The best music distribution services all do the same core job: they take your finished track and deliver it to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube Music and dozens of other stores, then collect and pay out your streaming royalties. Where they differ is the pricing model, the extras, and who they suit. This guide breaks down the major players so you can choose with confidence.
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Quick answer
For high-volume releasers who want one flat annual fee and unlimited uploads, DistroKid is the popular default. If you prefer paying per release and keeping royalties without a recurring subscription, CD Baby suits you. TuneCore sits in between with strong publishing-administration options, Amuse offers a genuine free tier, and Ditto is a clean subscription alternative. Read on for what each is known for.
What a distributor actually does
You cannot upload directly to Spotify as an unsigned artist — you go through an approved distributor. They handle delivery, assign your ISRC and UPC codes, give you a Spotify-for-Artists pitch route, and collect your money. If the concept is new, start with what a music distributor is, then come back here. For the full release workflow, see how to release a song independently.
How to choose a distribution service
- Pricing model: annual subscription (unlimited releases) vs one-time per-release fee. High output favours subscriptions; one or two releases a year can favour pay-per-release.
- Royalty split: most modern services let you keep 100% of streaming royalties; some older models take a percentage.
- What happens if you stop paying: with subscription models, lapsing can mean your music is taken down. Check the terms.
- Publishing admin: some services also collect publishing and mechanical royalties for an extra cut — useful, but understand what you are signing up for.
- Extras: pre-save tools, splits payment to collaborators, YouTube Content ID, and customer support quality.
A useful way to weigh these is to estimate your annual output first. If you release a single most months, an unlimited subscription almost always works out cheaper per track and removes the temptation to batch releases just to save money. If you put out one carefully planned project a year, a one-time fee means you are not paying for months when nothing is going out. Also look past the headline price to the renewal cost: some plans advertise a low first-year rate that climbs at renewal, and the cost of leaving (re-uploading a catalogue elsewhere) can be higher than the cost of staying.
The best music distribution services
DistroKid
DistroKid is known for an annual flat fee that allows unlimited song and album uploads, fast delivery to stores, and easy revenue splits that pay collaborators automatically. It is the go-to for artists who release frequently and want predictable costs. See our head-to-head comparisons: DistroKid vs TuneCore and DistroKid vs CD Baby.
TuneCore
TuneCore is one of the longest-running distributors and is known for its publishing-administration service, which helps collect royalties you might otherwise miss. It suits artists who want distribution and publishing collection under one roof and don’t mind a more service-led approach.
CD Baby
CD Baby pioneered independent distribution and is known for its one-time, pay-per-release model with no recurring subscription, plus optional publishing administration and physical/sync services. It appeals to artists who would rather pay once per project than subscribe.
Amuse
Amuse is known for a genuinely free, mobile-first distribution tier alongside paid plans. It is a sensible entry point for a first release when you want to test the waters without spending money, with the option to upgrade later.
Ditto Music
Ditto is a subscription-based service known for unlimited releases, keeping 100% of royalties, and add-ons like pre-save tools and artist services. It is a solid alternative for artists who like the subscription model but want a different feature mix from DistroKid.
Editor’s picks
Best for frequent releasers: DistroKid. Best pay-once option: CD Baby. Best free starting point: Amuse. Best for publishing collection: TuneCore. Pick based on how often you release and whether you prefer a subscription or a one-time fee.
Getting your release ready before you upload
Whichever service you choose, the upload step goes far more smoothly when your assets are prepared in advance. Distributors all ask for broadly the same things, and a single mistake here is the most common reason a release misses its date.
- Master audio: a finished, properly mastered file at the quality your distributor specifies — usually a high-resolution WAV rather than an MP3. Distributors transcode to each store’s format, so always send the highest-quality master you have.
- Cover art: a high-resolution square image that meets the stores’ size and content rules. Artwork containing URLs, social handles, or store logos is routinely rejected.
- Metadata: exact artist name, track and release titles, featured-artist credits, and genre. Spelling and capitalisation here become permanent in store databases, so get them right the first time.
- Lead time: set a release date at least two to four weeks out. That window is what lets you pitch editorial playlists through Spotify for Artists and gives stores time to ingest the release.
Common mistakes to avoid
The errors that cost independent artists the most are rarely about which service they picked — they are about how the release was handled. Setting a release date only a day or two ahead removes any chance of editorial playlist consideration, because pitching has to happen before the music goes live. Re-uploading the same recording to a second distributor to chase a feature creates duplicate releases that stores may flag or merge unpredictably. Letting a subscription lapse without checking the terms can pull your entire catalogue offline, wiping the stream counts and saves you have built up. And signing up for a publishing-administration add-on without understanding it means handing over a percentage of certain royalties you may not have needed to. Read each plan’s fine print once, carefully, and most of these problems never arise.
Frequently asked questions
Do these services take my royalties?
Most modern distributors let you keep 100% of your streaming royalties and charge either a subscription or a per-release fee instead. Some publishing-administration add-ons take a percentage of those specific royalties — always check the plan details.
Can I switch distributors later?
Yes. You can move your catalogue to a new distributor, but it requires taking releases down from the old one and re-uploading, which can temporarily reset stream counts and playlist placements. Plan switches carefully and keep your ISRCs consistent.
Which is best for a first-time release?
If you want to release for free, Amuse is a low-risk start. If you expect to release regularly, a subscription like DistroKid or Ditto is more cost-effective. There is no single best — match the model to how often you plan to put out music.
How long does it take to appear on Spotify and Apple Music?
Delivery to the stores is usually quick, but ingestion and going live can take anywhere from a day to a couple of weeks depending on the service and how busy the stores are. To be safe, schedule your release date at least two to four weeks ahead so you also keep the window open for editorial playlist pitching.
