Record Union is a Sweden-based digital music distributor founded in 2008 in Stockholm. It uses a per-release subscription model where you pay an annual fee for each release you distribute, with pricing varying by track count, store selection, and royalty rate. Record Union distributes to 150+ platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Amazon, Pandora, and Instagram. The company serves over a hundred thousand artists and labels globally and has positioned itself as a migration destination for artists leaving Spinnup (Universal Music Group's curated distribution platform).
Pricing and Plans
Record Union uses a per-release subscription model. Each release has its own annual subscription that auto-renews:
- Single: Starting at $14/year
- EP (3-5 tracks): Pricing varies by package
- Album (up to 12 tracks): Starting at $29/year (World Domination package, largest store selection)
- Additional tracks over 12: $1.50 per track per year
Pricing depends on three factors:
- How many tracks are on the release
- How many music services you distribute to (different package tiers)
- The royalty rate you choose
Record Union offers custom pricing for large catalogs or high-volume release schedules. Contact their customer success team for bulk arrangements.
What Sets Record Union Apart
- Per-release model with 100% royalties: Unlike CD Baby's per-release model (which takes 9% commission), Record Union charges 0% commission on streaming revenue. You pay the annual subscription per release and keep everything you earn.
- Flexible package selection: You choose how many stores to distribute to, which affects pricing. This lets budget-conscious artists select smaller packages for less important releases and bigger packages for flagship drops.
- Spinnup migration support: Record Union has built tools and support specifically for artists migrating from Spinnup, helping preserve streams and playlists during the transfer.
- Smart links through Linkfire: Record Union integrates with Linkfire for smart link creation and promotion.
- Royalty splits: Collaborator splitting is available, though less prominently featured than DistroKid or Stem.
Submission and Upload Process
- Create a Record Union account.
- Choose a package based on track count and store selection.
- Upload audio files and cover art.
- Enter release metadata. Record Union generates ISRC and UPC codes.
- Set up royalty splits for collaborators.
- Create smart links through Linkfire integration.
- Submit for distribution to 150+ platforms.
Record Union has a simplified release flow that gives flexibility and introduces new features in beta.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Per-release costs accumulate with catalog growth. Each release has its own annual subscription. A 20-release catalog costs $280+/year in renewals. This is more expensive than an unlimited subscription like DistroKid ($24.99 for unlimited releases).
- No unlimited plan. Record Union does not offer an unlimited subscription. If you release frequently, the per-release model becomes expensive compared to DistroKid, TuneCore, or Ditto.
- Releases removed if not renewed. Unlike CD Baby (where music stays live permanently after a one-time fee), Record Union removes releases if the annual subscription is not renewed.
- Limited public information on delivery speed. Record Union does not prominently publish delivery timeframes.
- No publishing admin. Record Union does not prominently offer publishing administration.
- Smaller company. With 53 employees and $3.6M annual revenue, Record Union is smaller than DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby. Support and infrastructure may be more limited.
Who Record Union Is Best For
Record Union is best for artists who release infrequently and want 100% royalty retention without a subscription. The per-release model at $14/year for a single is competitive for low-volume releasers. It is also a good option for artists migrating from Spinnup who need transfer support.
Record Union is less ideal for high-volume releasers (the per-release model becomes expensive fast), artists who want an unlimited subscription (DistroKid, TuneCore, or Ditto are better), or artists who need publishing admin, sync licensing, or advanced analytics. If you want permanence without annual fees, CD Baby's one-time model is a better fit despite the 9% commission.
Record Union vs. Other Distributors
| Feature | Record Union | DistroKid | TuneCore | CD Baby | Ditto Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-release subscription | Annual subscription (unlimited) | Annual subscription (unlimited) | One-time fee per release | Annual subscription (unlimited) |
| Starting price | $14/year per single | $24.99/year (unlimited) | $24.99/year (unlimited) | $9.99 per single | $19/year (unlimited) |
| Royalty retention | 100% | 100% | 100% | 91% (9% commission) | 100% |
| Store count | 150+ (World Domination) / 5 (Top Dog) | 150+ | 150+ | 150+ | 180+ |
| Delivery speed | 14 days standard, 5 days with Rapid Delivery | 2-5 days | 3-7 days | 3-7 days | 3-7 days |
| Publishing admin | No | No | Yes (TuneCore Publishing) | Yes (Songtrust) | No |
| YouTube Content ID | Yes (add-on) | Yes ($4.99/yr + 20% cut) | Yes (included, 20% cut) | Yes (30% cut) | Yes (included) |
| Sync licensing | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Royalty splits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Release protection | No (removed if subscription lapses) | No (removed if subscription lapses) | No (removed if subscription lapses) | Yes (stays live permanently) | No (removed if subscription lapses) |
| AI music policy | Not publicly stated | Permissive | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
| Spotify partner status | Platinum Partner | Platinum Partner | Partner | Partner | Partner |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.7/5 (1,270 reviews) | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.3/5 |
Pricing Model in Detail
Record Union uses a per-release subscription model. Each release has its own annual subscription that auto-renews. Pricing depends on three factors: track count, number of music services (package tier), and royalty rate chosen.
Top Dog Package (5 platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube Music)
- Single (1-2 tracks): $14/year
- EP (3-5 tracks): $17/year
- Album (6-12 tracks): $20/year
- Additional tracks over 12: $1.50 per track per year
World Domination Package (150+ platforms)
- Single (1-2 tracks): $19/year
- EP (3-5 tracks): $24/year
- Album (6-12 tracks): $29/year
- Additional tracks over 12: $1.50 per track per year
Custom pricing is available for large catalogs or high-volume release schedules. Contact Record Union's customer success team for bulk arrangements.
Royalty Retention
Record Union charges 0% commission on streaming revenue. You pay the annual subscription per release and keep 100% of what you earn. This differs from CD Baby, which takes a 9% commission on digital revenue.
Royalty reports arrive monthly with a 3-month delay. For example, royalties for a release that went live in January are first reported in April. You can track streams, downloads, video creations, and royalties in the Record Union dashboard.
Store Count and Delivery Speed
Record Union distributes to 150+ platforms with the World Domination package. The Top Dog package covers 5 platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube Music). Record Union's website lists 20+ distinct global music services, which collectively cover 150+ storefronts and territories. Record Union is a Spotify Platinum Partner and has preferred relationships with Apple Music and other major services.
Standard delivery takes approximately 14 days from submission to availability on streaming services. The Rapid Delivery add-on reduces this to as few as 5 days. Record Union recommends uploading at least 3-4 weeks before your desired release date for releases with planned PR activities or Spotify editorial pitching.
Publishing Admin, YouTube Content ID, and Sync Licensing
- Publishing admin: Not offered. Record Union does not provide publishing administration services. If you need publishing royalty collection, use a separate service like Songtrust or TuneCore Publishing.
- YouTube Content ID: Available as an add-on during the upload process. Record Union scans YouTube for instances of your music, places claims on matching videos, and monetizes them through ads. Revenue is added to your balance. Eligibility requires full ownership of both recording and publishing rights. No unauthorized samples, covers, remixes, or public domain recordings.
- Sync licensing: Not offered. Record Union does not provide sync licensing or pitch your music for film, TV, or advertising placements.
Release Protection
Releases are removed from all platforms if the annual subscription is not renewed. You can manage subscriptions in your account settings, where you can view expiration dates and suspend or renew individual releases.
This differs from CD Baby, where music stays live permanently after a one-time fee. If you want permanence without annual fees, CD Baby is a better fit despite its 9% commission.
AI Music Policy
Record Union has not published a specific AI music policy as of August 2026. The platform requires that you own the rights to all material you upload. Content containing unlicensed samples is rejected. Podcasts, nature sounds, ASMR, audiobooks, stand-up comedy, and spoken word content are not accepted.
For artists working with AI-generated music, contact Record Union support before uploading to confirm eligibility. DistroKid and RouteNote are currently the most permissive distributors for AI-generated content.
Hidden Costs and Add-Ons
Record Union's base subscription covers distribution to your chosen platforms. The following add-ons are available at additional cost:
- Rapid Delivery: Prioritizes your release for review, getting it online in as few as 5 days instead of 14.
- Pitch Priority: Boosts your release in Spotify's editorial pitching queue.
- Spotify Pre-Save: Creates a pre-save link for your release on Spotify.
- YouTube Content ID: Monetizes your music across YouTube videos.
- Royalty Upgrade: Increases your take-home streaming and download royalties to 92.5%. Available as an add-on during the upload process.
- UPC codes: Available for purchase at $10.00 each (one-time fee) if you do not have your own.
- ISRC codes: Generated for free by Record Union.
A 20-release catalog at $14/year per single costs $280+/year in renewals. This is significantly more expensive than DistroKid's $24.99/year for unlimited releases. The per-release model becomes costly for high-volume releasers.
Company Facts
- Founded: 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden
- Employees: 53 (across 11 countries including US, Sweden, Philippines, Italy, Spain)
- Annual revenue: $3.6 million
- Trustpilot: 4.7/5 from 1,270 reviews
- Spotify partner status: Platinum Partner (first independent distributor to partner with Spotify, since 2009)
- Notable feature: Spinnup migration support for artists transferring from Universal Music Group's curated distribution platform
Video Guides
Compare Record Union with Other Distributors
- DistroKid - $24.99/year unlimited, fastest delivery
- TuneCore - $24.99/year unlimited, includes publishing admin
- CD Baby - One-time fee, 9% commission, music stays live permanently
- Ditto Music - $19/year unlimited, 180+ stores
- Amuse - Free tier available, mobile-first
- RouteNote - Free tier (15% commission) or Premium ($10/year)
- ONErpm - Free distribution with commission
- UnitedMasters - Free tier with brand partnership opportunities
- Symphonic - Full-service distribution for labels
- Stem - Label services with advanced royalty splits
- AWAL - Kobalt-owned, selective acceptance
- Full Distributor Directory - Browse all music distribution services
Related Resources
- Music Distribution Services Compared - Broader distributor comparison
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project your earnings
- Record Union Official Website - Current pricing and sign-up
- Record Union Help Center - FAQs and tutorials
