Pricing, commission, and ownership for the major distributors — checked this month, not carried over from an old list.
As an artist, distribution should be made as easy as possible. The music/media/podcast industries are in constant flux, so it's good to find a distributor or distro stack you are comfortable with. Industry doesn't hold still. Plans get restructured, companies change hands, and keeping track of options available to you is vital. Check out this comparison chart with the landscape, as it stands, for now.
| Distributor | Model | Current price | Commission | What's genuinely changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | Annual subscription | $24.99–$89.99/yr | 0% on streaming | Went from one flat price to three tiers; features like custom release dates and Content ID now sit behind the higher tiers or paid add-ons. CVC Capital Partners agreed to acquire a majority stake in July 2026 — the name and current leadership are staying in place, but it's worth watching for changes as the deal closes |
| TuneCore | Annual subscription (or pay-per-release) | $24.99–$54.99/yr | 0% streaming, 20% on social/publishing admin | Now owned by Believe; fully moved to the unlimited-plan model |
| CD Baby | One-time fee per release | $9.99 single / $14.99 album | 9%, permanently | Now under Universal Music Group, via Virgin Music Group's acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, completed February 20, 2026; physical distribution discontinued |
| Amuse | Annual subscription | $23.99–$59.99/yr | 25% on cancellation, ongoing | The free, commission-free tier is gone entirely — the opposite of its original pitch. Canceling now costs you a permanent cut of future royalties instead of taking your music down |
| RouteNote | Free or premium, switch anytime | Free, or ~$10/release for premium | 15% on the free tier, 0% on premium | Structurally the same dual model as before — one of the few that hasn't shifted |
| AWAL | Invite/application-only | No upfront fee | 15% at entry tier, up to 20–30% on higher tiers | Used to be one flat 15% for everyone accepted; now scales by tier |
| Ditto Music | Annual subscription | ~$19–29/yr | 0% | Broadly consistent with its earlier positioning — still commission-free and low-cost |
| Symphonic | Open subscription tier, or invite-only Partner tier | $19.99/yr (Starter) or 0 upfront (Partner) | 0% (Starter), 15%+ (Partner) | Used to be invite-only across the board; now has an open, self-serve tier alongside the original application-based one |
| Stem | — | — | — | Acquired by Concord in 2025 — no longer the independent startup it was when it launched |
| UnitedMasters | Free (rev-share) or paid | Free tier available | Varies by tier | Wasn't part of the conversation before — now one of the most-discussed distributors, largely on the strength of its brand and sync partnerships |
| Songtradr | Distribution — closing | N/A after Sept 1, 2026 | — | Distribution is being wound down as Songtradr shifts toward MassiveMusic (licensing) and Bandcamp (marketplace). If you're on Songtradr, see our full migration coverage |
| Tapedeck | Destination platform, not a distributor | Pay-as-you-go, no subscription | Licensor sets price; penny-per-play floor | New from Zedge (October 2025) — a listener-facing store and streaming app, not a way to get your music onto other platforms. To land there, your catalog still has to come through a distributor Tapedeck already ingests from, currently Symphonic |
The one thing we can count on in life is change. Whatever your research and choices, know you're not bound, and non-exclusivity can help to alleviate decision-brain-freeze. There are limitless options out there, including starting your own distro. Trust yourself to find the solution(s) that work best for you and your creative body of work.
Our catalog tool can help you keep track of where your releases live and their ISRC/UPC codes as you weigh options — useful whether you're picking a first distributor or moving between them.