DistroKid
DistroKid is the most widely used digital music distributor among independent artists in 2026. Flat annual subscription starting at $24.99/year for unlimited uploads to 150+ stores with 100% royalty retention. Known for the fastest delivery speed in the industry (24 to 72 hours). Based in the United States, founded in 2013.
Contact & HQ
No contact information listed.
Quick Facts
Distribution Features
Pricing Details
Musician: $24.99/year (1 artist). Musician Plus: $44.99/year (2 artists, custom release dates, daily stats). Ultimate: $89.99/year (up to 100 artists, advanced analytics, playlist contact search). Add-ons: Leave a Legacy $29/single or $49/album one-time, YouTube Content ID $4.95/single + 20% revenue, Store Maximizer $7.95/release/year, Cover Song Licensing $12/song/year, Beatport $9.99/month.
Publishing Administration
No. Add-on not available directly. Artists must register with a PRO separately.
YouTube Content ID
$4.95 per single or $14.95 per album per year, plus 20% of ad revenue. Included on higher tiers with the Social Media Pack.
Sync Licensing
No built-in sync licensing service.
Royalty Splits
Yes. Free on all plans. Collaborators can withdraw their share without a paid account.
Release Protection
No. Music is removed within weeks if you cancel. Leave a Legacy add-on ($29/single, $49/album) keeps releases live permanently.
AI Music Policy
Permissive. AI-generated music is accepted with mandatory disclosure at upload time. An upload-time classifier flags AI content.
DistroKid is a flat-fee digital music distributor based in New York, founded in 2013 by Philip Kaplan. It charges an annual subscription starting at $24.99 and lets you upload unlimited music to 150+ streaming platforms and stores while keeping 100% of your streaming and download royalties. It is the default choice for independent artists who release music frequently, with delivery to Spotify typically taking 24 to 72 hours, faster than any major competitor.
Pricing and Plans
DistroKid runs three annual subscription tiers. All include unlimited uploads and 100% royalty retention on streaming and download revenue.
- Musician ($24.99/year): One artist name, unlimited uploads, royalty splits, mobile app, free promo tools. No custom release dates, no daily stats.
- Musician Plus ($44.99/year): Two artist names, custom release and pre-order dates, daily streaming stats, custom label name, synced lyrics in Apple Music, custom iTunes pricing.
- Ultimate ($89.99/year): Up to 100 artist names, advanced analytics, playlist contact search (Playlister), audio replacement, 1 TB file sharing, RIAA award monitoring.
The Musician plan has one limitation that trips up new artists: you cannot schedule a custom release date. If you want a Friday drop or a pre-save campaign with a fixed date, you need Musician Plus at minimum.
Add-Ons and Hidden Costs
The base subscription covers unlimited uploads, but several features that competitors include for free cost extra on DistroKid:
- Leave a Legacy: $29 per single or $49 per album (one-time). Keeps your music live if you ever stop paying. Without this, your releases come down within weeks of cancellation.
- YouTube Content ID (Social Media Pack): $4.95 per single or $14.95 per album per year, plus 20% of ad revenue. Scans YouTube and TikTok for unauthorized use of your music.
- Store Maximizer: $7.95 per release per year. Automatically delivers your music to new stores as DistroKid adds them.
- Cover Song Licensing: $12 per cover song per year.
- Beatport: $9.99 per month for electronic music delivery to Beatport.
- Discovery Pack: $0.99 per song per year. Adds your release to Gracenote, Luminate (SoundScan), ACRCloud, and Jaxsta for chart tracking and recognition.
A casual artist releasing three singles in year one with Content ID and Leave a Legacy on each realistically spends around $147, not $24.99. The subscription is a lease, not a purchase.
Submission and Upload Process
- Create an account at distrokid.com and choose a subscription plan.
- Click "Upload" and enter release details: title, artist name, release date (if on Musician Plus or higher), genre, language, and explicit content flag.
- Upload audio files (WAV, FLAC, or MP3 at 16-bit/44.1kHz or higher) and cover art (3000x3000px JPG or PNG).
- Select stores and territories for distribution.
- Opt into any Album Extras (Content ID, Store Maximizer, etc.).
- Set up royalty splits if you have collaborators.
- Submit for review. DistroKid inspects and delivers to stores, typically within 24 to 72 hours.
DistroKid generates ISRC and UPC codes for free if you do not have your own. You can also bring your own.
Real-World Cost Example
An artist releases 4 singles and 1 album (10 tracks) in a year on the Musician plan with Content ID on every track and Leave a Legacy on every release:
- Musician subscription: $24.99
- Content ID (14 songs at $4.95 each): $69.30
- Leave a Legacy (4 singles at $29 + 1 album at $49): $165
- Total year one: $259.29
The same artist on CD Baby would pay $54.95 upfront ($9.99 x 4 singles + $14.99 x 1 album) plus 9% commission on all revenue forever. At $5,000 in annual earnings, CD Baby takes $450 in commission. DistroKid takes $0 in commission but charges $259.29 in fees. The break-even depends entirely on how much your music earns.
Use our streaming royalty calculator to project your earnings and compare total costs across distributors.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Music comes down if you stop paying. Without Leave a Legacy, your entire catalog is removed within weeks of cancellation. A 50-song catalog would cost $1,450+ in Leave a Legacy fees to protect permanently.
- Add-on costs stack up fast. Content ID, Store Maximizer, Shazam recognition, and Leave a Legacy are all separate charges. The advertised $24.99/year rarely reflects what active artists actually pay.
- No publishing administration. DistroKid does not collect mechanical or performance royalties. You must register with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) and The MLC separately. Read our guide to mechanical royalties to understand what you are missing.
- No sync licensing. DistroKid has no sync placement service. If you want your music in film, TV, or ads, you need a separate sync licensing company. Browse our sync licensing directory for options.
- Support is primarily self-service. DistroKid laid off support staff in 2024. Email support exists but response times can be slow. There is no phone support.
- No physical distribution. DistroKid is digital only. You cannot press vinyl or CDs through them.
Who DistroKid Is Best For
DistroKid is the cheapest option for artists who release more than 2 songs per year and want 100% royalty retention. The break-even against TuneCore's per-release pricing is at 2 releases annually. The break-even against CD Baby's 9% commission depends on your earnings: at $2,800/year in revenue, CD Baby's $252 commission exceeds DistroKid's $24.99 subscription.
If you release music infrequently (once a year or less), CD Baby's one-time fee model may cost less long term. If you want permanence without annual fees, CD Baby keeps your music live forever. If you want publishing admin and sync licensing included, look at TuneCore or Symphonic instead.
Pros and Cons Comparison
| Category | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Flat annual fee ($24.99) for unlimited uploads. No per-release charges. 100% royalty retention on streaming and downloads. | Add-ons stack up fast. Content ID ($4.95/song), Store Maximizer ($7.95/release), and Leave a Legacy ($29/single, $49/album) are all separate charges. Active artists often pay $150+ per year, not $24.99. |
| Speed | Fastest delivery in the industry. Music typically reaches Spotify within 24 to 72 hours. Some releases appear on Spotify for Artists the next day. | No expedited or priority delivery option for time-sensitive releases. |
| Royalty splits | Free royalty splits on all plans. Collaborators can withdraw their share without a paid account. Best native split feature among major distributors. | Splits only cover streaming and download revenue. No publishing royalty splits since DistroKid does not handle publishing administration. |
| Catalog permanence | Leave a Legacy add-on keeps releases live permanently even if you cancel. | Without Leave a Legacy, your entire catalog is removed within weeks of cancellation. Protecting a 50-song catalog permanently costs $1,450+ in add-on fees. |
| Platform coverage | 150+ stores including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and Instagram. | Digital only. No physical distribution (vinyl, CD). No Beatport without a $9.99/month add-on. |
| Publishing and sync | None included. | No publishing administration. No sync licensing. Artists must register separately with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) and The MLC for mechanical royalties. |
| Support | Email support and a comprehensive help center with step-by-step guides. | No phone support. DistroKid laid off support staff in 2024. Response times can be slow. Primary support is a chatbot named "Dave." |
| AI music policy | Permissive. AI-generated music accepted with mandatory disclosure at upload time. An upload-time classifier flags AI content. | Disclosure is required. Non-disclosure of AI content can result in takedowns. |
Notable Artists Who Use DistroKid
DistroKid reports more than 2 million artists on its platform. Several high-profile artists have used or currently use DistroKid for distribution:
- 21 Savage: The Grammy-nominated rapper has distributed music through DistroKid. His catalog includes multi-platinum singles and albums.
- Ludacris: The rapper and actor distributed his 2017 single "Vitamin D" (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) through DistroKid.
- Tom Waits: The acclaimed singer-songwriter, known for his distinctive voice and experimental compositions, has used DistroKid for releases.
- Will Smith: The actor and rapper has distributed music through DistroKid.
- Arizona Zervas: The rapper behind the viral hit "Roxanne," which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019, used DistroKid for distribution.
- Jack and Jack: The duo topped the iTunes album chart in 2015 with music distributed through DistroKid.
- iHeartMemphis: The rapper behind the viral hit "Hit the Quan" distributed through DistroKid.
DistroKid is also used by labels managing up to 100 artist names on the Ultimate plan, and by YouTube creators who record music at home or in studios.
Video Gallery
The following videos provide additional context about DistroKid, how music distribution works, and what to consider when choosing a distributor.
What Is a Music Distributor? DistroKid Tutorial (2026 Full Beginner Guide)
This 30-minute tutorial covers everything from how music distributors work to how to upload tracks, set up royalty splits, and promote music professionally using DistroKid in 2026. It explains the role of distributors as the bridge between artists and platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
Why I'm Reconsidering DistroKid in 2026
This video from an independent artist breaks down the decision-making process behind choosing a music distributor. It covers money, growth, and control as three core areas to evaluate, and compares DistroKid with CD Baby, TuneCore, AWAL, ONErpm, Symphonic, and SoundCloud for Artists.
Related Resources
- DistroKid vs TuneCore vs CD Baby: Which Is Best in 2026 - Full head-to-head comparison
- 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
- DistroKid Official Website - Current pricing and sign-up
Similar Music Distributors
- CD Baby - One-time fee per release with 9% commission. Music stays live forever. Direct competitor with a different pricing model.
- TuneCore - Annual subscription with unlimited uploads. Includes publishing administration on higher tiers.
- Amuse - Mobile-first distributor with a free tier and paid Pro plans. Owned by Sony Music.
- Ditto Music - Annual subscription starting at $19/year. Includes sync licensing opportunities on the Pro plan.
- RouteNote - Free distribution tier with 15% commission, or paid plan with 100% royalty retention.
- Symphonic - Full-service distributor with publishing admin, sync licensing, and label services included.
- UnitedMasters - Free distribution with brand partnership opportunities. Select tier at $59.99/year.
- LANDR - Distribution bundled with AI mastering services. Annual subscription model.
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