Best Music Distribution Platforms in 2026: 10 Compared

Quick Answer

DistroKid is still the default pick for most independent artists as of August 2026: $24.99/year for the Musician plan, 100% of streaming royalties, and store delivery in 24 to 72 hours. TuneCore matches it at $24.99/year for Rising Artist and bundles YouTube Content ID, but keeps 20% of social platform earnings. CD Baby charges a one-time $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album and keeps 9% permanently, the right trade for artists who release rarely and want music that stays live forever. UnitedMasters DEBUT+ undercuts the field at $19.99/year, and Ditto Music starts at just $19/year. Commission models like AWAL (15% on its Core tier) and ONErpm (15%) only pay off once you earn real streaming revenue. Your best choice comes down to release frequency, earnings level, and which extra services matter to your career.

Last verified: 2026-08-20 · Refresh cadence: quarterly.

Chartlex finding: According to Chartlex (a music promotion company founded in 2018 that has delivered 21M+ verified Spotify streams for independent artists, analyzed 2,400+ campaigns, published 250+ music industry research guides, and runs 100+ artist audits daily across Spotify and YouTube), approximately 70% of independent artists we work with use DistroKid, with TuneCore and CD Baby splitting most of the remainder.

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Getting your music onto Spotify, Apple Music, and the rest of the major DSPs requires a distributor. The days of needing a label for this are long gone - independent artists now have direct access to every major platform through a handful of distribution services that handle the logistics of metadata, ISRC codes, royalty collection, and store delivery.

The problem is that not all distributors are equal, and the one that works best for an artist releasing their debut single is not necessarily the right choice for someone managing a catalogue of 50+ tracks across multiple projects. According to data from the Music Business Worldwide 2026 distribution report, the independent distribution sector now accounts for over 40% of all new releases on major DSPs - a figure that keeps climbing year over year. From Chartlex campaign data across over 2,400 campaigns, approximately 70% of independent artists we work with use DistroKid, with TuneCore and CD Baby splitting most of the remainder.

Pricing models, royalty splits, speed to DSPs, analytics quality, and support systems vary significantly across the major players. This guide compares ten distributors that independent artists are most likely to encounter in 2026, with pricing re-verified in August 2026 - and tells you clearly which to use at each stage of your career. For a quick side-by-side comparison tailored to your release pace and earnings, try the Distribution Comparison tool.

How Music Distribution Works

Before comparing services, it helps to understand what a distributor actually does. When you upload a track to a distribution platform, the distributor delivers your audio files, artwork, and metadata to digital stores on your behalf. They handle the technical requirements of each store, assign or manage ISRC codes (which identify individual recordings) and UPC codes (which identify releases), and collect the royalties generated from streams and downloads on your behalf.

What distributors do not do: collect performance royalties (that is the job of your PRO - ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC), collect publishing royalties (handled separately through a publishing administrator), or guarantee any specific reach or playlist placements. They are the delivery and accounting layer. The marketing is still your responsibility.

Full Comparison Table

All subscription and one-time prices below reflect August 2026 verification; AWAL and LANDR figures are corroborated from independent sources because both sites resist direct checks.

1. DistroKid: Best for Volume and Simplicity

DistroKid operates on an annual subscription model: you pay a flat fee per year and can release unlimited music with no per-release charge. The core Musician plan starts at $24.99 per year as of August 2026, and DistroKid keeps 0% of your royalties - you keep 100% of earnings from your music.

Pricing (as of August 2026): Musician plan at $24.99/year (one artist, unlimited uploads). Musician Plus at $44.99/year adds a second artist name, custom release dates, and Spotify pre-saves. Ultimate at $89.99/year replaces the old Teams branding and covers up to 100 artist names, which changes the math entirely for labels and managers. The Leave a Legacy add-on ($29/single, $49/album) keeps music live permanently even after cancellation, and YouTube Content ID registration runs $4.95 per song. The full add-on stack, and what a realistic year one actually costs, is broken down in our DistroKid pricing guide.

Royalty split: 100% to the artist. DistroKid takes nothing from your streaming or download revenue on standard releases.

Speed to DSPs: DistroKid remains the fastest distributor on the market in 2026. Releases typically go live within 24 to 72 hours of upload, with some stores going live within hours. For urgent releases, this matters.

Analytics: Functional but basic. You can see streams and earnings by platform, but the depth of analytics is limited compared to dedicated analytics tools. Many artists pair DistroKid with Chartmetric or Soundcharts for deeper data.

Support: Email-based, with a reputation for slow response times during busy periods. Community forums and FAQs cover most common issues.

Best for: Artists releasing frequently who want zero per-release fees, fast delivery, and simplicity. The unlimited release model makes DistroKid particularly strong for prolific artists. For a broader look at how much Spotify actually pays per stream in 2026, our breakdown helps you model your earnings under any distributor.

Limitations: Basic analytics, slower support, YouTube Content ID costs extra per track, and some features (like royalty splitting for collaborators) are paid add-ons.

2. TuneCore: Best for Publishing and International Collection

TuneCore overhauled its pricing in 2025-2026, moving away from the controversial per-release model to flat annual plans with 100% streaming royalty retention. According to the official TuneCore pricing page, verified live in August 2026, artists now choose between three unlimited tiers.

Pricing (verified August 2026): Rising Artist at $24.99/year (one artist, unlimited releases, Content ID, royalty splitting, release scheduling). Breakout Artist at $44.99/year adds Store Automator and faster support. Professional at $54.99/year adds a custom label name, Direct Advance access, and premium reporting. The old free tier for social-only distribution has been discontinued and no longer appears on the pricing page, so $24.99 is the real entry point. The line-by-line fee breakdown is in our TuneCore pricing guide.

Royalty split: 100% of streaming and download revenue on all unlimited plans. The catch sits on social platforms: TuneCore keeps a 20% commission on royalties from TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, which matters if short-form video drives your income.

Speed to DSPs: Comparable to DistroKid for major platforms, 24 to 72 hours for most stores. Slightly slower for some regional stores.

Publishing administration: TuneCore Publishing remains the standout feature - it collects mechanical royalties, international publishing royalties, and sync income. Know the current cost before bundling it: a 20% commission (raised from 15% in January 2026) plus a $75 one-time setup fee per songwriter, with sync placements commissioned at 50%. If you need a publishing admin alongside your distribution, compare that 20% against standalone alternatives first.

Analytics: TuneCore has stronger built-in analytics than DistroKid, with territory-level breakdowns and historical trend data. The Professional plan includes premium sales reporting that rivals some dedicated analytics platforms.

Best for: Artists who want integrated publishing administration, strong international collection, and competitive pricing. With the unlimited plans priced identically to DistroKid at the entry level, TuneCore is now a genuinely competitive alternative rather than just a fallback.

Limitations: The 20% social platform commission, the publishing commission increase to 20%, and customer support that has historically been slower than ideal.

3. CD Baby: Best for Permanence and Physical Distribution

CD Baby is the oldest of the major independent distributors and uses a pay-once-keep-forever model that sets it apart from subscription services. It charges a one-time fee per release, takes 9% of digital royalties permanently, and offers physical distribution, CD/vinyl manufacturing, and sync opportunities.

Pricing (verified August 2026): $9.99 per single and $14.99 per album, one-time. No annual renewals - your music stays up permanently after the one-time payment. The old Pro tier is gone: CD Baby discontinued its Pro Publishing offering in August 2023, so any pricing you see for CD Baby Pro ($49.99 singles, $69 albums) is outdated. Its replacement is CDB Boost, a $39.99 one-time per-release add-on that covers mechanical royalty registration with the MLC, SoundExchange registration, and sync consideration.

Royalty split: 91% to the artist (CD Baby keeps 9%, permanently, on every release).

Speed to DSPs: Slower than DistroKid - typically three to five business days, sometimes up to two weeks for less common stores.

Physical distribution: CD Baby can distribute physical CDs and vinyl to brick-and-mortar retailers - a genuinely unique offering among this group.

Sync and publishing: With Pro Publishing discontinued, CDB Boost is the in-house route to mechanical collection and sync consideration. Artists who want sync placements in film, TV, and advertising should review our guide to music licensing for film and TV to understand how to maximize these opportunities.

Best for: Artists who release infrequently and want lifetime distribution for a one-time cost. Artists who sell physical products.

Limitations: The 9% royalty cut is the highest fixed cut among the flat-fee distributors. Slower delivery than DistroKid. CD Baby retains administrative rights to ISRCs it assigns, which can complicate switching distributors later - consider purchasing your own ISRC blocks if building long-term.

4. UnitedMasters: Best for Brand Partnerships

UnitedMasters has grown significantly since its founding by former Def Jam president Steve Stoute and now distributes to 50+ platforms with a pricing model that competes directly with DistroKid and TuneCore. What sets it apart is its brand partnership program, which connects artists with companies like the NBA, State Farm, and American Eagle for sync and licensing deals.

Pricing (verified August 2026): DEBUT+ at $19.99/year (unlimited releases, 100% streaming royalties, marketing tools, Blueprint career guidance). SELECT at $59.99/year (two artist profiles, brand partnership eligibility, invitation pathway to the top tier). PARTNER is invitation-only and unlisted, with dedicated artist relations, global marketing, playlist pitching, and advance funding opportunities.

Royalty split: 100% to the artist on both listed plans.

Brand partnerships: This is UnitedMasters' core differentiator. SELECT and PARTNER tier artists can be matched with major brands for sync deals, content collaborations, and promotional placements - revenue streams that most distributors simply do not offer.

Best for: Artists who are active on social media, building a personal brand, and want access to brand deal pipelines. The $19.99/year entry price undercuts both DistroKid and TuneCore.

Limitations: Smaller store network (50+ vs 150+ for competitors). The most valuable features (brand deals, advances) require invitation to the PARTNER tier. Less established track record for pure distribution reliability compared to DistroKid.

5. Ditto Music: Best Budget Option

Ditto Music offers the cheapest unlimited distribution entry point of the ten services here, and artists keep 100% of streaming royalties on every plan. The UK-based company restructured its tiers around artist count rather than feature gating.

Pricing (verified August 2026): Starter at $19/year (one artist, unlimited releases). Pro at $59/year (two artists, all tools unlocked). Labels at $109/year (three or more artists, label-grade features). Annual billing only - no monthly option.

Royalty split: 100% of streaming royalties on all plans. The framing to watch: publishing and sync royalties collected on the Pro and Labels plans carry a 15% commission, so "100% on everything" is only true for the streaming side.

Features: Distribution to 150+ platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok. Pre-save smart links and playlist pitching tools included on upper tiers.

Best for: Budget-conscious artists who want unlimited releases with full streaming royalty retention. Strong option for artists outside the US, given Ditto's international roots.

Limitations: Weaker analytics than TuneCore. Support can be inconsistent based on user reports. The 15% publishing and sync commission on upper tiers is easy to miss.

6. AWAL: Best for Scaling Artists (Selective)

AWAL (Artists Without a Label) is owned by Sony Music and operates as a selective, commission-based distributor. According to industry reporting, AWAL accepts fewer than 10% of submissions - it functions more like a label services company than a traditional distributor.

Pricing (corroborated from independent sources, August 2026): AWAL does not publish a simple rate card, and its tiers are commission-based rather than flat: the Core tier takes approximately 15% of royalties, while AWAL+ runs at roughly 20 to 30% commission. The important correction to a common misreading: the higher AWAL+ commission buys additional marketing and support services, it is not a better split earned by performance. Full Recordings deals are negotiated individually.

Royalty split: 85% to the artist on Core. Less on AWAL+, in exchange for more hands-on services.

Services: Active playlist pitching to DSP curators, dedicated artist relations, marketing support, data analytics dashboard, and advance funding for qualifying artists. AWAL actively pitches releases to Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and Pandora editorial teams.

Best for: Artists with 50,000+ monthly listeners who are generating meaningful streaming revenue and want label-level services without signing a traditional deal. AWAL's pitching and marketing support can accelerate growth in ways self-service distributors cannot.

Limitations: Highly selective - most emerging artists will not be accepted. The 15% Core commission is expensive at scale (an artist earning $10,000/month pays $1,500 to AWAL), and AWAL+ costs more still. You are also within the Sony Music ecosystem, which may or may not align with your independence goals.

7. ONErpm: Best for Latin and Global Markets

ONErpm has carved out a strong position in Latin America and global emerging markets, combining free distribution with marketing support, playlist pitching, and artist development services. It is particularly popular among artists in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and across the Spanish-speaking world.

Pricing (verified August 2026): Free to distribute - no upfront fees. ONErpm takes a 15% commission on streaming and sales royalties, with a 30% commission on ringtones and YouTube revenue. The standard split is negotiable for artists and labels moving real volume. For artists who prefer a flat fee over a commission, ONErpm's sister product OFFstep offers flat-fee distribution tiers at $12 to $96 per year with 100% royalty retention.

Royalty split: 85% to the artist at the standard tier. Negotiable at volume.

Regional strength: ONErpm's team has deep connections to Latin American DSPs, regional playlist curators, and local media. For artists targeting Latin markets specifically, this regional expertise is difficult to replicate with a US-centric distributor.

Best for: Artists targeting Latin American, Brazilian, or other emerging global markets. Also a viable option for anyone wanting free distribution with marketing support who does not mind the 15% commission.

Limitations: Smaller store network than DistroKid or TuneCore (40+ platforms). The 15% standard commission and 30% YouTube commission can add up. Less well-known for US and European markets.

8. Amuse: Best for Multi-Artist Managers

Amuse retired its free tier and now operates as a paid-only distributor with three subscription levels. It keeps 100% of streaming royalties for artists, and it remains one of the few mainstream distributors that also operates as a label, offering royalty advances and deal offers to artists who perform well on the platform.

Pricing (verified August 2026):

• Artist at $23.99/year: unlimited releases for one artist, ASAP 24-hour delivery, daily streaming insights, royalty advance eligibility.
• Artist Plus at $39.99/year: everything in Artist, supports up to two artists, fan email collection, Hi-Res audio distribution.
• Professional at $59.99/year: everything in Artist Plus, supports three or more artists, 24-hour priority support, custom label naming.

Royalty split: 100% of streaming royalties on all tiers. The one carve-out is YouTube Content ID, where Amuse takes a flat 15% fee on recovered revenue regardless of which tier you are on.

Speed to DSPs: 24 hours via Amuse's ASAP release feature, available across all paid tiers. This is comparable to DistroKid and TuneCore.

Royalty advances and label scouting: Amuse's algorithm monitors artist performance and offers royalty advances or deal offers to fast-growing artists. For artists generating consistent streaming income, the advance option is a genuine financial product (cash up front against future royalties); for others it is simply a deal pipeline.

Best for: Managers or artists running two or more artist profiles (Artist Plus and Professional are priced specifically for this), artists who want royalty advance eligibility, and anyone who prefers Amuse's clean interface and Hi-Res delivery options.

Limitations: No standalone publishing admin, the 15% Content ID fee, and the label scouting model creates a dual relationship (distributor + potential deal-maker) that some artists prefer to keep separate.

9. Symphonic: Best Stepping Stone Toward Label Services

Symphonic Distribution sits between the self-serve subscription platforms and the selective commission services, running both models side by side. It is a useful option for artists who want to start self-serve but see label-style services in their future.

Pricing (verified August 2026): Starter at $29.99/year covers one primary artist with unlimited releases and 100% of royalties, minus a fee on UGC and YouTube claims. The Partner tier is commission-based and application-only, aimed at established artists and labels that want marketing, playlist pitching, and account management. A publishing administration add-on is available for a $100 one-time fee.

Royalty split: 100% to the artist on Starter, minus the UGC/YouTube fee. Partner terms are negotiated at application.

Best for: Artists who expect to graduate from self-serve distribution into serviced distribution without switching companies, and anyone who wants an affordable publishing admin add-on bolted onto their distributor.

Limitations: The Starter price is the highest entry fee among the subscription services here, and the Partner tier is not something you can simply buy your way into.

10. LANDR: Cheapest Reported Entry, With a Cancellation Catch

LANDR, best known for its AI mastering tools, also runs a distribution arm that bundles naturally for producers already inside its ecosystem. One caveat up front: LANDR's own pricing page did not render prices to our verification pass, so treat every figure in this section as reported as of August 2026 rather than confirmed.

Pricing (reported as of August 2026): Distribution is reported at $23.99/year with 100% of streaming royalties while your subscription is active.

The cancellation catch: Third-party reports indicate that if you cancel, your music stays live on stores but the royalty split drops to 85/15 in LANDR's favor, permanently. If accurate, that is a structurally different trade from DistroKid, where music comes down on cancellation unless you pay the one-time Leave a Legacy fee ($29 per single) to keep it up at 100%. One model charges you once to keep everything; the other keeps your catalog live for free but takes 15% of it forever. We present the post-cancellation split as reported, not confirmed, and recommend reading LANDR's current terms before subscribing.

Best for: Producers and artists already paying for LANDR mastering or plugins who want distribution inside the same subscription stack.

Limitations: The unverifiable pricing page, the reported post-cancellation split, and a thinner distribution track record than the dedicated distributors above.

What the Review Scores Say

Reputation data deserves the same honesty as pricing data. Direct Trustpilot checks were blocked during our August 2026 verification pass, so the figures below are approximate ranges corroborated from cached and secondary sources, not exact counts.

Two takeaways. First, the big four consumer-facing distributors cluster around the same rating, so review scores will not pick your distributor for you - the fee structures above are far more decisive. Second, read the one-star reviews for patterns rather than the average: takedown disputes and support delays dominate complaints at every distributor, which tells you what to have a plan for regardless of who you choose.

Which Distributor to Choose at Each Career Stage

Starting a label rather than releasing solo? The record label startup guide covers label accounts and deal structures. And for UnitedMasters specifically, read the full UnitedMasters review.

0 to 1,000 monthly listeners (starting out): Ditto Starter ($19/year) and UnitedMasters DEBUT+ ($19.99/year) are the cheapest entry points. Amuse Artist ($23.99/year), DistroKid ($24.99/year), and TuneCore Rising Artist ($24.99/year) sit in the same price band and any of them is a solid long-term foundation. Pick on speed, analytics, and which extra features (royalty advances on Amuse, brand partnerships on UnitedMasters) matter to you.

1,000 to 10,000 monthly listeners (building momentum): DistroKid or TuneCore are the best choices here. Unlimited releases, fast delivery, and 100% streaming royalties make either the most efficient option for artists releasing regularly. If brand partnerships interest you, UnitedMasters SELECT ($59.99/year) is worth considering.

10,000 to 100,000 monthly listeners (growing independently): DistroKid or TuneCore continue to make sense unless your publishing administration needs are significant - in which case, TuneCore's publishing add-on (20% commission plus $75 setup) or a separate service like Songtrust handles that. At this stage, having your music business properly set up with an LLC and dedicated business account becomes important for managing the growing revenue.

100,000+ monthly listeners (established independent): At this level, you are earning enough that commission-based distributors like AWAL, Symphonic Partner, or Stem become worth evaluating - their pitching and marketing services can accelerate growth in ways that self-service platforms cannot. Run the numbers for your specific situation with the revenue calculator - it will show you exactly how much distributor fees eat into your earnings at different stream volumes.

If you want to know exactly where you sit algorithmically and what your growth trajectory suggests about your distribution priorities, a free Spotify audit at Chartlex will give you the full picture.

The Five Questions That Determine Your Choice

Reading another comparison table will not pick a distributor for you. Answer these five questions and the right choice usually becomes obvious within a few minutes.

1. How many releases per year do you plan?

If you release 6 or more singles per year, a flat-fee unlimited plan (DistroKid, TuneCore Rising, Ditto, UnitedMasters) saves money compared to per-release pricing. If you release 1 to 2 singles per year, CD Baby's one-time fee is cheaper in the long run because you pay once and never again.

2. Do you need publishing administration?

If you are not registered with the MLC and do not have a separate publishing admin, your distributor can fill the gap: TuneCore Publishing (20% commission plus $75 per-songwriter setup), Symphonic's $100 one-time add-on, or CD Baby's CDB Boost ($39.99 one-time per release for MLC and SoundExchange registration). If you already use Songtrust, BMG, or another publishing admin, you do not need your distributor to handle it - choose based on other factors.

3. What happens if you stop paying?

Often overlooked. DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto, UnitedMasters, and Amuse all remove your music from stores if you cancel your subscription (DistroKid offers a Leave a Legacy add-on for permanent storage). CD Baby is the exception: pay once and your music stays up forever. LANDR reportedly takes a third path, leaving music live after cancellation but dropping your split to 85/15. For artists who are unsure about long-term commitment to releasing music, permanence terms are real insurance against life changes.

4. Do you need physical distribution?

If you press vinyl, CDs, or cassettes and want to sell through physical retailers and online stores like Amazon, CD Baby offers built-in physical distribution. Most other distributors are digital-only.

5. Are you generating enough revenue for the commission to matter?

At low streaming volumes (fewer than 10,000 streams per month), the difference between 0% commission and 9% commission is negligible. At higher volumes (100,000+ streams per month), the commission gap becomes significant. Many artists start with CD Baby's simple per-release model and switch to DistroKid or TuneCore when their volume justifies the subscription.

Distributor Pricing Scenarios: Three Artist Profiles

Concrete numbers usually beat abstract advice. Here is what the same three artists pay across the major options at August 2026 prices.

Artist A: Casual releaser Releases: 2 singles per year. Monthly streams: 2,000. Approximate annual streaming revenue: $84.

Winner for Artist A: CD Baby. After year 1 there are no ongoing costs, and 9% on $84 is negligible.

Artist B: Active independent Releases: 8 singles per year. Monthly streams: 25,000. Approximate annual streaming revenue: $1,050.

Winner for Artist B: DistroKid or TuneCore Rising Artist - both at the same flat $24.99 fee with 0% commission.

Artist C: Established independent Releases: 12 singles + 1 album per year. Monthly streams: 150,000. Approximate annual streaming revenue: $6,300.

Winner for Artist C: DistroKid. At this volume, the 0% commission on a $24.99 plan beats every commission-based model by hundreds of dollars per year.

How to Switch Distributors Without Losing Streams

Switching distributors is one of the most common questions we hear from artists - and it is straightforward if you follow the right process. The key is using a migration or transfer pathway rather than taking down and re-uploading, which resets stream counts. According to the Spotify for Artists documentation, stream counts are tied to ISRC codes, so maintaining the same ISRC through a transfer preserves your history.

DistroKid offers a direct migration tool. TuneCore supports transfers through their support team. CD Baby provides transfer instructions in their help center. The process typically takes two to four weeks and requires coordination between old and new distributors to avoid any gap in availability.

Understanding music copyright basics and ISRC ownership helps you make the right call on transfers as your catalogue grows. If you own your own ISRC block (available from your national ISRC agency, typically around $95 for a block of 100), switching distributors becomes significantly simpler.

Ready to take your music career further? Get your free AI audit and see exactly where you stand - with personalized next steps for your distribution and growth strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the choice of distributor affect Spotify algorithmic performance?

No. Distributors are delivery and accounting services - they have no special relationship with Spotify's recommendation algorithm. Your algorithmic performance is entirely determined by listener behaviour. For a deeper understanding, read our breakdown of how the Spotify algorithm works in 2026.

What happens to your music if you cancel your DistroKid subscription?

Without the Leave a Legacy add-on ($29 per single, $49 per album), your music comes down from stores when you stop paying the annual subscription. With Leave a Legacy, it remains up permanently. This is an important consideration for catalogue builders - and one area where CD Baby's one-time model has a structural advantage.

Is CD Baby's 9% royalty cut worth it compared to DistroKid's flat fee?

It depends on your earnings. Below roughly $278 per year in streaming royalties, CD Baby's 9% cut is less than DistroKid's $24.99 annual fee. At $5,000 per year, CD Baby's cut is $450 versus $24.99 for DistroKid - above that breakeven, the flat-fee model wins if you release enough to justify the subscription.

Do you need a separate publishing administrator if you use DistroKid?

Yes. DistroKid handles master recording distribution but does not collect performance royalties earned when your music is played publicly or on radio/TV. Register with a PRO like ASCAP or BMI for US performance royalties, and consider a publishing admin service for international collection.

What replaced CD Baby Pro Publishing?

CD Baby discontinued Pro Publishing in August 2023. Its replacement is CDB Boost, a $39.99 one-time per-release add-on covering mechanical royalty registration with the MLC, SoundExchange registration, and sync consideration. It is a per-release fee rather than the old Pro tier's bundled publishing administration, so budget for it on each release that earns.

Does LANDR really keep your music live after you cancel?

According to third-party reports as of August 2026, yes - but the royalty split reportedly drops from 100% to 85/15 in LANDR's favor, permanently, while your music stays on stores. LANDR's own pages did not render pricing to verification, so read the current terms yourself before treating that trade as confirmed.

Can you use multiple distributors at the same time?

You can use different distributors for different releases (some artists keep older catalogues on CD Baby while releasing new music through DistroKid), but you cannot distribute the same release through two distributors simultaneously - that would create duplicate listings and risk takedowns.

Is UnitedMasters worth it if you do not care about brand deals?

At $19.99/year with 100% royalty retention and unlimited releases, UnitedMasters DEBUT+ is competitively priced even without the brand partnership angle. However, the store network is smaller (50+ vs 150+), so if maximum platform coverage matters - particularly for niche regional stores - DistroKid or TuneCore may be the better choice.

Which distributor is best for releasing a single album and nothing else?

CD Baby. The one-time fee model ($9.99 for a single, $14.99 for an album) means you pay once and your music stays up forever with no renewals. The 9% royalty commission is the tradeoff, but for a single release with modest expected earnings, it is the most cost-effective option.

Pricing update log

• 2026-08-20: Full re-verification across all ten distributors. Corrected DistroKid to $24.99/$44.99/$89.99 (Ultimate replaces Teams, up to 100 artist names), TuneCore to $24.99/$44.99/$54.99 with the free social-only tier removed, CD Baby albums to $14.99 one-time with Pro Publishing removed (discontinued August 2023) and CDB Boost ($39.99) added, Ditto to $19/$59/$109 with its 15% publishing and sync commission noted, UnitedMasters to DEBUT+/SELECT/PARTNER naming, Amuse Content ID to a flat 15% fee, AWAL to its tiered Core/AWAL+ structure, and ONErpm's OFFstep flat-fee option added. New sections: Symphonic, LANDR, and review-score ranges. Recalculated all three pricing scenarios.
• 2026-05-12: Quarterly verification pass.
• 2025-09-10: Initial publication.

Your distributor gets your music to Spotify - but getting listeners to find it is a separate challenge. Browse Chartlex campaign plans to drive real, targeted streams through algorithmic promotion that works with any distributor.