CD Baby vs TuneCore: which should an independent artist pick?
Both get your music on every major platform and both let you keep your masters — the difference is the money model: CD Baby is per-release fee, TuneCore is annual subscription. Which wins depends on how often you release and how long your catalog earns.
| CD Baby | TuneCore | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-release fee | Annual subscription |
| Pricing | $9.99/single, $14.99/album one-time, no annual fees (as of June 2026) | $24.99–$54.99/yr unlimited plans; pay-per-release singles $24.99/yr, albums $44.99/yr (as of June 2026) |
| Payout | 91% of digital distribution revenue (CD Baby keeps 9%) | 100% of royalties from digital stores (20% fee on social platform earnings) |
| You keep masters | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Artists who release infrequently and want music to stay live forever without recurring subscription fees. | Artists who want either unlimited annual distribution or a per-release option, plus optional publishing administration under one roof. |
Pick CD Baby if…
Artists who release infrequently and want music to stay live forever without recurring subscription fees.
But watch out
- –Permanent 9% commission on all digital distribution revenue for the life of the release, per CD Baby's own pricing page.
- –Now owned by Universal Music Group following UMG's $775M acquisition of parent Downtown Music Holdings (completed February 2026) — a consideration for artists specifically avoiding major-label ecosystems.
Pick TuneCore if…
Artists who want either unlimited annual distribution or a per-release option, plus optional publishing administration under one roof.
But watch out
- –Earnings from social platforms (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) carry a 20% fee, disclosed on TuneCore's own pricing page.
- –Key features are gated by tier: YouTube Content ID, custom label name, your own UPC, and country restrictions require the Professional plan; additional artist profiles cost $14.99 each.
The decision in one rule
Run your release pace against the models: a subscription distributor is cheapest per release if you put out music constantly (but your music typically comes down if you stop paying), while a one-time fee or commission model favors a small catalog that earns for years. Whatever you choose, confirm you can leave with your catalog and that you keep the masters — the non-negotiables covered in how to release independently. Then run your numbers in the royalty calculator.
Primary sources
- [1]How Much Does CD Baby Cost? Transparent Pricing Guide — CD Baby
- [2]UMG's $775 Million Downtown Acquisition Gets Final EU Approval — Billboard
- [3]Universal Music's Downtown acquisition cleared by EU competition regulator — Music Business Worldwide
- [4]Our Pricing & Plans — TuneCore
- [5]How much does TuneCore cost? — TuneCore Support
- [6]TuneCore vs DistroKid in 2026 (What Changed?) — Soundcamps
Educational comparison, not an endorsement or affiliate content. Details verified against official pages as of June 2026 — terms change, confirm before signing up.