No label required
Music distributors, compared
A distributor gets you on every streaming platform while you keep your masters. The models differ — flat fee, commission, subscription — and so do the catches. Start with the comparison, then read each profile for the fine print. (Pricing changes; always confirm on the distributor’s site.)
| Distributor | Model | You keep masters | Payout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amuse | Annual subscription | Yes | 100% of royalties (except a 15% YouTube Content ID fee on the base plan) | Budget-conscious artists who want unlimited releases and — unusually — music that stays live even after cancelling. |
| CD Baby | Per-release fee | Yes | 91% of digital distribution revenue (CD Baby keeps 9%) | Artists who release infrequently and want music to stay live forever without recurring subscription fees. |
| DistroKid | Annual subscription | Yes | 100% of royalties | Prolific artists who release often and want unlimited uploads for one flat annual fee. |
| Ditto Music | Annual subscription | Yes | 100% of royalties | Artists and small labels who want cheap unlimited distribution with 0% commission and label-management tools. |
| TuneCore | Annual subscription | Yes | 100% of royalties from digital stores (20% fee on social platform earnings) | Artists who want either unlimited annual distribution or a per-release option, plus optional publishing administration under one roof. |
| UnitedMasters | Annual subscription | Yes | 100% of royalties on paid plans | Artists — especially in hip-hop/R&B — who want distribution bundled with brand partnership and sync opportunities. |
Amuse
Artist $23.99/yr, Artist Plus $39.99/yr, Professional from $59.99/yr (as of June 2026)Amuse is a Swedish subscription distributor offering unlimited releases from $23.99/year with 100% royalty payout and master ownership retained. Unusually among subscription distributors, it states that music stays live in stores even if you cancel your plan.
Full profile + watch-outs →CD Baby
$9.99/single, $14.99/album one-time, no annual fees (as of June 2026)CD Baby is a per-release distributor charging a one-time fee ($9.99/single, $14.99/album) plus a permanent 9% commission on digital revenue, with no annual fees and artists keeping ownership of their masters. As of February 2026 it is owned by Universal Music Group via the Downtown Music Holdings acquisition.
Full profile + watch-outs →DistroKid
$24.99–$89.99/yr (as of June 2026)DistroKid is a subscription music distributor offering unlimited uploads to streaming services from $24.99/year while artists keep 100% of royalties and master ownership. Music stays live only while the subscription is active unless a per-release add-on is purchased.
Full profile + watch-outs →Ditto Music
From $19/yr (Starter); see current pricing on their site for Pro and Label tiersDitto Music is a UK-based subscription distributor offering unlimited releases to 150+ platforms from $19/year with no royalty commission and artists keeping full ownership. Its Pro tier adds Release Protection so music stays live even if the subscription lapses.
Full profile + watch-outs →TuneCore
$24.99–$54.99/yr unlimited plans; pay-per-release singles $24.99/yr, albums $44.99/yr (as of June 2026)TuneCore is a long-running distributor owned by Believe that offers unlimited-release subscriptions from $24.99/year and a legacy pay-per-release option, with artists keeping 100% ownership of their masters. Social platform royalties carry a 20% fee and advanced features are reserved for the top tier.
Full profile + watch-outs →UnitedMasters
DEBUT+ $19.99/yr, SELECT $59.99/yr (as of June 2026)UnitedMasters is a subscription distributor positioning itself as a label alternative, pairing distribution (DEBUT+ $19.99/yr, SELECT $59.99/yr, 100% royalties) with brand partnership and sync opportunities. Its free tier was discontinued, with non-upgrading artists' music removed from platforms in early 2026.
Full profile + watch-outs →Independent comparison for education — not endorsements, and not affiliated with any distributor. Details verified against official pages as of June 2026; confirm current terms before signing up. Read how to release independently for how to use one.