Best Music Distribution Services for Indie Artists 2026
Picking the right distributor is the first business decision every independent artist makes. Below is a 2026 comparison of the top music distribution services, what they cost, how royalties work, and which release type each one is best for.
How we compared distributors
We weighed pricing, royalty splits, delivery speed to Spotify and Apple Music, publishing administration, customer support, and extras like pre-saves, splits, and YouTube Content ID. Every service below delivers to all major DSPs.
Top music distribution services compared
| Service | Pricing | Royalty split | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | $22.99/year — unlimited uploads | 100% to artist | High-volume releasers and singles-first artists |
| TuneCore | $14.99/single, $29.99/album (first year) | 100% to artist | Artists who want publishing administration bundled in |
| CD Baby | $9.95/single, $29/album (one-time) | 91% to artist (9% commission) | Artists who prefer a one-time fee over annual renewals |
| Amuse | Free tier available, Pro $24.99/year | 100% to artist | Mobile-first artists releasing on a budget |
| UnitedMasters | Free tier, Select $59.99/year | 100% on paid plans | Hip-hop and R&B artists seeking sync opportunities |
1. DistroKid — best for high-volume releasers
DistroKid's flat $22.99/year unlimited-uploads plan made it the default for artists releasing more than two singles a year. Fast delivery, clean splits, and Mixea mastering as an add-on.
2. TuneCore — best for publishing administration
TuneCore bundles publishing admin, sync licensing, and YouTube monetization. The per-release pricing adds up, but the back-end services pay off for catalog artists.
3. CD Baby — best one-time fee
CD Baby still charges a one-time fee per release and takes a 9% commission. Good choice if you hate annual renewals and want sync and physical distribution too.
4. Amuse — best free tier
Amuse offers a genuine free tier with unlimited uploads and a mobile-first experience. Pro unlocks faster payouts and instant delivery.
5. UnitedMasters — best for sync and brand deals
UnitedMasters is built around brand partnerships with the NBA, ESPN, and Bose. Strong fit for hip-hop, R&B, and producers chasing sync revenue.
How distribution and promotion work together
A distributor gets your music on Spotify. A promotion service like Amplifi gets it heard once it's there — pitching your released tracks to independent curators and real listeners so streams, saves, and follows actually grow.
Frequently asked questions
What is a music distribution service?
A music distributor delivers your tracks to streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, and collects the royalties owed to you as the rights holder.
Which music distributor keeps 100% of royalties?
DistroKid, CD Baby (with their annual plan), TuneCore, and Amuse all let independent artists keep 100% of streaming royalties. They differ on annual fees, splits, and publishing add-ons.
How long does it take to get on Spotify?
Most distributors deliver to Spotify within 1–7 days. Submit at least 4 weeks before release day so editorial playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly can consider the track.
Do I need a distributor to pitch to Spotify playlists?
Yes — only the rights holder via a distributor can pitch unreleased tracks through Spotify for Artists. Third-party promotion services like Amplifi pitch released tracks to independent curators.
Can I switch distributors later?
Yes. You can take down a release with your current distributor and re-upload it through a new one, but you'll lose your existing stream count and URL on the platform.
Ready to grow what you release?
Once your distributor has your track live on Spotify, submit it to Amplifi and we'll pitch it to curators in your genre.