CD Baby for independent artists

Overview

CD Baby is one of the oldest independent distributors (founded 1998) and the main remaining example of the pay-once, commission-forever model. As of June 2026, its pricing page lists a one-time fee of $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album, with no subscription and no annual renewal. In exchange, CD Baby keeps 9% of your digital distribution revenue permanently; you receive the other 91%. You retain your rights and master ownership, get a free UPC and ISRCs, weekly payouts, distribution to 150+ platforms, and YouTube Content ID monetization included.

A major recent change: in February 2026 Universal Music Group completed its $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, CD Baby's parent company, after EU approval conditioned on divesting Downtown's Curve royalty platform. CD Baby is now part of the world's largest major-label group — relevant context for artists choosing a distributor specifically to stay outside that system.

What to check before signing up

• The 9% commission never expires. Per CD Baby's pricing page, the commission applies to each release for its lifetime. The only way to stop paying it is to take the music down and redistribute elsewhere — which resets your stream counts and playlist placements.
• Run the math against subscriptions. If you release several titles a year or earn meaningful streaming income, a flat-fee subscription distributor will often cost less over time than 9% forever.
• Ownership change. UMG/Virgin now sits above CD Baby; watch for terms or service changes post-acquisition before committing a full catalog.
• Optional add-ons (e.g., promotion/boost packages) are extra, one-off charges — only buy what your release plan actually needs.
• Review the Artist Agreement (linked from CD Baby's site) for current takedown and termination terms.

Bottom line: the best fit for low-volume releasers who value permanence over maximum payout — as long as you're comfortable with the permanent 9% cut and the new major-label ownership.