Comparison of Best Music Distribution Platforms
Self-publishing music without the involvement of a record label has become increasingly popular with the rise of digital distribution platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. Self-publishing allows musicians to maintain complete control over their creative work, keep more of their earnings, and connect directly with their audience.
To self-publish your music, you will need to handle all aspects of the production process, from recording and mastering to artwork design and marketing. Fortunately, there are numerous online resources available to help you with these tasks, such as online recording software, graphic design tools, and social media marketing guides.
Once your music is ready for release, you can distribute it through multiple online platforms that we will cover in this article. These services allow you to distribute your music to popular streaming and download sites, and some even offer additional services like sync licensing and YouTube monetization.
Although self-publishing music can be challenging, it can also be a rewarding experience that allows you to fully own your artistic vision and connect directly with your fans. With the right tools and resources, you can turn your musical talent into a successful self-published career.
Tunecore Overview
TuneCore is a Brooklyn, New York-based independent digital music distribution service, founded in 2005. Aside from the standard stuff they offer Music Publishing Administration, which offers chances to have your music played on films, TV shows, and games – they take a 10-20% commission from these deals however, and a one-time joining fee of 75$.
They also have a service where you can ask for a “direct advance” on your payments (with a small fee) a rather nice feature for those who need their money quickly. When you distribute with TuneCore, you have the power to send your music to 150+ Digital Stores & Social Platforms across 200+ countries worldwide. Release Unlimited new music and get discovered by fans across the globe.
- Physical Sales Possibility: Doesn’t say
- Digital Platforms: Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Napster, Music Time, iHeart Radio, MediaNet, Vervelife, Gracenote, Shazam, 7Digital, KKBOX, Anghami, Spinlet, Yandex Music, ClaroMusica, Zvooq, JioSaavn, Q.SIC, Kuack, Pandora, Boomplay Music, PlayNetwork, TouchTunes, Music Island, Tencent, TikTok, JOOX, NetEase Cloud Music, TIMMUSIC, Soundtrack Your Brand, BOOM, Zed+, Resso, Gaana, Hungama Music, Wynk, Triller, Qobuz, Peloton Music, Douyin, AYOBA, Snapchat
- Commission Of Sales: 0%
- Unlimited Plan: 14,99$ per year
- Website: https://fbuy.me/v/senjispot (20% Discount)
RouteNote Overview
RouteNote is a UK-based company formed in 2008. The most remarkable thing about Routenote is that it has two different options, either you can go all FREE and give 15% commission on everything or you pay for a Single / EP / Album payment that will be annual.
- Physical Sales Possibility: No
- Digital Platforms: Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, TikTok, Resso, Pandora, Anghami, ClaroMusica, Melon, Kanjian, Bugs!, AWA, YG, NetEase, Tencent, Napster, iHeartRadio, Saavn, Kuack Media Group, Qobuz, Flo, KKBOX, ZingMp3, Synchedin & Joox Music.
- Commission Of Sales: 15% (optional)
- Free Version: Sell everything for free, but pay a 15% commission on sales
- Single Cost: If you want 100% commission, Singles are 10$, and EP’s 20$ (after this annual renewal 9,99$)
- Album Cost: If you want 100% commission, Albums are 30$ (The extended album is an extra 10$) after this 9,99$ annually.
- Website: https://www.routenote.com/rn/referral/2f741511
CD Baby Overview
CD Baby, Inc. (Formed in 1998) is an online music store specializing in the sale of CDs, vinyl records, and music downloads from independent musicians to consumers. The company is also a digital aggregator of independent music recordings, distributing content to several online music retailers. Along with two different versions CD Baby Pro & Standard you are able to go with the free model as well, but that has a lot more limited options.
There is opportunity to license cover songs via this platform also. As for the pro version, it contains a royalty collecting service and ASCAP / BMI registration
- Physical Sales Possibility: Yes
- Digital Platforms: Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube, TikTok, Resso, Deezer, Shazam, Tidal, KKBOX, Line Music, Napster, Saavn, AWA, Claro Musica, Kuack, Anghami, iHeartRadio, MediaNet, Slacker, 24-7, 7Digital, InProdicon, Kdigital, NetEase Cloud Music, Qobuz, Tencent, Boomplay, Hungama, Peloton, Joox, Ad
- Commission Of Sales: 9%
- Single Cost: 9,99$ & 49,99$ Pro Single
- Album Cost: 9,99$ & 49,99$ Pro Album
- Website: cdbaby.com
Music Diffusion Overview
usicdiffusion.com is a digital music distribution platform that helps independent musicians and labels distribute their music worldwide. The platform was founded in 2017 and is based in France, with a mission to empower independent musicians by providing them with access to global music distribution, marketing, and monetization services. They also have tools to help artists manage their music catalog and monitor their streaming and sales performance. The platform also offers a range of features, including customizable artist profiles, playlist-pitching services, and YouTube content ID.
- Physical Sales Possibility: N/A
- YouTube Partnership: Yes
- Digital Platforms: 7digital, Akazoo, Amazon Music, Anghami, AWA, Beatport, ClaroMusica, Deezer, Facebook, Instagram, Google Play, GraceNote, iHeart Radio, IMI Mobile, iTunes, Apple Music, Jaxsta, Saavn, KDigital, KKBOX, Mixcloud, MonkingMe, NetEase Music, Pandora, Resso, Rhapsody / Napster, Shazam, Soundcloud, Spinlet, Spotify, Tencent, QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music, WeSing, Joox, Tidal, Tiktok, United Media Agency, Xiami Music, Yandex Music, YouTube, YouTube Music, Zvooq & Twitch.
- Commission Of Sales: 10% or 0%
- Standard Plan: 2,99€ per track (One time only)
- Unlimited Plan Costs: 9,99€ per year (149,99$ per year with 100% commission)
- Website: https://www.musicdiffusion.com
Ditto Music Overview
Ditto Music is an independent music distributor created for independent solo artists or bands. Founded by Matt and Lee Parsons, back in 2006, they offer services to distribute EPs, Albums, and single music tracks to digital music stores, such as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and eMusic to name a few, at a very low affordable cost any independent solo artist or group can afford to pay.
- Physical Sales Possibility: N/A
- Digital Platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal, Vevo, TikTok, YouTube Music, Beatport, Pandora, Instagram, Snapchat, Napster, Twitch, Shazam, iTunes, JunoDownload, Facebook, YouTube, MixCloud, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7Digital, PPL, ClaroMusica, Trbel, iTunes Radio, KKBOX, Saavn, Yandex Music, Joox, Huawei, Anghami, AWA, Peloton, Qobuz, NetEase, QQ, Kugou, Kuwo, Akazoo, Music Island, Melon, Bugs!, Genie, Naver, Mnet, Boomplay Music, Jaxsta, Bleep, TME, United Media Agency, Resso, Kuack Media Group, D’Music, Lola Music, Audible Magic, Adaptr, District, Broadtime, Jpay, KeefeGroup, MusixMatch, Roxi, SOundtrack, Stationhead, Viapath, Lickd, Ami and Wesing.
- Commission Of Sales: 0%
- Unlimited Distribution for 1 artist: 19€ per year
- Unlimited Distribution for 2 artists: 29€ per year + Compilation releases
- Unlimited Distribution for 5 artists: 69€ per year + Compilation releases + Priority support
- Website: https://www.dittomusic.com/
DistroKid Overview
DistroKid offers a user-friendly interface that allows musicians to upload their music and manage their distribution and metadata quickly and easily. The platform also offers a range of features, including customizable artist profiles, YouTube Content ID, and a built-in store that enables artists to sell their music directly to fans. DistroKid also offers a range of marketing and promotion services, including playlist pitching and social media promotion. The platform’s “HyperFollow” feature enables artists to create custom landing pages that showcase their music and provide fans with easy access to all their streaming platforms and social media accounts.
- Physical Sales Possibility: N/A
- YouTube Partnership: N/A
- Digital Platforms: Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon.com, Google Play, Deezer, YouTube Music, Pandora, Claro-Musica, Saavn, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Napster + things via Medianet
- Commission Of Sales: 0%
- Unlimited Distribution for 1 artist: 22,99$ per year
- Unlimited Distribution for 2 artists: 39,99$ per year
- Unlimited Distribution for 100 artists: 89,99$ per year
- Website: https://distrokid.com
Octiive Overview
- Physical Sales Possibility: N/A
- Digital Platforms: iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Deezer, Beatport, and tons more!
- Commission Of Sales: 8% or 0%
- Single Cost: 9$
- Album Cost: 19$
- Unlimited Distribution Label Plan: 190$ per year (0% Commission)
- Website: https://www.mondotunes.com
Horus Music Overview
Horus Music Limited is a global digital distribution and label services company. Established in 2006, Horus Music allows artists, labels, and right-holders to send their music to over 800 downloads, streaming, and interactive platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, VEVO, 7digital, Spotify, Beatport, Pandora Radio, Deezer, Tidal, as well as offering digital marketing and radio promotion opportunities. One of the perks of their platform is that they provide a bunch of mastering and video services as well for those who desire them.
- Physical Sales Possibility: Vinyls (Yes)
- YouTube Partnership: N/A
- Digital Platforms: Soundcloud, Tidal, Vevo, TikTok, Apple Music, Google Play, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Beatport, Deezer, Saavn, Shazam & Vevo.
- Commission Of Sales: 0%
- Unlimited Plan: 20£ per year
- Unlimited Plan 2 artists: 30£ per year
- Website: https://www.horusmusic.global
Symphonic Distribution Overview
Symphonic Distribution also known as “Symphonic” is a digital music distribution company launched in late 2006 by Jorge Brea, a former music producer from Tampa, Florida. Symphonic Distribution delivers music from independent record labels and musicians to online retailers. Today, the company distributes music to hundreds of retail and streaming platforms for over 10,000 record labels and artists worldwide while maintaining a personalized approach to distribution. The company continues to develop new technologies in the form of in-house systems and has expanded its offerings to include Video Distribution, Publishing Administration, Neighboring Rights, Marketing, Video Marketing, Sync Licensing, Mastering, Web and Graphic design, YouTube monetization, SoundCloud Monetization, and Piracy Protection.
- Physical Sales Possibility: Yes
- YouTube Partnership: Yes + Content ID
- Digital Platforms: 7Digital, 8Tracks, Addictech, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Anghami, Audible Magic, Beatport Sounds (Sample Packs), Boom (UMA), Claro Music, CUR Music (Medianet), Deezer, DigitalTunes, Dubset Media (Medianet), Electric Jukebox (7Digital), eMusic (7Digital), Express In Music, Gracenote, Google Play, iHeartRadio, iTunes, JoMedia (Medianet), Juno Download, KK Box, Mail.ru (UMA), Mix Upload, musical.ly (7Digital), Napster (Rhapsody), Noiseporn Video Network, OK.RU (UMA), Pandora, Qobuz, Saavn, Shazam, Sirius XM, Slacker, Soundcloud, Sounds.com, Spotify, TIDAL, TrackItDown, Traxsource, United Media Agency, VEVO, VK.ru (UMA), Weyv (7Digital), whatpeopleplay, Yandex, Zonga Romania (Medianet) and ZVOOQ
- Commission Of Sales: 0% & 70% on YouTube/UGC
- Starter Plan: 19,99$ per artist
- Website: https://symphonic.com