TuneCore for independent artists

Overview

TuneCore, founded in 2006 and owned by digital music company Believe, was the original pay-per-release distributor and now leads with unlimited annual subscriptions. As of June 2026 its pricing page lists three unlimited plans — Rising Artist ($24.99/yr), Breakout Artist ($44.99/yr), and Professional ($54.99/yr) — alongside legacy pay-per-release options: singles at $24.99/yr and albums at $44.99/yr (rising to $56.49 in following years). All plans distribute to 150+ digital stores, and TuneCore states artists keep 100% ownership and control of their music.

On streaming and download stores, TuneCore does not take a commission on the unlimited plans. The notable exception, stated directly on its pricing page: monetization on social platforms (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) carries a 20% fee.

What to check before signing up

• Ongoing annual fees per release on the legacy model. Pay-per-release pricing renews every year; an album costs $44.99 the first year and $56.49 each year after. A large catalog on per-release pricing gets expensive fast.
• Music availability is tied to payment. As with most subscription distributors, keeping releases live requires keeping your plan or per-release renewals current — confirm current takedown policy with TuneCore Support before committing a catalog.
• The 20% social platform fee applies even on the top plan.
• Tier gating. Your own UPC, custom label name, YouTube Content ID, and country restrictions require Professional; extra artist profiles are $14.99 each. Support response times also vary by tier (1–3 business days).
• Publishing administration is a separate deal with its own commission — read those terms independently of distribution.

Bottom line: solid, established distribution with transparent tiering — just price out the social-platform fee and tier restrictions against your actual release plans.