A Comparison Of The Best Music Distribution Services (2023)

As an artist or a band, getting your music released onto major streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and so on is crucial. For example, Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora have 135m monthly active users combined, which are the three largest streaming services in the US (as of 2021). It’s a market you don’t want to lose out on, which is why I’ve compiled an (almost) unbiased comparison of the best distributors. The list is not in any particular order. Let’s get started.

Note: Even though, I’m the founder of Anti-Joy, I’ve tried my best to be as neutral and unbiased as possible. I solely believe that Anti-Joy puts something great on the table, of course, you can disagree, and that’s totally fine. That’s why we compare them, so you can find what really works for you.

Best Distributors

Anti-Joy — Best Value (Free)

You can upload unlimited music for free, keep all your rights and royalties, create an artist landing page, AI mastering, artwork generator, promo-art, and much more.

Pros:

• Upload unlimited music for free
• Fast distribution in 72 hrs
• Custom release date with any plan (except free)
• Claim YouTube OAC and Spotify for Artists
• Keep all your rights and royalties
• Upload to multiple artists for a fraction of the price
• Major stores like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, SoundCloud, and 150+ more
• Features that you won’t find anywhere else, like Spotify pre-save, AI mastering (powered by Dolby.io), newsletters, artist pages, fast support, and much more
• Artwork generator
• Promo-art generator
• Customizable smart-links and pre-save links
• Well-documented help center

Cons:

• Custom release date and record label requires paid plan
• Can’t claim Spotify for Artists instantly like with DistroKid

Sign up with Anti-Joy here.

DistroKid — Fastest ($22.99/yr)

DistroKid is a well-known distributor that lets you distribute unlimited music for only $22.99/yr.

Pros:

• Fast distribution in 72 hrs
• Unlimited music uploads
• Claim Spotify for Artists instantly
• Keep all your rights and royalties
• Promo-art generator
• Smart-links and pre-save
• Well-documented help center

Cons:

• Custom release date and record label requires Musician Plus ($39.99/yr)
• YouTube Content ID costs $4.95/track/yr + 20% commission
• Very expensive for multiple artist distribution
• Smart-links offers limited customization options

Get 7% off DistroKid here.

Tunecore — The middle ($14.99/yr)

Probably the most expensive distributor on the market. You pay $14.99/year for unlimited uploads for one artist name

Pros:

• Keep all rights and royalties
• Publishing administration — $75 + 15–20% commission

Cons:

• YouTube Content ID costs $10 + 20% commission
• Not as many features as alternatives

CD Baby — Long-term

If you are looking for a long-term solution, CD Baby got you covered. You pay a one-time price per album/single, and they will never be removed. It costs $9.95/single or $29/album, but if you want to keep all your royalties it costs $29.95/single or $69/album.

Pros:

• Works very well for long-term distribution
• Keep all your rights and royalties with Pro ($29.95/single or $69/album)
• Sell merchandise
• Cover song licensing

Cons:

• You need to buy UPC barcodes yourself
• 9% commission on Standard plan
• Can be expensive if you upload often

Ditto

Sell unlimited music with Ditto for $20/year, and keep all your royalties.

Pros:

• Upload unlimited music
• Keep all your rights and royalties
• Insights & analytic reports
• Publishing administration
• Trial

Cons:

• Very expensive for multiple artist distribution

Landr

Distribute music for $9/single and $29/album with a commission of 15%

Pros:

• YouTube Content ID
• Affordable cover song licensing
• Claim Spotify for Artists instantly
• Stats & trends

Cons:

• 9–15% commission unless you pay $89/yr
• Pay per release unless you pay $89/yr
• Can quickly become expensive
• Can’t distribute to more than 7 artists for $89/yr

OneRPM

Get your music on major streaming services for free with OneRPM. There is a 15% commission, but they are fast and have plenty of promotional tools like promo art, playlist pitching, and more.

Pros:

• Unlimited uploads
• Unlimited artists
• Playlist pitching and promo art generator
• Lyrics distribution
• Publishing administration and rights management
• YouTube Network

Cons:

• 15% commission
• Might be slow sometimes

Songtradr

Songtradr lets you upload unlimited music onto major streaming services for free. You keep 90% of your royalties. Not only do they let you distribute music, they also let you license your music into TV, film, ads, and other media.

Pros:

• Unlimited uploads
• Sync licensing for TV, film, ads, etc.
• Publishing administration
• Statistics
• Royalty splitting

Cons:

• 10% commission on music
• 40% commission on publishing adminsitration
• UPC/ISRC codes are only included in paid plans

Amuse

Keep all your royalties, upload 1 track per month (12 tracks per year). Amuse lacks a lot of features. No promo tools, not that many stores, and most major stores require a paid subscription, which is expensive $25/yr.

Pros:

• Keep all royalties
• Royalty splitting

Cons:

• 1 upload per month
• No custom release date and pretty slow most of the time
• Important stores require paid account (TikTok, Instagram, etc.)
• Lacking promo features

RouteNote

Upload music for free on major streaming services, and keep 85% of your royalties, or pay $10/release/year to keep all royalties. You need to have $50 in order to withdraw.

Pros:

• Unlimited uploads and artists
• Royalty splitting
• Usually not as slow as people say it is (except support)
• YouTube OAC

Cons:

• 10% commission
• Can become expensive
• $50 minimum withdrawal
• Sometimes slow, especially support

Conclusion

If you upload music often and would like to get the same features that DistroKid ($19.99/yr), Tunecore, and CD Baby offer at the fraction of the price, you should try out Anti-Joy. Get started entirely free with our link: https://antijoy.club?aff=JONAS9105. If Anti-Joy isn’t your cup of tea, which is totally fine, then DistroKid is definitely the best alternative.

If you, on the other hand, are looking for a long-term solution, and don’t want a yearly subscription creeping onto you, CD Baby or Anti-Joy (free) is your best bet! Pay $29.95 per single or $69 per album one-time (CD Baby).

I wish you the best of luck with your career, good luck!