Too Lost

Too Lost is a US-based digital music distributor founded in 2019 by Greg Hirschhorn, Alex Silverstein, and Bjarki Lárusson. The company launched publicly in 2020 and has grown to over 300,000 artists and labels with a catalog exceeding 7 million songs, adding approximately 150,000 new tracks every month. Too Lost offers unlimited distribution to 450+ stores starting at $19.99/year with 100% royalty retention. The company is fully bootstrapped with no outside capital or equity sold, employing around 85 people across two offices. Notable artists distributing through Too Lost include Chief Keef, Lil Tjay, YG, and Ye.

Pricing and Plans

Too Lost uses a subscription model with three account types:

• Artist Account ($19.99/year or $2.99/month): One artist, unlimited uploads, 100% royalties, 450+ stores and services, basic analytics.
• Label Account ($35.99/year or $5.99/month): Unlimited artists, unlimited uploads, 100% royalties, 450+ stores. Ideal for labels and managers.
• Collaborator Account (Free): For managers, producers, and team members. Access to royalty splits and team management tools at no cost.

The Artist plan at $19.99/year is $5 cheaper than DistroKid ($24.99) and includes publishing administration and Content ID, which DistroKid charges extra for. The Label plan at $35.99/year for unlimited artists is significantly cheaper than DistroKid Ultimate ($89.99/year for up to 100 artists).

What Sets Too Lost Apart

1. 450+ stores and services: Too Lost claims the largest distribution network in the industry, delivering to more stores than any other distributor. This includes all major streaming services, social media platforms, rights management platforms (YouTube Content ID, Meta Rights Manager, SoundExchange), and genre-focused services (Beatport, Juno Download).
2. Direct delivery, no intermediaries: Too Lost distributes directly to most of the 450+ outlets without using intermediary distributors. This eliminates extra fees and commissions that aggregators often skim off.
3. Merlin membership: Too Lost is a Merlin member, which helps negotiate better streaming rates with DSPs. Every distributor negotiates streaming rates with every DSP, and Merlin membership gives Too Lost leverage to secure competitive rates.
4. Publishing administration via BMG: Too Lost offers global royalty collection powered by BMG. This is included as a service with a 15% commission, which is the industry standard for publishing admin.
5. Artist financing up to $5M: Too Lost offers fast, flexible funding from $1K to $5M with ownership intact. This is similar to services offered by Amuse Starter and Stem, but at a higher maximum amount.
6. Copyright registration: Too Lost offers fast, affordable filings with the U.S. Copyright Office directly through the platform.
7. AI mastering: Studio-quality masters in seconds, included as a platform feature.
8. Cover song licensing: One-time fee of $14.99 with approval in 1 to 2 days. DistroKid charges $12/song/year for cover licensing.
9. Rigorous fraud prevention: Too Lost requires government ID and selfie verification during signup. This deters fraudsters and reduces the risk of streaming fraud, which is increasingly leading to prison time. Too Lost is a Music Fights Fraud member.
10. No application process or exclusivity: Anyone can sign up and use the service. No exclusivity requirements. This contrasts with AWAL, Vydia, and Stem, which require applications.
11. Chart registration: Too Lost automates Billboard and chart submissions, a feature rarely offered by competitors.

Additional Services

Beyond basic distribution, Too Lost offers:

• Usage Discovery: Track playlist placements, social shares, syncs, and samples of your music.
• Greenlist and Blocklist: Control who can and cannot upload your music, protecting against unauthorized usage.
• Channel Monetization: Maximize YouTube revenue through Too Lost's Multi-Channel Network.
• Delivery Logs: Real-time release tracking across every store and service.
• Exportable Reports: Download royalty and revenue data instantly for accounting.
• Sales Dashboards: Visual insights to track streams, sales, and fan engagement.

Submission and Upload Process

1. Create a Too Lost account. ID verification required (government ID and selfie).
2. Choose a plan (Artist, Label, or Collaborator).
3. Use the intuitive step-by-step uploader to release worldwide.
4. Enter metadata, set up royalty splits, and upload artwork.
5. Too Lost delivers to 450+ stores with DDEX-compliant supply chain handling 100K+ deliveries monthly.
6. Track performance with delivery logs, sales dashboards, and exportable reports.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Reported support issues. Some users report unanswered support tickets and artists slipping through the cracks. The company has 85 employees across two offices, which is smaller than DistroKid or TuneCore. During peak periods, support response times may suffer.
• No free tier. Too Lost does not offer a free plan. The cheapest option is $19.99/year. If you want free distribution, use RouteNote, ONErpm, or SoundOn.
• Subscription must stay active. Like DistroKid, your music may be removed from stores if you cancel your subscription. There is no clearly stated release protection or "Leave a Legacy" equivalent.
• Publishing admin costs 15%. While publishing administration is available, Too Lost takes a 15% commission on publishing royalties. Compare this to TuneCore, which charges a flat $19.99/year for publishing admin.
• No sync licensing marketplace. Too Lost does not have a built-in sync licensing service. If sync placements are your goal, use Songtradr, Ditto Pro, or a dedicated sync library.
• Newer company with less brand recognition. Founded in 2019 and launched in 2020, Too Lost is newer than DistroKid (2013), TuneCore (2005), and CD Baby (1998). While growth has been rapid (300K+ artists), long-term reliability is less proven.
• Cover song licensing costs $14.99 per song. This is a one-time fee, which is better than DistroKid's $12/song/year recurring fee. However, Soundrop charges $4.99 per track with licensing included.
• Payment threshold not clearly stated. Check current terms before relying on specific payout schedules.

Who Too Lost Is Best For

Too Lost is best for artists and labels who want a DistroKid-style subscription with more included features at a lower total cost. The Artist plan at $19.99/year with publishing admin, Content ID, and 450+ stores offers strong value. The Label plan at $35.99/year for unlimited artists is one of the cheapest label-tier options available. Too Lost is also good for artists who want financing options, copyright registration, and chart submission automation in one platform.

Too Lost is less ideal for artists who need a free tier (use RouteNote or SoundOn), artists who want sync licensing (use Songtradr or Ditto Pro), or artists who prioritize established brand recognition and community support. If you want the simplest possible upload process with the largest user community, DistroKid remains the default choice.

Related Resources

• Music Distribution Services Compared - Broader distributor comparison
• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project your earnings
• Too Lost Official Website - Current pricing and sign-up