10 Best Distribution Services for Artists

Marco Alessi -

First comes the act of music creation: bringing to life an idea through melodies and sounds, refining the interaction between audio frequencies to create a perfect mix.

But once all that is done, it’s time to share your new song with the world.

Easy, right? Well, not so much.

Back when I started releasing music in the early 2010s, there were only three main music distributors available to independent producers. Each had its unique approach to distribution; you could easily pick one or the other depending on your budget and prolificity as an artist.

Today, we’re spoiled for choice.

However, so many options require a deeper understanding of what we need and whether a music distributor can deliver that. To help you choose the right one, we’re going to analyze the best music distributors in the world right now, highlighting their features, pros, and cons.

Let's dive in!

Best Distribution Services for Artists

 

CD Baby

Lower tier price: $9.99 per release

CD Baby is one of the oldest and most well-known music distributors: it was founded in the late 90s by Derek Sivers and is now owned by Downtown Music Group. In the early days, it gained popularity among independent artists for being one of the first platforms to allow anyone to distribute their music on iTunes.

While still today CD Baby offers some helpful marketing tools like Show.co and HearNow, it has lost some of its appeal in recent years. The platform stopped offering physical distribution in 2023, and the recent discontinuation of CD Baby Pro Publishing (which was the side that handled royalty collection) felt like another letdown.

Still, it can be a cost-effective option if you release an album every now and then, because of its pay-per-release option.

Pros:

  • Digital distribution to all major platforms
  • Comprehensive music marketing tools
  • Pay per release instead of a yearly subscription

 

Cons:

  • 9% commission on earnings
  • No subscription option

 

DistroKid

Lower tier price: $22.99 per year

Distrokid has been a beloved music distributor used by countless independent artists. It started in 2013 as an affordable option for unlimited music distribution, and quickly gained traction by offering a straightforward annual fee. The platform was also one of the first to introduce automatic revenue splitting and partnership with the social media giant TikTok.

Similarly to CD Baby’s approach, over the years Distrokid stopped being at the forefront of innovation, and now often lags behind in terms of new features. Also, every additional feature, whether it’s mastering or video distribution, comes with a hefty price tag. Still, the platform is as intuitive as it can be; I’ve used it for over a decade and never had an issue with it.

 

Pros:

  • Fast and straightforward distribution
  • Payment splitting (with fee)
  • TikTok and social media integration

Cons:

  • Additional fees for premium services
  • Issues with fraud takedown accuracy

 

TuneCore

Lower tier price: $14.99 per year

Together with Distrokid and CD Baby, TuneCore was one of the earliest independent music distributors. Plans now range from $14.99 to $49.99 per year, meaning you can release as much music as you want and the platform won’t take a cut from royalties on streaming platforms. However, it does take a 20% share of earnings from social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook.

One of the things I love the most about TuneCore is its revenue advance program, which allows artists to get money upfront for future releases based on how well their past songs performed.

The platform is easy to use, with clear revenue reports, and some neat extras like YouTube Content ID and a license for StudioOne+ DAW. I find it extremely beginner-friendly, but when it comes to marketing support and playlist promotion, other platforms seem to offer more.

Pros:

  • 100% royalties from DSPs
  • Revenue advances for consistent earners
  • Video distribution at no extra cost
  • Studio One+ subscription included

Cons:

  • 20% commission on social platforms
  • No mobile app available

 

LANDR

Lower tier price: $9 (single release)

LANDR was one of those platforms that revolutionized automated music mastering, but has recently evolved into a one-stop shop for musicians. It's amazing to see how much LANDR can offer artists now.

Besides mastering, LANDR offers music distribution to more than 250 platforms, tools for collaboration, a library of samples, and a marketplace to find creative services. You can choose from distribution plans that cost between $9 and $149 per year, with some plans taking a 15% cut, while others let you keep all your earnings.

To me, the best tool in the platform is undoubtedly LANDR’s Network marketplace, where professionals can be hired for mixing, mastering, graphic design work, and more. But also the collaboration tools are exceptional, especially for artists to work together remotely.

On the downside, the platform's pricing model can be a bit confusing, and things can get expensive pretty quickly.

Pros:

  • Wide distribution to 250+ DSPs
  • Access to automated mastering and sample library
  • Collaboration tools for remote teams
  • Network marketplace for creative services

Cons:

  • Takes a 15% commission on some plans
  • Pricing structure can be confusing

 

UnitedMasters

Lowest tier price: Free (with a 10% commission) / $59.99/year for paid plans

UnitedMasters has made a name for itself in the hip-hop scene, but over the years it has become one of the most popular independent music distribution platforms across genres. It offers an easy-to-use distribution service with no hidden fees, and is quite transparent with how artists earn money.

UM also acts as a label, providing artists with advances, potential brand partnerships and sync licensing opportunities. Artists can get extra support through contests and partnerships with big names like the NBA, Hulu, and JBL, among others.

That said, the free plan does take a cut of earnings and has some limitations, like not distributing to major streaming platforms. Plus, they don’t offer lyrics distribution and reserve some advanced features (like YouTube Content ID and cover song licensing) for artists on invite-only plans.

 

Pros:

  • No hidden fees
  • Clear revenue reports
  • Payment splitting and credit distribution
  • Free plan available

Cons:

  • No lyrics distribution
  • Some upfront fees

 

Amuse

Lower tier price: $19.99/year

Amuse is a relatively new Stockholm-based music distribution that offers affordable plans, with the "Boost" plan priced at $19.99/year and the "Pro" plan at $59.99/year. The main distinction between the two is the ability to distribute multiple artist projects and access enhanced support and faster processing with the Pro plan.

Amuse allows artists to keep 100% of their royalties and provides payment splitting which, quite frankly, is a must nowadays. The distribution process is extremely intuitive and so is switching from any other provider to Amuse.

While great in many ways, the platform has some crucial limitations, such as the lack of lyrics and full credits distribution, a relatively slow release speed (up to 14 days), and additional fees for payment splitting with non-Amuse members.

Pros

  • You keep 100% of your royalties
  • Payment splitting available
  • Good revenue reports

Cons

  • No lyrics distribution
  • Not full credit distribution
  • Payment splitting fee for non-members
  • Slow release speed

 

 

Too Lost

Lower tier price: $19.99/year

Founded by Greg Hirschhorn in 2020, Too Lost has grown organically, to the point of becoming one of the best music distributors available right now. The platform provides cutting-edge technology, artist-friendly policies, reliable customer support, and a subscription price that puts it ahead of most competitors.

Too Lost has no intermediary distributors, meaning they send music directly to about 450 platforms and cut out middlemen, so artists can get better deals out of it. It also has a strong fraud prevention system that asks users to verify their identity with ID checks, which has become a big issue in the industry.

With Too Lost, you can track music usage on social media, so you can connect with fans or analyze how your music is used online.

Finally, Too Lost also gives artists flexible financial options, like instant advances based on their past streaming data, so they can access their earnings quickly. Their administrative publishing service, which costs a 15% commission, is another great option if you want to explore the market.

Pros

  • No commission on royalties
  • Payment splitting with recoupment
  • In-depth reports and analytics

Cons

  • No mobile app

ONErpm

Lower tier price: Free

ONErpm is a unique music distributor and record label that offers both DIY distribution and label services. It was founded in 2010 and operates without outside funding (which is rare), and while it operates globally, it has focused more and more on growing markets.

Artists can share their music for free, but ONErpm takes a cut of 15% to 50%, depending on the services they choose. While the basic distribution is free, the extra-label services tend to be quite pricey. ONErpm offers YouTube monetization through its own Multi-Channel Network (MCN), which provides good ad deals to artists who are accepted.

The platform offers plenty of services, like sharing song lyrics and credits, splitting payments, and detailed royalty reports. However, there's a limit to the number of platforms available to free accounts to over 45 and it charges higher fees for YouTube content and video distribution. Plus, there is no mobile app, and the user interface can be a bit complicated.

Pros

  • Free service
  • No upfront or hidden fees
  • Payment splitting

Cons

  • High commission (15-50%)
  • Complex user interface
  • Limited platform distribution

AWAL

Lower tier price: Free

Joining AWAL is free as the distributor uses a commission-based model where artists keep 85% of their royalties. The platform is selective: it accepts only artists who show potential for high performance, and to them, it offers distribution with no upfront fees.

AWAL provides high-quality analytics and reports when compared to other free distributors. Plus, it offers label-like support to artists, including marketing, playlist pitching, and sync licensing opportunities. For top-tier artists, AWAL also offers a chance to be "upstreamed" to Kobalt's services.

On the downside, AWAL has one of the industry's longest distribution delays.

Pros

  • No upfront fees
  • Label services
  • Advanced analytics

Cons

  • 15% commission
  • Selective acceptance process
  • Long distribution delays

 

Horus Music

Lower tier price: $24.99/year

Horus Music is a relatively small, UK-based music distribution company. The good thing about it being smaller than most distributor giants is that it ensures that every release goes through a quality check and meets the standards of digital service providers.

Horus Music is particularly strong in the Asian market, with great coverage in India, South Korea, and China. If these are the markets you're interested in, this service might be right for you.

Besides distribution, they also offer services like label support, marketing campaigns, and help with chart registration. Artists keep 100% of their royalty, and the analytics are as clear and intuitive as they can be. They recently started offering a payment-splitting option, which was the only thing the platform lacked.

All in all, if you're looking for a smaller music distributor that can still provide everything you need, Horus is a great option.

 

Pros

  • 100% royalties for artists
  • Payment splitting available
  • Quality control for all releases
  • Clear revenue reports

Cons

  • Extras come at a hefty price

 

 

FAQs

What is a music distribution service?

A music distribution service is a platform that helps independent artists get their music onto various digital streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, etc.

How do music distribution services make money?

Music distribution services make money either by charging artists (for distribution or marketing services) or by taking a commission from the royalties earned through streaming.

What’s the difference between a distributor and a record label?

The distinction is not that clear anymore. A distributor puts your music into digital platforms but does not usually offer funding or marketing services. A record label signs artists, provides financial backing and marketing services, but in exchange takes ownership or a large portion of the revenue generated by music.

Do distribution services take up a percentage of my royalties?

Some services take a percentage of your royalties, while others allow you to keep 100% of your royalties but charge upfront fees or annual subscriptions.

Can I distribute my music to all streaming platforms at once?

Yes, most music distribution services allow you to distribute your music to multiple streaming platforms simultaneously.

How long does it take for my music to appear on streaming platforms?

Usually, it takes between 3 to 10 days for your music to appear on streaming platforms after it has been submitted through a distribution service.

Can I switch distributors if I’m not happy with the one I chose?

Yes, you can switch distributors at any time. With some platforms the process can be complex, while others make it extremely easy to switch.

Will I keep the rights to my music when using a distribution service?

These platforms only act as distributors; as such, they can't claim ownership or any rights to your music.