RecordJet

RecordJet is a digital music distributor based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2008 by Jorin Zschiesche. It is independent and owner-operated with no investors, which means decisions are made without pressure from external stakeholders. RecordJet offers two pricing models: Business Class Basic (a one-time fee per release with 90% royalty retention and permanent online availability) and Business Class Premium (an annual fee per release with 100% royalty retention, but music goes offline if cancelled). The company also operates a First Class program for hand-picked artists that includes personal support, label deals, and playlist marketing. RecordJet supports Dolby Atmos and hi-res audio up to 192kHz/32-bit, offers physical distribution, and provides promotion services for streaming platforms. There are no cancellation periods on either model.

Pricing and Plans

RecordJet offers two main pricing models, plus an exclusive First Class program.

Business Class Basic (One-Time Fee)

• Single: 19 EUR (one-time, stays online permanently, 90% royalties)
• EP: 29 EUR (one-time, stays online permanently, 90% royalties)
• Album: 39 EUR (one-time, stays online permanently, 90% royalties)

The Basic model is a one-time fee. Your music stays online permanently with no recurring costs. You keep 90% of royalties, with RecordJet taking a 10% commission. This is comparable to CD Baby's model (9% commission plus upfront fees) but with a simpler structure.

Business Class Premium (Annual Fee)

• Single: 9 EUR per year (100% royalties, goes offline on cancellation)
• EP: 19 EUR per year (100% royalties, goes offline on cancellation)
• Album: 29 EUR per year (100% royalties, goes offline on cancellation)

The Premium model charges an annual fee per release. You keep 100% of royalties with no commission. However, if you cancel, your music goes offline. This is comparable to DistroKid's subscription model but priced per release rather than as a flat annual fee.

First Class (Exclusive Program)

• Hand-picked artists only (past and current artists include Milky Chance, Alice Merton, Culcha Candela)
• Personal support and label deals
• Playlist marketing
• Contact RecordJet for application details

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

What Sets RecordJet Apart

1. Independent and owner-operated: RecordJet has no investors and has been owner-operated since 2008. This means the company can make long-term decisions without pressure from external stakeholders. Many distributors have been acquired by larger companies (DistroKid by private equity, CD Baby by Downtown Music).
2. No cancellation periods: Neither the Basic nor Premium model has cancellation periods. You can stop at any time without being locked in. This is unusual in the subscription-based distribution industry.
3. Dolby Atmos and hi-res audio up to 192kHz/32-bit: RecordJet supports Dolby Atmos and hi-res audio up to 192kHz/32-bit, which is among the highest audio quality supported by any distributor. This matters for audiophile releases and classical music.
4. First Class program for hand-picked artists: The First Class program offers personal support, label deals, and playlist marketing for selected artists. Artists like Milky Chance, Alice Merton, and Culcha Candela have been part of this program, demonstrating its credibility.
5. Physical distribution available: RecordJet offers physical distribution, allowing you to press CDs and vinyl through the platform. Most digital-only distributors like DistroKid do not offer this.
6. Two clear pricing models: The choice between one-time fee (Basic, 90% royalties, permanent) and annual fee (Premium, 100% royalties, cancelable) gives artists flexibility based on their release frequency and royalty preferences.
7. Promotion services for streaming platforms: RecordJet offers promotion services to help artists secure playlist placements and editorial coverage on streaming platforms.
8. 17 years of independent operation: Founded in 2008, RecordJet has been operating independently for 17 years, predating DistroKid (2013) by 5 years.

Submission and Upload Process

1. Create a RecordJet account at recordjet.com.
2. Choose your pricing model: Business Class Basic (one-time fee) or Business Class Premium (annual fee).
3. Enter release details: title, artist name, release date, genre, and metadata.
4. Upload audio files (WAV, hi-res audio up to 192kHz/32-bit, Dolby Atmos supported) and cover art.
5. Select stores and territories for distribution.
6. Optionally add physical distribution (CDs, vinyl) and promotion services.
7. Submit for review. RecordJet inspects and delivers to stores.
8. On Basic, your music stays online permanently after the one-time fee. On Premium, your music stays online as long as you pay the annual fee.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Basic model takes 10% commission. The Basic one-time fee model keeps 90% of royalties, meaning RecordJet takes 10%. This is worse than CD Baby (9%) and significantly worse than any subscription plan with 0% commission. At $10,000 in annual revenue, the 10% commission costs $1,000 per year.
• Premium goes offline on cancellation. Unlike the Basic model, the Premium annual fee model removes your music if you cancel. This is the same limitation as DistroKid without Leave a Legacy. If you want permanent availability, use the Basic model.
• No publishing administration. RecordJet does not offer publishing admin. You need separate PRO and MLC registration. Read our guide to mechanical royalties to understand what you are missing.
• No sync licensing. RecordJet has no built-in 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.
• First Class is invite-only. The First Class program with personal support and label deals is only available to hand-picked artists. Most users will not have access to these premium services.
• Smaller store count than major competitors. RecordJet distributes to 100+ stores, fewer than DistroKid (150+) or iMusician (200+). Coverage of major platforms is included, but niche platforms may be missing.
• Less brand recognition outside Germany. RecordJet is well-known in Germany and German-speaking markets but less recognized internationally. Fewer community reviews and tutorials exist in English compared to DistroKid.
• Pricing in EUR. RecordJet prices in EUR, which means international artists face currency conversion fees and exchange rate fluctuations.

Who RecordJet Is Best For

RecordJet is best for European artists and labels who want flexible pricing models, personal support, and the option of physical distribution. The Basic one-time fee model is ideal for artists who release infrequently and want permanent catalog protection with no recurring costs. The Premium annual fee model is better for frequent releasers who want 100% royalty retention and are comfortable paying annually.

Artists who produce hi-res audio or Dolby Atmos content benefit from RecordJet's support for 192kHz/32-bit audio. German-speaking artists benefit from local support and native language communication. Artists interested in physical distribution (CDs, vinyl) can handle both digital and physical through one platform.

RecordJet is less ideal for artists who want the cheapest possible distribution (DistroKid at $24.99/year for unlimited releases is cheaper for frequent releasers), artists who need publishing administration or sync licensing (use TuneCore or Songtradr), or artists who want 100% royalties with permanent availability in one plan (EmuBands offers this on Premium). For a broader comparison, see our music distribution services compared guide.

Distributor Comparison Table

RecordJet's dual pricing model gives artists flexibility. The Basic one-time fee model (90% royalties, permanent availability) is comparable to CD Baby's approach. The Premium annual fee model (100% royalties) is comparable to DistroKid's subscription approach but priced per release rather than as a flat annual fee.

AI Music Policy

RecordJet has not prominently stated a specific AI music policy. The platform does not publicly document whether AI-generated music is accepted, rejected, or subject to special review. Contact RecordJet directly for current AI music guidelines.

As a German-based distributor operating under EU law, RecordJet may be subject to EU AI Act provisions and the EU Directive 2019/790 on copyright in the digital single market. These regulations include text and data mining (TDM) opt-out mechanisms that affect how AI systems can use copyrighted works for training.

Artists using AI-assisted tools (where AI is used as a creative tool but human input remains central) should contact RecordJet before uploading to confirm eligibility. Fully AI-generated music without human creative input may face rejection under standard DSP content policies, but this is not explicitly documented by RecordJet.

Hidden Costs and Add-ons

RecordJet offers two clear pricing models. The following costs and trade-offs should be considered:

• Basic model takes 10% commission: The one-time fee model keeps 90% of royalties, meaning RecordJet takes 10%. This is worse than CD Baby (9%) and significantly worse than any subscription plan with 0% commission. At $10,000 in annual revenue, the 10% commission costs $1,000 per year.
• Premium goes offline on cancellation: Unlike the Basic model, the Premium annual fee model removes your music if you cancel. This is the same limitation as DistroKid without Leave a Legacy. If you want permanent availability, use the Basic model.
• No publishing administration: RecordJet does not offer publishing admin. You need separate PRO and MLC registration. Read our guide to mechanical royalties to understand what you are missing.
• No sync licensing: RecordJet has no built-in 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.
• First Class is invite-only: The First Class program with personal support and label deals is only available to hand-picked artists. Most users will not have access to these premium services.
• Smaller store count than major competitors: RecordJet distributes to 100+ stores, fewer than DistroKid (150+), CD Baby (150+), or iMusician (200+). Coverage of major platforms is included, but niche platforms may be missing.
• Pricing in EUR: RecordJet prices in EUR, which means international artists face currency conversion fees and exchange rate fluctuations when paying for distribution.
• Physical distribution add-on: RecordJet offers physical distribution (CDs, vinyl) as an add-on service. This carries additional manufacturing and distribution costs not included in the digital distribution fee.
• Promotion services add-on: RecordJet offers promotion services for streaming platforms. These are priced separately and are not included in the Basic or Premium distribution fee.
• Less brand recognition outside Germany: RecordJet is well-known in Germany and German-speaking markets but less recognized internationally. Fewer community reviews and tutorials exist in English compared to DistroKid or CD Baby.

Video Guides

Compare RecordJet with Other Distributors

• CD Baby - Per-release pricing, 9% commission, music stays live permanently
• DistroKid - $22.99/year unlimited, 100% royalties, fastest delivery
• iMusician - 200+ stores, publishing admin available, Swiss-based
• EmuBands - 100% royalties with permanent availability on all plans
• TuneCore - $19.99/year unlimited, 100% royalties
• Believe - Global distribution group, custom deals
• Kontor New Media - German distribution and marketing services
• Full Distributor Directory - Browse all music distribution services

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
• RecordJet Official Website - Current pricing and sign-up