Your music distributor is the company that puts your songs on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and every other streaming platform. Choose wrong and you could lose royalties, have your music taken down, or get locked into unfavorable terms. Choose right and distribution becomes invisible: your music is everywhere, royalties arrive on time, and you can focus on creating.
This guide compares the seven most popular distributors for independent artists in 2026. No affiliate links, no bias. Just an honest breakdown of what each one does well and where they fall short.
How to Choose a Distributor: What Actually Matters
Four factors matter most: pricing model (annual fee vs. per-release vs. commission), royalty split (do they take a percentage of your earnings?), store coverage (how many platforms they deliver to), and extra features (playlist pitching, analytics, sync licensing, advance funding). Speed of delivery and customer support quality are tiebreakers.
1. DistroKid
Pricing: $22.99/year for unlimited uploads (Musician plan). Musician Plus at $39.99/year adds features like customizable release dates and store-specific pricing. Royalty split: 0% commission, you keep 100% of royalties. Store coverage: 150+ platforms including all major ones.
Pros: cheapest option for prolific artists, fast delivery (1 to 2 days to most stores), daily royalty updates, Spotify for Artists access, hyperfollow pages, and automatic content ID for YouTube. Cons: music is removed if you stop paying, limited customer support, some features cost extra (lyrics, label features). Best for: artists who release frequently and want the lowest cost per release.
2. TuneCore
Pricing: $9.99 per single per year, $29.99 per album per year (Rising plan). Unlimited plan at $14.99/year for singles, $49.99/year for albums. Royalty split: 0% on the Rising plan, but their newer Social and Unlimited plans may include revenue sharing on certain features. Store coverage: 150+ stores.
Pros: established reputation (oldest major indie distributor), publishing administration included in some plans, sync licensing opportunities, detailed analytics. Cons: per-release pricing gets expensive fast, annual renewal fees mean your catalog costs compound, interface is dated compared to competitors. Best for: artists with a small catalog who want publishing administration included.
3. CD Baby
Pricing: $9.95 per single (one-time), $29.95 per album (one-time). Pro tier adds 15% commission but includes publishing royalty collection. Royalty split: 9% on standard, 15% on Pro. Store coverage: 150+ stores plus physical distribution options.
Pros: one-time payment means your music stays up forever, no annual renewals, physical distribution to retail stores, publishing royalty collection (Pro tier), sync licensing program. Cons: 9% commission on all royalties is significant over time, slower delivery than DistroKid, interface feels outdated. Best for: artists who want a "set it and forget it" approach with no annual fees.
4. Amuse
Pricing: Free tier available (limited features, slower delivery). Pro at $24.99/year, Pro+ at $59.99/year. Royalty split: 0% on all tiers. Store coverage: all major platforms.
Pros: genuinely free tier that works, founded by former music industry executives, offers advance funding for qualifying artists, mobile-first approach. Cons: free tier has slow delivery times (weeks, not days), limited analytics on free tier, smaller company with less proven track record. Best for: artists just starting out who want to test distribution at zero cost.
5. Ditto Music
Pricing: $19/year for unlimited uploads. Royalty split: 0%. Store coverage: all major platforms plus some niche stores.
Pros: affordable unlimited uploads, record label services available for growing artists, advance funding program, decent analytics dashboard. Cons: some users report slow customer support, fewer extra features than DistroKid at a similar price point. Best for: UK-based artists or those who want label services alongside distribution.
6. LANDR
Pricing: Distribution included in LANDR subscriptions starting at $12.99/month. Standalone distribution not available. Royalty split: 0% on paid plans. Store coverage: all major platforms.
Pros: includes AI mastering, samples library, and plugins alongside distribution. Good for producers who use multiple music tools. Cons: monthly subscription is more expensive than annual competitors, distribution is not the core product, fewer distribution-specific features. Best for: producers and home studio artists who also need mastering and production tools.
7. United Masters
Pricing: Free tier (10% commission) or Select membership at $5/month (0% commission). Royalty split: 10% on free, 0% on Select. Store coverage: all major platforms.
Pros: strong brand partnership program (Apple, NBA, TikTok), artist-friendly company culture, free tier is genuinely usable, growing fast. Cons: 10% commission on the free tier adds up, fewer features than DistroKid or TuneCore, newer company with less history. Best for: hip-hop and R&B artists who want brand partnership opportunities.
Your distributor handles delivery. Your marketing handles discovery. The best distributor in the world will not get you streams if nobody knows your music exists. Pair distribution with a real promotion strategy.
Quick Comparison Table
DistroKid: $22.99/year, 0% commission, unlimited uploads, fast delivery. TuneCore: $9.99+ per release/year, 0%, per-release pricing, publishing admin. CD Baby: $9.95+ one-time, 9% commission, no renewals, physical distribution. Amuse: Free to $59.99/year, 0%, mobile-first, advance funding. Ditto: $19/year, 0%, unlimited, label services. LANDR: $12.99+/month, 0%, includes mastering tools. United Masters: Free to $5/month, 0-10%, brand partnerships.
Our Recommendation
For most independent artists, DistroKid offers the best value: unlimited uploads, 100% royalties, and fast delivery at $22.99/year. If you are just starting and want zero risk, Amuse's free tier lets you test the waters. If you release infrequently and want no annual commitment, CD Baby's one-time fee model makes sense.
Regardless of which distributor you choose, the real growth comes from what you do after distribution. Smart links, playlist pitching, social media marketing, and fan engagement are what turn a distributed track into a successful release.