Best for: Artists with irregular release schedules or those who want a "set-and-forget" catalog.
How it works: A one-time flat fee per release, plus a percentage commission on earnings.
The Pros:
No Annual Fees: You pay once per single or album, and your music stays on streaming platforms forever—even if you stop making music.
Physical Distribution: One of the few major digital distributors that also helps artists distribute physical CDs and vinyl.
Legacy Reputation: An established industry pioneer with reliable catalog longevity.
The Cons:
Commission Cut: They take a 9% cut of your streaming revenue, which adds up if you begin pulling in heavy streams.
Slower for Prolific Creators: If you like dropping a single every month, paying a per-release fee each time gets expensive compared to an unlimited subscription service.
3. TuneCore
Best for: Growing indie acts who want built-in publishing administration.
How it works: Tiered annual subscription plans, ranging from basic indie options to advanced plans.
The Pros:
Publishing Administration: TuneCore excels at helping artists collect global mechanical royalties (songwriter royalties) that standard distribution misses.
Artist Services: Offers access to store-accelerator programs, Spotify Discovery Mode tools, and occasional advance opportunities.
Keep Your Earnings: Standard plans allow you to keep 100% of your streaming royalties.
The Cons:
Tier Restrictions: Many of their best features (like advanced social platform delivery or label features) require jumping to more expensive yearly tiers.
Extra Costs for Extras: Cover song licensing and YouTube monetization add additional fees or revenue splits.
Summary Checklist: Which one should you pick?
Choose DistroKid if you drop music constantly (multiple singles a year) and don't mind paying a yearly subscription to keep active.
Choose CD Baby if you drop an album every few years and hate the anxiety of recurring yearly subscription bills.
Choose TuneCore if you want robust songwriter publishing administration alongside your standard distribution.
