What most artists do not realize is that the choice affects far more than just which stores carry your music. It affects how much of your royalties you keep, how quickly you can take down or update a release, whether you can collect publishing royalties, and what happens to your catalog if you stop paying.

The wrong distributor is not a catastrophe, but it creates friction: added costs, delayed releases, uncollected royalties, and inflexibility at the moments when you need control. Choosing the right one from the start, or understanding why switching makes sense, is worth the 20 minutes this guide takes.

Quick-Reference Comparison Table

What You'll Learn

• Pricing comparison for DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, UnitedMasters, Amuse, SoundOn, and Stem (with all add-on costs included)
• What "100% royalties" actually means and the hidden deductions that reduce it
• Publishing administration: which distributors offer it, what it costs, and whether you need it
• Speed to stores, customer support quality, and catalog management differences
• A distributor recommendation by artist type based on release patterns and priorities
• FAQ on switching distributors, takedown flexibility, and royalty payment timing

The Distributors Worth Considering in 2026

DistroKid

Model: Annual subscription, unlimited releases Price: $24.99/year (Musician plan), $44.99/year (Musician Plus), $89.99/year (Ultimate plan for up to 100 artists) Royalty split: 100% to artist

DistroKid (7% off) is the highest-volume distributor by number of releases and the default choice for artists who release frequently. The unlimited release model means a prolific artist pays the same $24.99 whether releasing 1 track or 50 tracks per year. Students can get the DistroKid student plan (50% off) for the same features at half price.

Plan differences:

• Musician ($24.99/year): 1 artist name, unlimited uploads, 100% royalties. No custom release dates, no daily stats.
• Musician Plus ($44.99/year): 2 artist names, custom release dates, pre-order scheduling, synced lyrics on Apple Music, daily streaming stats, custom label name.
• Ultimate ($89.99/year): Up to 100 artist names, advanced analytics, playlist contact search, audio replacement, 1 TB file sharing.

The add-on cost reality: DistroKid's base plan is lean. Many useful features cost extra:

• Leave a Legacy (catalog stays up if you cancel): $29 per single or $49 per album one-time, or bundled in higher plans
• YouTube Content ID: $4.95 per single or $14.95 per album per year (20% revenue cut), included on Musician Plus
• Store Maximizer: $7.95 per release per year
• Cover song licensing: $15.99 per cover per year

A Musician base plan user adding YouTube Content ID, Store Maximizer, and a cover song license could easily spend $80 to $100 on a year that costs $24.99 on the surface.

Distributor delivery speed: Typically 1 to 3 business days to most major stores. One of the fastest in the industry.

Critical limitation: If you do not renew your DistroKid subscription, your music is removed from all stores. For artists who want their catalog to stay up indefinitely without ongoing payments, this is a structural problem. The Leave a Legacy add-on or the Musician Plus plan address this, but add cost.

DistroKid AI screening policy: As of 2026, DistroKid runs automated AI detection on every upload. The system uses a two-stage classifier: a watermark fingerprint check for known AI-generated audio (Suno, Udio, and others), followed by a generative-pattern analyzer that looks for structural signals like neural vocoder compression artifacts and unnatural phase coherence. Tracks scoring above approximately 0.78 confidence are rejected with a "This track appears to be AI-generated" email. DistroKid also requires mandatory AI disclosure during upload, asking whether AI generated the lyrics, music, all audio, or part of the audio. Appeals require stem files, project history, and an authorship declaration. This policy applies to new uploads and can retroactively flag tracks already live.

Publishing administration: DistroKid offers a Music Publishing add-on that acts as your publishing administrator, collecting composition royalties worldwide. You keep full ownership of your copyrights. This requires an active DistroKid subscription and a PRO affiliation to collect the writer share. See our music publishing guide for full details.

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TuneCore

Model: Annual subscription plans with unlimited releases Price: $24.99/year (Rising Artist), $44.99/year (Breakout Artist), $54.99/year (Professional) Royalty split: 100% to artist on music sales; 20% on social monetization; 20% on publishing royalties

TuneCore is the strongest distributor for artists who prioritize publishing royalty collection alongside distribution. Their publishing administration service handles global collection of mechanical and performance royalties from over 150 territories and registers your songs with PROs and collecting societies worldwide.

Important: TuneCore's free tier is gone. In June 2025, TuneCore discontinued its New Artist Plan (the free tier). Artists who did not upgrade to a paid Unlimited Plan had their releases taken down from all stores. There is no longer a free TuneCore option. All distribution now requires a paid plan.

Plan differences:

• Rising Artist ($24.99/year): Unlimited distribution to 150+ stores, social platform delivery, revenue splits, 3 business day support response
• Breakout Artist ($44.99/year): Store Automator, daily trend reports, cover art creator, 2 business day support
• Professional ($54.99/year): Custom label name, custom UPC, multiple primary artists ($14.99/year per additional artist), 1 business day support, TuneCore Direct Advance eligibility

TuneCore also offers pay-per-release options: $24.99/year for singles and $44.99/year for albums (albums renew at $56.49 in following years).

What TuneCore does better than most:

• Publishing administration is genuinely strong and covers YouTube Content ID, mechanical royalties from streaming, and performance royalties from international societies
• Detailed royalty reporting with per-platform, per-country breakdowns
• YouTube Content ID included in all plans
• Social monetization (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) included, though TuneCore takes 20% of social revenue

Best for: Songwriters who release music at moderate frequency and want comprehensive publishing royalty collection in one place.

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CD Baby

Model: One-time fee per release, 9% commission on streaming royalties Price: $9.99 for a single, $14.99 for an album Royalty split: 91% to artist (CD Baby keeps 9%)

CD Baby was one of the first digital distributors and still has one of the widest store networks. The one-time payment model appeals to artists who want their music online indefinitely without annual fees. Pay once, and your catalog stays up regardless of whether you continue paying CD Baby anything.

CD Baby is now owned by Universal Music Group. In February 2026, UMG completed its $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, which included CD Baby, FUGA, and Songtrust. CD Baby is no longer an independent company. It sits inside the largest major label group in the world. The publishing administration service (CD Baby Pro) was retired in 2023, and physical distribution (CD and vinyl) was discontinued. The CDB Boost add-on ($39.99 per release) now handles MLC registration, SoundExchange collection, and sync consideration.

The 9% commission reality: On a track generating $1,000 in streaming royalties, CD Baby takes $90. On $10,000, CD Baby takes $900. At low streaming volumes this is negligible. At higher volumes, the 9% ongoing commission compounds into meaningful revenue that would be retained at other distributors with flat fees. An artist earning $20,000/year in streaming royalties pays $1,800/year to CD Baby in perpetuity. The same artist would pay $44.99/year at DistroKid and keep all the rest.

Commission breakdown:

• 9% of download and streaming revenues
• 15% of revenue collected by The MLC (mechanical royalties)
• 30% of revenue from social video monetization (YouTube, TikTok, Meta)
• 40% of revenue from sync placements

Best for: Artists with an established catalog who prefer a one-time payment and want permanent hosting without recurring fees. Not ideal for artists with high streaming revenue.

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UnitedMasters

Model: DEBUT+ subscription ($19.99/year) and SELECT subscription ($59.99/year) Price: DEBUT+ $19.99/year, SELECT $59.99/year Royalty split: 100% on both paid plans

UnitedMasters has positioned itself around brand partnership opportunities, particularly for hip-hop and R&B artists. The SELECT plan ($59.99/year) offers unlimited releases, 100% royalty retention, and access to UnitedMasters' sync and brand deal marketplace where companies post music placement opportunities directly to artists.

Plan differences:

• DEBUT (free): No distribution. Only for receiving Split Pay royalties and acting as a team member.
• DEBUT+ ($19.99/year): Unlimited releases to 35+ services, 100% royalties, marketing tools, personalized career guidance from Blueprint.
• SELECT ($59.99/year): Everything in DEBUT+ plus sync licensing opportunities, brand partnerships (NBA, State Farm, American Eagle), playlist pitching, and advance eligibility.

What makes UnitedMasters different: The sync licensing marketplace is a real differentiator. Major brands have used UnitedMasters to license independent artist music. Artists on SELECT plan have direct access to submit to these opportunities. For artists in hip-hop, R&B, and pop who are actively seeking sync placements, this is a compelling feature that other distributors do not match.

Limitations: Analytics and reporting are less detailed than TuneCore. Publishing administration is not as comprehensive. Primarily focused on certain genres.

Best for: Hip-hop and R&B artists who want sync licensing opportunities alongside distribution.

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Amuse

Model: Paid subscription tiers (no longer free) Price: $23.99/year (Artist), $39.99/year (Artist Plus), $59.99/year (Professional) Royalty split: 100% on all paid plans

Amuse is a mobile-first distributor. As of 2026, Amuse no longer offers free distribution. The old Boost and Pro plans have been renamed and repriced. The Boost plan became the Artist plan with a price increase from $19.99 to $23.99 per year.

Plan differences:

• Artist ($23.99/year): 1 artist, unlimited releases, 100% royalties. Basic distribution.
• Artist Plus ($39.99/year): 2 artists, Hi-Res audio distribution, faster delivery.
• Professional ($59.99/year): 3 artists (additional artists ~$1 each), Hi-Res audio, custom label names, team members.

Amuse also operates as a record label: artists on the platform can be scouted by Amuse's A&R team based on streaming performance, with some offered label deals. This is both a feature (a potential discovery pathway) and worth noting, as the label relationship changes the dynamic of the distribution arrangement.

Best for: Artists very early in their career who want a mobile-first distribution experience and are comfortable with a paid plan.

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SoundOn

Model: Free distribution, no upfront or recurring fees Price: Free Royalty split: 100% year 1 on all platforms, 100% ongoing on ByteDance platforms (TikTok, Resso), 90% after year 1 on other DSPs

SoundOn is TikTok's own distribution platform. It is free to use with no subscription fees. You retain all master rights ownership. The key advantage is direct integration with TikTok and CapCut, plus distribution to 90+ streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

What makes SoundOn different: The TikTok integration is the real draw. Your music is directly available in TikTok's Commercial Music Library, making it easy for creators to use your music in their videos. SoundOn also offers editorial playlist pitching and pre-save functionality. The royalty structure is generous: 100% of royalties for the first year across all platforms, then 100% ongoing on ByteDance platforms (TikTok and Resso) and 90% on all other DSPs.

Limitations: Smaller market presence than DistroKid or TuneCore. Customer support is less established. The platform is best suited for artists whose strategy centers on TikTok discovery.

Best for: TikTok-focused artists who want free distribution with strong platform integration.

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Stem

Model: Application-based, commission model Price: No upfront fee, 10% commission Royalty split: 90% to artist (Stem keeps 10%)

Stem is not a self-service distributor. You apply or are invited, and Stem reviews your catalog and streaming history before accepting you. The model is closer to a label services deal than a standard DIY distributor. Stem handles distribution, royalty collection, and provides advanced analytics and payment splitting.

What makes Stem different: The 10% commission model means you pay nothing upfront but give up 10% of all revenue. Stem provides more hands-on support, including visual asset management, revenue splitting with collaborators, and detailed financial reporting. The application process means Stem curates its roster, which can be a barrier for new artists but a benefit for established ones who want a more managed experience.

Best for: Established independent artists with meaningful streaming revenue who want label-style service without signing to a label.

YouTube Content ID: Which Distributors Include It

YouTube Content ID is the system that identifies and monetizes your music when it appears in other people's YouTube videos. This is separate from your own YouTube channel uploads. Here is how each distributor handles it:

Pricing Comparison Table (Detailed)

What "100% Royalties" Actually Means

Every major distributor now advertises "100% of your royalties." This claim requires context.

Distributors keep 0% of the royalty flow from streaming platforms to you. But they do not create money. The streaming platform pays the distributor, who passes it to you (minus any stated commission like CD Baby's 9% or Stem's 10%).

What "100% royalties" does not include:

• Publishing royalties (mechanical and performance): These are separate from the streaming master royalty and require a publishing administrator to collect. Most distributors do not collect these unless you use their publishing admin service.
• SoundExchange royalties: Collected by SoundExchange for digital radio plays (Pandora, SiriusXM). You must register with SoundExchange directly regardless of which distributor you use.
• PRO performance royalties: Your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR) collects public performance royalties. Distributors do not touch these.

The streaming royalty your distributor handles is the master recording royalty from on-demand streams. That is one of several royalty streams from a single release. A complete royalty collection setup requires a distributor, a PRO registration, a publishing admin arrangement (or MLC direct registration), and SoundExchange registration working together.

Customer Support Reality

DistroKid: Support is primarily ticket-based with response times of 1 to 5 business days. The help documentation is extensive but the human support response time is a common complaint. Emergency takedown requests are handled quickly. Routine issues can wait.

TuneCore: More robust customer support with faster average response times. Rising Artist gets 3 business day response, Breakout gets 2 business days, Professional gets 1 business day. Generally considered the strongest for support among major distributors.

CD Baby: Email support available. Response times are generally adequate but vary. Since the UMG acquisition, some users have reported changes in support quality.

UnitedMasters: Support quality is variable. Some artists report delays; the platform is more optimized for self-service.

Which Distributor Should You Choose

Releasing 5+ tracks per year and want simplicity: DistroKid (7% off) Musician Plus at $44.99/year. You get custom release dates, daily stats, YouTube Content ID, and 100% royalties. Add the Music Publishing add-on or direct MLC registration for publishing royalties. Students should use the DistroKid student plan (50% off).

Songwriter who wants all royalties collected in one place: TuneCore Breakout Artist at $44.99/year with TuneCore Publishing Administration ($75 one-time, 20% commission). Comprehensive publishing collection alongside distribution.

Artist with back catalog who never wants to pay again: CD Baby one-time payment per release ($9.99 single, $14.99 album). Accept the 9% commission as the ongoing cost of permanent hosting. Your music stays live even if you never pay again.

Hip-hop or R&B artist seeking sync opportunities: UnitedMasters SELECT at $59.99/year. Access to brand partnership and sync licensing marketplace.

TikTok-focused artist on a zero budget: SoundOn. Free distribution with direct TikTok integration and 100% royalties in year 1.

Established artist wanting label-style service: Stem. 10% commission, no upfront fees, application-based acceptance, hands-on support.

Budget-conscious artist wanting 100% royalties: UnitedMasters DEBUT+ at $19.99/year. The cheapest paid plan that gives you unlimited releases and 100% royalty retention.

Brand new artist with minimal budget: Amuse Artist at $23.99/year. Mobile-first, straightforward, no free tier anymore but affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I switch distributors after my music is already live?

A: Yes, but it requires a takedown and re-upload process. When you move distributors, your old distributor removes your music from stores, which can cause your Spotify streams count and playlist placements to reset or be lost if the track is not properly linked. Use tools like DistroKid's Switch feature or manually re-upload carefully, and ensure you retain your ISRC codes to maintain stream count continuity.

Q: Do I need to use the same distributor for all my releases?

A: No. Different releases can use different distributors. Some artists use DistroKid for their main releases and CD Baby for a back catalog they want permanently hosted. The practical downside is managing reporting across multiple platforms.

Q: Will my royalties be lower if I use a cheaper distributor?

A: No. The per-stream royalty rate is set by the streaming platforms, not by the distributor. Apple Music pays the same rate per stream regardless of whether you use DistroKid or TuneCore. The distributor affects how much of that rate you keep (e.g., CD Baby's 9% cut or Stem's 10% cut), not the rate itself. You can estimate your earnings with our streaming royalty calculator.

Q: How long does it take for streaming royalties to reach me?

A: Streaming platforms pay distributors approximately 45 to 60 days after the end of the month in which streams occurred. Distributors then process and pay artists, typically adding another 2 to 4 weeks. The realistic timeline from when someone streams your music to when you receive the royalty is 2 to 4 months.

Q: Should I use a distributor's publishing admin service or a standalone publishing administrator?

A: Both approaches work. Distributor-based publishing admin (TuneCore, DistroKid Music Publishing) is convenient and cost-effective for smaller catalogs. Standalone services like Songtrust ($100 one-time, 15% commission) offer comprehensive international collection. For artists generating significant publishing royalties, comparing specific collection rates by territory is worth doing before committing. See our complete music publishing guide for full details.

Q: What happened to TuneCore's free tier?

A: TuneCore discontinued its New Artist Plan (free tier) effective June 18, 2025. Artists who did not upgrade to a paid Unlimited Plan had their releases taken down from all stores. All TuneCore distribution now requires a paid plan starting at $24.99/year.

Q: Is CD Baby still independent?

A: No. In February 2026, Universal Music Group completed its $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, which included CD Baby, FUGA, and Songtrust. CD Baby is now owned by the largest major label in the world. The publishing administration service was retired in 2023, and physical distribution was discontinued.

Calculate Your Earnings Across Platforms

Use the streaming royalty calculator to understand what your current stream counts generate across platforms. The reverse royalty calculator works backward from an income goal to the stream counts needed, helping you evaluate whether a distributor's cost structure is proportionate to your current earnings.

Next Steps:

1. Read the DistroKid deep-dive for the full feature and pricing breakdown
2. Understand publishing royalties and why your distributor alone cannot collect them all
3. Use the streaming royalty calculator to put your current numbers in context