Catapult Distribution

Catapult Distribution is a US-based music distributor founded in 1997, making it one of the longest-running digital distributors in the industry with nearly 30 years of continuous operation. The company uses a straightforward one-time fee model: $9 per single, $25 per album (up to 100 tracks), and $20 per ringtone. Artists keep 91% of royalties (9% commission) with no annual fees, no subscriptions, and music that stays live forever. Catapult distributes to 150+ stores across 250+ countries and holds Spotify Platinum Preferred Partner status, the highest tier of partnership with the platform. The company also offers YouTube Content ID monetization, Facebook/Instagram/TikTok monetization, Apple Digital Masters certification, Shazam registration, and auto-splits for royalty splitting between collaborators. Free UPC and ISRC codes are included with every release.

Pricing and Plans

Catapult uses a simple one-time fee model with no recurring charges. You pay once per release and your music stays live forever.

• Single ($9 one-time): Up to 2 tracks, 91% royalties (9% commission), distributed to 150+ stores across 250+ countries. Free UPC and ISRC codes included.
• Album ($25 one-time): Up to 100 tracks, 91% royalties (9% commission), distributed to 150+ stores across 250+ countries. Free UPC and ISRC codes included.
• Ringtone ($20 one-time): Ringtone distribution to supported stores.

All plans include:

• No annual fees, no subscriptions, no recurring charges
• Music stays live forever
• 91% royalty retention (9% commission)
• Free UPC and ISRC codes
• Direct store delivery with no middlemen
• Auto-splits for royalty splitting between collaborators
• Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok monetization
• Shazam registration
• Apple Digital Masters certification

YouTube Content ID

Catapult offers YouTube Content ID monetization with 75% of revenue going to the artist (25% commission). This is a higher commission than some competitors. DistroKid charges 20% on Content ID revenue, and iMusician also charges 20%. However, Catapult includes this as an opt-in service without additional upfront per-track fees.

The one-time fee model means Catapult is significantly cheaper than subscription-based distributors for artists who release infrequently. An artist releasing 4 singles per year pays $36 total ($9 x 4) with no recurring fees. On DistroKid, the same artist pays $24.99/year but must keep paying annually or lose their catalog. On CD Baby, the same artist pays $39.96 ($9.99 x 4) with a 9% commission, nearly identical to Catapult's pricing and commission structure.

Use our streaming royalty calculator to project your earnings and compare total costs across distributors.

What Sets Catapult Distribution Apart

1. Nearly 30 years of operation: Founded in 1997, Catapult is one of the oldest digital music distributors still operating. This longevity predates DistroKid (2013) by 16 years and TuneCore (2005) by 8 years. The company has survived multiple industry shifts, from the transition from physical to digital, to the rise of streaming, to the current era of AI-generated music.
2. One-time fee with no recurring charges: Catapult charges $9 per single and $25 per album, one time, with no annual fees or subscriptions. Your music stays live forever. This is the same permanence model as CD Baby, but Catapult's album pricing ($25 for up to 100 tracks) is more favorable than CD Baby's ($14.99 for an album with 9% commission).
3. Spotify Platinum Preferred Partner: Catapult holds Spotify Platinum Preferred Partner status, the highest tier of partnership. This means faster delivery to Spotify, priority processing, and direct access to Spotify support. Only a small number of distributors achieve Platinum status.
4. Apple Digital Masters certification: Catapult is certified for Apple Digital Masters, ensuring that your music meets Apple's quality standards for lossless audio delivery. This certification is not universally held among distributors.
5. Direct store delivery with no middlemen: Catapult delivers directly to stores rather than routing through aggregators or third-party networks. This can result in faster delivery and fewer points of failure in the supply chain.
6. Auto-splits for royalty splitting: Catapult offers automatic royalty splits between collaborators, a feature that is not universally available on pay-per-release plans. DistroKid offers free splits on all plans, but CD Baby charges for splits on its basic tier.
7. Multiple payout methods: Catapult supports PayPal, ACH, Wire, Venmo, SEPA, FPS, EFT, and NPP for payouts. This breadth of payout options is wider than many competitors and covers US, European, Canadian, Australian, and UK payment systems.
8. $10 minimum payout threshold: The low $10 minimum payout threshold means you can withdraw earnings quickly without waiting to accumulate a large balance. Some competitors have higher thresholds or charge withdrawal fees.
9. Monthly accounting and royalty payments: Catapult provides monthly accounting with royalty payments, giving artists regular visibility into their earnings. Some distributors pay quarterly or only after reaching higher thresholds.
10. Free UPC and ISRC codes: Catapult includes free UPC and ISRC codes with every release. Some distributors charge for these or require higher-tier plans to include them.

Submission and Upload Process

1. Create a Catapult Distribution account at catapultdistribution.com.
2. Choose your release type: single ($9), album ($25), or ringtone ($20).
3. Upload your audio files (WAV format required) and cover art (3000x3000px recommended).
4. Enter release metadata: title, artist name, release date, genre, language, and explicit content flag.
5. Select stores and territories for distribution (150+ stores, 250+ countries).
6. Opt into YouTube Content ID, Facebook/Instagram/TikTok monetization, and Shazam registration as desired.
7. Set up auto-splits if you have collaborators.
8. Catapult delivers your music directly to stores. Free UPC and ISRC codes are generated if you do not have your own.
9. Track earnings with monthly accounting and royalty payments. Withdraw via PayPal, ACH, Wire, Venmo, SEPA, FPS, EFT, or NPP once you reach the $10 minimum.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• 9% commission on all revenue. Catapult takes 9% of your streaming and download revenue forever. While this is competitive with CD Baby (also 9%), it means you never keep 100% of your earnings. If your music generates significant revenue, a subscription-based distributor like DistroKid ($24.99/year, 0% commission) may be cheaper at scale. At $2,800/year in revenue, DistroKid's $24.99 fee is less than Catapult's $252 commission.
• 25% YouTube Content ID commission. Catapult takes 25% of YouTube Content ID revenue, which is higher than DistroKid (20%) and iMusician (20%). If you generate significant YouTube revenue, this is a meaningful cost.
• No subscription option for frequent releasers. Catapult is pay-per-release only. An artist releasing 12 singles per year pays $108 ($9 x 12), which is more than DistroKid's $24.99/year for unlimited uploads. The break-even depends on your release volume.
• Only 150+ stores. Catapult distributes to 150+ stores, which is competitive but fewer than iMusician (200+). If you need maximum store coverage, iMusician offers broader reach.
• No publishing administration. Catapult does not offer publishing admin services. You need separate PRO and MLC registration to collect mechanical and performance royalties. Read our guide to mechanical royalties to understand what you are missing.
• No sync licensing. No built-in sync placement service for film, TV, or ads. Browse our sync licensing directory for options.
• Limited marketing and promotional tools. Catapult focuses on distribution and royalty collection rather than marketing services. If you need playlist pitching, social media promotion, or advertising support, look at distributors with built-in marketing tools.
• AI music policy not stated. Catapult does not publicly document its policy on AI-generated music. If you produce AI-assisted or AI-generated content, confirm acceptance before uploading.
• Smaller brand recognition. Despite its longevity, Catapult has lower brand recognition than DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby. Fewer community reviews and tutorials exist online, which can make onboarding less straightforward for new users.

Who Catapult Distribution Is Best For

Catapult Distribution is best for artists who release infrequently and want permanent distribution without recurring fees. The one-time fee model ($9 per single, $25 per album) with music that stays live forever is ideal for artists who do not want to worry about annual subscriptions or losing their catalog if they stop paying. The 91% royalty retention is competitive with CD Baby, and the Spotify Platinum Preferred Partner status ensures reliable delivery to the most important streaming platform.

Catapult is less ideal for artists who release frequently (DistroKid's $24.99/year unlimited plan is cheaper for 3+ releases per year), artists who want 100% royalty retention (DistroKid and TuneCore offer 0% commission on subscription plans), or artists who need publishing administration and sync licensing (use TuneCore or Songtradr instead). For a broader comparison, see our music distribution services comparison.

Royalty Retention

Catapult pays 91% of royalties to the artist. The company takes a 9% commission on all streaming and download revenue. This commission applies for the lifetime of the release. There is no option for 100% royalty retention. The 9% commission is identical to CD Baby's standard rate. At $2,800/year in revenue, the 9% commission costs $252. DistroKid's $24.99/year flat fee becomes cheaper at this revenue level.

Store Count and Delivery Speed

Catapult distributes to 150+ stores across 250+ countries. The company holds Spotify Platinum Preferred Partner status, the highest tier of Spotify partnership. Catapult delivers directly to stores without intermediary aggregators. Most releases appear on streaming platforms within 24 to 72 hours after submission and quality control processing. Catapult recommends submitting at least 7 days before your target release date.

Publishing Admin and YouTube Content ID

Catapult does not offer publishing administration services. Artists need separate PRO and MLC registration to collect mechanical and performance royalties. Read our guide to mechanical royalties for more information.

YouTube Content ID is available. Catapult takes 25% of Content ID revenue (75% to the artist). This commission is higher than DistroKid (20%) and iMusician (20%). Catapult also offers Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok monetization. Shazam registration is included at no extra cost.

Sync Licensing

Catapult does not offer a built-in sync licensing service. There is no sync placement platform for film, TV, or advertising. Browse our sync licensing directory for options. Artists seeking sync opportunities should use Songtradr, Ditto Pro, or a dedicated sync library.

Royalty Splits

Catapult offers auto-splits for royalty splitting between collaborators. This feature is included at no extra cost on all plans. Splits can be set up during the upload process. DistroKid also offers free splits on all plans. CD Baby charges for splits on its basic tier.

Release Protection

Catapult releases stay live forever. There are no annual fees, no subscriptions, and no recurring charges. Your music remains online even if you never release another track. This is the same permanence model as CD Baby. DistroKid requires annual subscription renewal or a $29 "Leave a Legacy" fee per release to keep music online.

AI Music Policy

Catapult does not publicly document its policy on AI-generated music. The company has not published guidelines regarding AI-assisted or AI-generated content. If you produce AI-assisted or AI-generated music, confirm acceptance with Catapult before uploading.

Hidden Costs

Catapult's pricing is straightforward with few hidden costs. The one-time fees ($9 per single, $25 per album) cover distribution to 150+ stores. However, additional costs include:

• 9% commission on all revenue: This is ongoing and permanent, not a one-time cost.
• 25% YouTube Content ID commission: Higher than competitors at 20%.
• Daily reports extra fee: Catapult charges approximately $10/month for daily trend reports. Monthly reports are free.
• No publishing admin: You need separate PRO and MLC registration, which may involve fees.

Comparison Table

Videos

Compare with Other Distributors

• DistroKid - $24.99/year, 100% royalties, fastest delivery, subscription model
• CD Baby - Per-release pricing, 91% royalties, music stays live forever
• TuneCore - Subscription plans with publishing admin and YouTube Content ID
• iMusician - 200+ stores, transparent pricing, per-release or subscription
• DistroVibe - $19.99/year, 100% royalties, 450+ stores, Content ID included

Related Resources

• Music Distribution Services Compared - Broader distributor comparison
• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project your earnings across platforms
• Why Music Distributors Don't Offer Free Music Distribution - Understanding distribution economics
• Catapult Distribution Official Website - Current pricing and sign-up