Picking your music distributor is one of the most consequential early decisions you’ll make. The wrong choice costs you royalties for years. This is the honest head-to-head across six distributors for indie artists in 2026.
A quick note before we dive in: we’re not sponsored by any of these services. Artist Results works alongside every distributor — you keep your existing distributor and layer our business operations on top. So this comparison is about what fits YOUR stage and workflow, not about selling you something.
The two categories of distributors
All distributors fall into one of two pricing models, and understanding the difference is critical:
Flat-fee distributors (DistroKid, Amuse Pro): You pay a flat annual subscription. You keep 100% of royalties. If you stop paying, music comes down (or rights revert).
Per-release + split distributors (TuneCore, CD Baby, Stem): Free or cheap to upload, but they take a cut of royalties indefinitely OR charge per-song annually.
Free-with-split distributors (UnitedMasters, Amuse Free): Free upload, they take a percentage forever.
Each model makes sense for different artist stages. Here’s how to pick.
At-a-glance comparison
| Service | Price | Royalty Split | Upload Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | $22.99/year unlimited | 100% to you | 1-2 days | Releasing frequently (2+/year) |
| TuneCore | $14.99/single/year | 100% to you | 1-3 days | Single-song focus |
| CD Baby | $9.95/single one-time | 91% to you (9% fee) | 2-5 days | Lifetime rights, fewer releases |
| UnitedMasters | Free tier, $59.99/year premium | 90% free / 100% premium | 2-4 days | Starter + brand partnership access |
| Amuse | Free / $24.99/year Pro | 85% free / 100% Pro | 3-5 days | Experimenting, app-based |
| Stem | Free | 95% to you (5% fee) | 2-4 days | Collaborations, royalty splits |
Detail on each below.
1. DistroKid — the volume distributor
The most popular distributor among indie artists in 2026. Flat $22.99/year for unlimited uploads to all major DSPs (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, etc.).
Pros
- Unlimited uploads — ideal if you release 2+ songs/year
- Fastest upload-to-live speed (typically 24-48 hours)
- Built-in features: automatic YouTube Content ID, Shazam submission, pre-save links, Spotify for Artists connection
- Payouts are reliable and quick (weekly if balance above $5)
Cons
- Auto-renews aggressively — if you stop paying, your music comes DOWN from platforms
- Upsells for features that should be included (custom label name costs extra, lyrics feature costs extra)
- Customer support is slow and mostly self-serve
- The moment you stop paying, you lose distribution — not ideal for “set it and forget it” catalog
When to use DistroKid
You release more than 2 songs per year and you’re committed to continuing releases. At 2+ songs/year, DistroKid’s $23 is cheaper than TuneCore’s $15/song/year. Break-even is at 2 songs annually.
2. TuneCore — the single-song distributor
Per-release model. $14.99/single/year, $29.99/album/year. Been around since 2006.
Pros
- Strong YouTube monetization features
- Good reporting and royalty breakdown
- 100% royalty retention (no percentage cuts)
- Extensive catalog integrations (including some niche platforms DistroKid skips)
- Reliable for longer-term catalog artists
Cons
- Pay-per-year model is more expensive for prolific releasers
- UX feels dated compared to DistroKid
- Renewal rate was historically higher than DistroKid (though now competitive)
When to use TuneCore
You release 1-2 singles per year and want to pay only for what you distribute. Also good if you want detailed per-platform reporting.
3. CD Baby — the “lifetime rights” distributor
Pay once per release, keep it on platforms forever (or until you take it down). $9.95 per single, $29 per album.
Pros
- Lifetime distribution — pay once, your song stays live indefinitely
- 91% royalty retention (they take 9%)
- Catalog management is easier over multi-year timelines
- Strong physical distribution option if you want CDs/vinyl in stores
Cons
- 9% royalty cut adds up at scale (on a track making $10K/year, that’s $900/year)
- Slower upload speeds (2-5 days)
- Fewer modern features (pre-save, smart links, etc.)
- The old CD Baby UX is showing its age
When to use CD Baby
You release infrequently (1 song every 2+ years) and want the music to stay up forever without annual renewals. The 9% cut is worth the peace of mind.
4. UnitedMasters — the brand-partnership distributor
Free tier with 10% royalty cut, or $59.99/year premium with 100% royalty retention. Founded by Steve Stoute; has a brand-partnership angle.
Pros
- Free tier is genuinely usable (vs many “free” distributors with hidden limits)
- Built-in brand partnerships — NBA, NFL, and major brand placement opportunities for select artists
- Strong with hip-hop / urban genres
- Integrated sync licensing marketplace
- Modern app-based UX
Cons
- 10% cut on free tier is significant
- Premium ($59.99/year) is more expensive than DistroKid for similar features
- Brand partnerships aren’t available to all artists (selective)
- Smaller reach than DistroKid/TuneCore for niche genres
When to use UnitedMasters
Hip-hop/urban artists who want the shot at brand partnerships and are comfortable with the 10% free-tier cut. Or established artists who specifically want the sync placement opportunities.
5. Amuse — the mobile-first distributor
Free basic tier, $24.99/year for Pro. App-based (phone-first). Swedish company, has expanded globally.
Pros
- Solid free tier for absolute beginners
- Phone-based upload is genuinely convenient
- Pro tier at $24.99 is competitive with DistroKid
- They also operate as a small label with development deals
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem and fewer platform integrations than bigger competitors
- Reporting is basic
- Customer support primarily through email/chat, slower response
- Free tier takes 15% of royalties
When to use Amuse
Phone-first workflow artists who want to upload directly from mobile. Or absolute beginners testing the waters before committing to a paid distributor.
6. Stem — the collaboration-focused distributor
Free distribution with a 5% cut. Built specifically for artists with collaborators, producers, and features who need to split royalties automatically.
Pros
- Best-in-class automatic royalty splits to multiple parties
- Modern UX and reporting
- Good for producer-heavy projects (hip-hop, electronic, pop)
- Flexible split changes even after release
Cons
- 5% cut is ongoing forever
- Newer player with smaller ecosystem
- Less feature coverage than incumbents (no YouTube Content ID historically, though improving)
- Selective — you have to apply, not everyone is accepted
When to use Stem
Producers, collaborators, or artists with multi-party splits who want automation instead of quarterly Venmo reconciliation. Particularly strong for hip-hop and electronic projects with multiple contributors.
The decision framework
Here’s the algorithm for picking in 2026:
Releasing 2+ songs/year, solo or simple splits: DistroKid.
Releasing 1-2 songs/year, prefer per-release pricing: TuneCore or CD Baby.
Multi-party splits on most tracks: Stem.
Hip-hop/urban artist wanting brand opportunities: UnitedMasters.
Absolute beginner, want to test the waters: Amuse (free tier).
Want lifetime distribution without annual fees: CD Baby.
The “best” distributor is the one that matches how OFTEN you release and HOW you split royalties. Anything else is noise.
Switching distributors (what to know)
You’re not locked in forever. If you switch, you have two options:
Option A: Keep old releases where they are, move new ones. Simpler. Old ISRC codes stay with old distributor, new releases go through new distributor. Some catalog fragmentation but zero risk to existing streaming data.
Option B: Full catalog migration. More work. Take everything down from old distributor (scheduled takedown, usually 2-4 weeks). Re-upload through new distributor with SAME ISRC codes (your new distributor should support this). Spotify/Apple will merge the play data in most cases.
Never do: re-upload with different ISRC codes. You’ll fragment your streaming history, split royalties across two catalog entries, and look like a different artist in many systems.
What distributors don’t do (and you still need)
Even the best distributor only handles getting your music to DSPs. It doesn’t handle:
- Mechanical royalties from MLC (separate registration required)
- Performance royalties from your PRO (separate)
- Neighboring rights (SoundExchange, PPL — separate)
- Sync licensing opportunities
- Radio monitoring
- Catalog management over time
Artist Results doesn’t replace your distributor or track royalties — it works alongside whichever one you choose and handles what a distributor doesn’t: your EPK, promotion, and fan contacts.
FAQ
Can I use more than one distributor?
Technically yes — but don’t. Same song through two distributors = duplicate ISRC codes = fragmented streaming data = royalty mess. One distributor per release, period.
Which distributor pays the highest royalties?
Functionally, the ones with 100% retention (DistroKid, TuneCore, UnitedMasters Premium) pay the most. But the platforms themselves (Spotify, Apple) set per-stream rates — your distributor just takes a cut or doesn’t. Base rates are the same across all distributors.
How fast can I release a song?
DistroKid averages 24-48 hours to live on Spotify. TuneCore 1-3 days. Others 2-5 days. Pre-save campaigns and editorial pitches require 14-21 days minimum lead time regardless of distributor.
Do I need an LLC or business entity to distribute?
No. All distributors accept individual artists. However, once you earn over $600/year through a distributor, they 1099 you to the IRS. Having an LLC can help structure taxes better above $10K/year.
What about Spotify’s direct distribution?
Spotify tried this briefly. It doesn’t exist as an option for new indie artists in 2026. You still need a distributor to get onto Spotify.
Is it worth paying for premium tiers?
Premium tiers (DistroKid Musician+ at $39.99, UnitedMasters Premium at $59.99) usually add: custom label names, faster support, extra analytics. For most indie artists, the basic tier is enough. Upgrade only when you hit a specific need.
Can I change my distributor mid-release campaign?
Don’t. Wait until after release is complete and settled (30+ days post-release minimum). Distributors submit edits and metadata changes around release that can break if you switch platforms mid-cycle.
The bottom line
For 80% of indie artists releasing in 2026, DistroKid is the right answer because it’s cheap, fast, and unlimited. The exceptions are: heavy collaborators (Stem), infrequent releasers (CD Baby), and hip-hop artists targeting brand partnerships (UnitedMasters).
Your distributor is a utility. It moves your files to platforms. It’s not a business partner. Pick the cheapest one that does the job, and put your energy into the stuff distributors can’t do — EPKs, editorial pitches, sync, and growing the audience that actually streams your music.
Your distributor moves files. Artist Results runs the business.
Whatever distributor you pick, Artist Results keeps your EPK, music library, social posting, and fan contacts in one dashboard. See how it works.