Music Distribution Platforms Comparison 2025

Getting your music on streaming platforms is essential for reaching listeners. This comprehensive comparison helps you choose the right distribution platform for your needs.

Top Distribution Platforms

1. DistroKid

Pricing: $22.99/year (unlimited releases) Revenue Share: 0% (you keep 100%)

Key Features:

• Unlimited uploads
• Keep 100% of royalties
• Fast distribution (1-2 days)
• Automatic royalty splits
• YouTube Content ID
• Spotify pre-saves
• HyperFollow landing pages
• Leave a Legacy (keep music live after death)

Platforms Covered: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, Pandora, TikTok, Instagram, and 150+ more

Pros:

• Best value for multiple releases
• Fast distribution
• No commission
• Great features
• Simple interface
• Excellent for prolific artists

Cons:

• Annual fee required
• Music removed if you stop paying
• Extra fees for some features
• No physical distribution
• Limited customer support

Best For: Artists releasing multiple songs/albums per year

Website: distrokid.com

2. CD Baby

Pricing: $9.95 per single, $29 per album (one-time) Revenue Share: 9% commission on streaming/download revenue

Key Features:

• One-time payment
• Keep music live forever
• Physical distribution available
• Publishing administration
• Sync licensing opportunities
• YouTube monetization
• Detailed analytics
• No annual fees

Platforms Covered: All major streaming platforms plus physical distribution to retailers

Pros:

• No annual fees
• Music stays live forever
• Physical distribution option
• Sync licensing help
• Established reputation
• Good customer support

Cons:

• 9% commission
• Higher upfront cost for multiple releases
• Slower distribution
• Less modern interface
• Extra fees for some services

Best For: Artists releasing infrequently or wanting physical distribution

Website: cdbaby.com

3. TuneCore

Pricing: $14.99/year per single, $49.99/year per album Revenue Share: 0% (you keep 100%)

Key Features:

• Keep 100% of royalties
• Comprehensive distribution
• Publishing administration
• Sync licensing
• YouTube monetization
• Detailed analytics
• Social media promotion tools
• Artist development resources

Platforms Covered: All major streaming and download platforms

Pros:

• No commission
• Comprehensive services
• Good analytics
• Publishing services
• Established platform
• Artist resources

Cons:

• Annual fee per release
• Expensive for many releases
• Music removed if you stop paying
• Can get costly quickly
• Complex pricing

Best For: Artists with few releases wanting comprehensive services

Website: tunecore.com

4. AWAL (Artists Without A Label)

Pricing: Free (application required) Revenue Share: 15% commission

Key Features:

• No upfront costs
• Marketing support
• Playlist pitching
• Data analytics
• Advance funding available
• Team support
• Professional services
• Industry connections

Platforms Covered: All major platforms

Pros:

• No upfront costs
• Marketing support included
• Professional team
• Advance opportunities
• Industry connections
• Data insights

Cons:

• Must apply and be accepted
• 15% commission
• Need existing traction
• Selective acceptance
• Less control

Best For: Emerging artists with existing momentum

Website: awal.com

5. Ditto Music

Pricing: $19/year (unlimited releases) Revenue Share: 0% (you keep 100%)

Key Features:

• Unlimited uploads
• Keep 100% of royalties
• Fast distribution
• Playlist pitching
• Marketing tools
• Split payments
• YouTube Content ID
• Social media tools

Platforms Covered: All major streaming platforms

Pros:

• Affordable unlimited plan
• No commission
• Good features
• Marketing tools included
• Fast distribution
• Simple pricing

Cons:

• Less established than competitors
• Music removed if you stop paying
• Limited customer support
• Fewer advanced features
• Smaller company

Best For: Budget-conscious artists releasing frequently

Website: dittomusic.com

6. Amuse

Pricing: Free tier, Pro $49.99/year Revenue Share: 0% (you keep 100%)

Key Features:

• Free distribution option
• Fast distribution
• Keep 100% of royalties
• Mobile-first platform
• Record deal opportunities
• Split payments (Pro)
• Priority support (Pro)
• Advanced analytics (Pro)

Platforms Covered: All major streaming platforms

Pros:

• Free option available
• No commission
• Mobile-friendly
• Fast distribution
• Record deal scouting
• Modern interface

Cons:

• Limited features on free tier
• Relatively new company
• Less comprehensive than competitors
• Mobile-focused (can be limiting)
• Fewer platforms than others

Best For: Artists starting out or on tight budget

Website: amuse.io

7. Stem

Pricing: Free Revenue Share: 0% (you keep 100%)

Key Features:

• Free distribution
• Advanced analytics
• Automatic royalty splits
• Payment processing
• Collaboration tools
• Financial insights
• No commission
• Modern platform

Platforms Covered: Major streaming platforms

Pros:

• Completely free
• No commission
• Great for collaborations
• Excellent analytics
• Modern interface
• Financial tools

Cons:

• Fewer platforms than competitors
• Newer platform
• Limited track record
• Fewer features than paid options
• Less established

Best For: Collaborating artists wanting free distribution

Website: stem.is

8. UnitedMasters

Pricing: Free tier, Select $59.99/year Revenue Share: Free tier takes commission, Select keeps 100%

Key Features:

• Free option available
• Brand partnership opportunities
• Playlist pitching
• Analytics
• Marketing tools
• Sports/gaming sync opportunities
• Artist development
• Industry connections

Platforms Covered: Major streaming platforms

Pros:

• Free option
• Brand partnerships
• Unique opportunities
• Modern platform
• Artist development
• Industry connections

Cons:

• Commission on free tier
• Limited platforms
• Selective opportunities
• Newer platform
• Less comprehensive

Best For: Artists interested in brand partnerships

Website: unitedmasters.com

9. Symphonic Distribution

Pricing: $19.99/year (unlimited releases) Revenue Share: 0% (you keep 100%)

Key Features:

• Unlimited releases
• Keep 100% of royalties
• YouTube Content ID
• Publishing administration
• Sync licensing
• Label services
• Marketing tools
• Analytics

Platforms Covered: All major platforms plus international services

Pros:

• Affordable unlimited plan
• No commission
• Comprehensive services
• Good for labels
• International reach
• Publishing services

Cons:

• Less known than major competitors
• Interface not as modern
• Customer support varies
• Some features cost extra
• Music removed if you stop paying

Best For: Independent labels or prolific artists

Website: symphonicdistribution.com

10. Believe Digital

Pricing: Custom (application required) Revenue Share: Varies by agreement

Key Features:

• Professional services
• Marketing support
• Playlist pitching
• Analytics
• International reach
• Label services
• Artist development
• Industry connections

Platforms Covered: All major platforms worldwide

Pros:

• Professional support
• International expertise
• Comprehensive services
• Industry connections
• Marketing included
• Established company

Cons:

• Must apply
• Not for beginners
• Commission-based
• Less transparent pricing
• Selective acceptance

Best For: Established artists or labels

Website: believemusic.com

Detailed Comparison

Pricing Comparison

Feature Comparison

Choosing the Right Platform

By Release Frequency

Releasing Frequently (5+ releases/year):

• DistroKid (best value)
• Ditto Music
• Symphonic Distribution

Releasing Occasionally (1-2 releases/year):

• CD Baby (one-time payment)
• TuneCore (if you want comprehensive services)
• Amuse Free

Just Starting Out:

• Amuse Free
• Stem
• UnitedMasters Free

By Budget

Free Options:

• Amuse (free tier)
• Stem
• UnitedMasters (free tier)
• AWAL (if accepted)

Under $25/year:

• DistroKid ($23)
• Ditto ($19)
• Symphonic ($20)

Pay Per Release:

• CD Baby (no annual fees)

By Career Stage

Beginners:

• Amuse Free
• Stem
• CD Baby (if budget allows)

Developing Artists:

• DistroKid
• Ditto
• TuneCore

Established Artists:

• AWAL
• Believe
• CD Baby (for physical)

By Needs

Need Marketing Support:

• AWAL
• UnitedMasters
• Believe

Need Publishing:

• CD Baby
• TuneCore
• Symphonic

Need Physical Distribution:

• CD Baby (only major option)

Need Analytics:

• Stem
• AWAL
• TuneCore

Need Collaboration Tools:

• Stem
• DistroKid (splits)

What to Consider

Essential Factors

Cost Structure:

• Annual vs. per-release
• Commission vs. flat fee
• Hidden fees
• Long-term costs

Distribution Speed:

• How quickly music goes live
• Update speed
• Takedown speed

Platform Coverage:

• Which streaming services
• International platforms
• Social media platforms
• Emerging platforms

Revenue:

• Commission percentage
• Payment schedule
• Minimum payout
• Payment methods

Features:

• Analytics quality
• Marketing tools
• Collaboration features
• Customer support

Red Flags

Avoid Platforms That:

• Take ownership of your music
• Have unclear pricing
• Require exclusive rights
• Have poor reviews
• Lack transparency
• Have hidden fees
• Don't pay on time

Questions to Ask

Before Choosing:

• What's the total annual cost?
• Do I keep 100% of rights?
• How fast is distribution?
• What happens if I stop paying?
• Can I switch distributors?
• What's the payment schedule?
• Is customer support responsive?

Switching Distributors

How to Switch

Process:

1. Choose new distributor
2. Take down music from old distributor
3. Wait for takedown (2-4 weeks)
4. Upload to new distributor
5. Update links everywhere

Important:

• You'll lose streaming stats
• Links will change
• Playlists may be affected
• Plan timing carefully
• Notify fans

Tips:

• Switch between releases
• Update all links
• Redirect old links if possible
• Announce to fans
• Time it strategically

Best Practices

Before Distributing

Prepare:

• High-quality audio files
• Proper metadata
• Album artwork (3000×3000px)
• ISRC codes (if you have them)
• Release date strategy
• Marketing plan

Metadata Checklist:

• Artist name (consistent)
• Song titles (correct spelling)
• Album title
• Genre (accurate)
• Release date
• Copyright information
• Songwriter credits
• Producer credits

After Distribution

Monitor:

• Distribution status
• Streaming numbers
• Revenue
• Playlist adds
• Geographic data

Promote:

• Share links
• Pitch to playlists
• Update social media
• Email fans
• Create content

Conclusion

The best distribution platform depends on your release frequency, budget, and needs. Most artists will find success with DistroKid, CD Baby, or TuneCore, but explore all options to find your best fit.

Quick Recommendations:

• Best Overall: DistroKid (value and features)
• Best for Beginners: Amuse Free
• Best One-Time Payment: CD Baby
• Best for Marketing: AWAL (if accepted)
• Best Free: Stem or Amuse
• Best for Labels: Symphonic Distribution

Start with a platform that fits your current needs, and don't be afraid to switch as you grow. The most important thing is getting your music out there.

Getting Started:

1. Assess your release frequency
2. Determine your budget
3. List your must-have features
4. Compare 2-3 top options
5. Start with one release
6. Evaluate and adjust

Remember: Distribution is just the first step. Focus on creating great music and building your audience.