DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and more — comparing distribution platforms on pricing, features, and what matters most for independent artists.
Ready to grow your Spotify presence?
See PricingBefore anyone can stream your music on Spotify, Apple Music, or any other platform, it has to get there first. That's what music distribution is — the service that delivers your recordings to streaming platforms and digital stores worldwide. In the major label era, distribution was controlled by a handful of companies. In 2026, any independent artist can distribute globally for less than the cost of a meal.
But not all distributors are the same. The one you choose affects how much you earn, what tools you have access to, and how your music gets handled across dozens of platforms. Here's everything you need to know.
A music distributor is the middleman between you and streaming platforms. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, and dozens of other services don't accept uploads directly from individual artists. They work with distributors who handle the technical delivery, metadata formatting, royalty collection, and reporting.
When you upload a track to your distributor, they:
Without a distributor, your music simply doesn't exist on streaming platforms. It's the single most essential piece of infrastructure for any independent artist.
The distribution landscape in 2026 offers more options than ever. Here's an honest comparison of the most popular services.
Pricing: Annual subscription starting at $22.99/year for unlimited releases.
Royalty split: You keep 100% of your royalties.
DistroKid is the most popular distributor among independent artists for good reason — unlimited releases for a flat annual fee is hard to beat. Upload as many singles, EPs, and albums as you want without paying per release. Distribution is fast (often live on platforms within 24-48 hours), and the interface is straightforward.
Pros: Unlimited uploads, fast distribution, Spotify for Artists verification, lyrics distribution, YouTube Content ID (paid add-on), affordable pricing.
Cons: If you stop paying the annual fee, your music gets removed from platforms. Some features (like YouTube Content ID and custom label names) cost extra. Customer support can be slow during peak periods.
Pricing: Per-release fees — approximately $9.99/year per single, $29.99/year per album. Also offers an unlimited plan.
Royalty split: You keep 100% of royalties on the standard plan.
TuneCore was one of the first major independent distributors and has distributed music for major independent releases. The per-release pricing model means you only pay for what you release — but costs add up quickly if you're a prolific artist. They've introduced subscription plans that compete more directly with DistroKid on price.
Pros: Established reputation, solid analytics, publishing administration services available, reliable platform delivery.
Cons: Per-release pricing gets expensive for frequent releases, interface feels dated compared to newer competitors, annual renewal fees on older plans.
Pricing: One-time fees — $9.95 per single, $29.95 per album (standard). Pro tier at $29.95/single, $69.95/album includes publishing collection.
Royalty split: Standard keeps 91% (9% commission). Pro keeps 85% but includes publishing royalty collection.
CD Baby's unique advantage is the one-time payment model — pay once, and your music stays on platforms indefinitely without annual renewals. For artists who release infrequently, this can be the most cost-effective option long-term. The Pro tier adds publishing administration, collecting mechanical and performance royalties that many independent artists otherwise miss.
Pros: One-time fee (no recurring charges), music stays up permanently, Pro tier includes publishing administration, physical distribution options, established sync licensing network.
Cons: Takes a commission on royalties (9% standard), distribution speed can be slower than competitors, higher upfront cost per release than DistroKid.
Pricing: Free tier available (with limitations). Pro at approximately $5/month. Plus at approximately $25/month.
Royalty split: Free tier keeps 100%. Pro and Plus tiers keep 100%.
Amuse is notable for its genuinely free distribution tier — you can release music to major platforms at zero cost. The catch: the free tier has slower distribution times (up to 4 weeks) and limited features. The paid tiers add faster delivery, more analytics, and Spotify for Artists verification. Amuse also operates as a record label, occasionally signing artists who perform well on their platform.
Pros: Free tier for budget-conscious artists, clean mobile-first interface, potential label signing pathway.
Cons: Free tier is very slow, limited features without paid subscription, smaller company with less track record than competitors.
Pricing: Included in LANDR subscriptions starting at approximately $12.49/month for unlimited releases.
Royalty split: You keep 100% of royalties.
LANDR started as an AI mastering service and has expanded into distribution. If you already use LANDR for mastering, adding distribution is seamless. The subscription includes mastering credits, distribution, sample packs, and plugins — making it a good value if you use the full suite.
Pros: Bundled with mastering and production tools, unlimited releases, integrated workflow from mastering to distribution.
Cons: Higher monthly cost if you only need distribution, mastering quality is debated versus professional engineers, smaller user community than DistroKid or TuneCore.
Price matters, but it's not the only factor. Here's what else to evaluate:
Once you've chosen a distributor, here's the process for getting your first track on streaming platforms:
Here's the reality that every new artist needs to hear: getting your music on Spotify is the easy part. Getting people to actually listen to it is the hard part. Distribution puts your track in a catalog of over 100 million songs. Without promotion, it's like opening a store in the middle of a desert — the product might be great, but nobody knows it's there.
The artists who succeed combine distribution with deliberate promotion strategy. That means driving targeted streams during release week to trigger algorithmic pickup. It means social media content that funnels listeners to your Spotify profile. It means pitching playlists, building an email list, and treating every release as a campaign — not just an upload.
For a complete guide to planning your release campaign, read our breakdown of Spotify release strategy in 2026.
For most independent artists in 2026, here's the decision simplified:
Whichever you choose, remember that distribution is infrastructure — it's the plumbing that gets your music to listeners. The water pressure (your audience, your streams, your growth) comes from everything you do after the upload: the promotion, the content, the engagement, and the consistency. Get distribution set up, then focus your energy where it actually moves the needle.