The gatekeepers of the DSPs
To get your music onto Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and other digital service providers (DSPs), you cannot upload files directly. You need a digital music distributor. Distributors act as the bridge between your raw audio files and the global streaming ecosystem. While there are dozens of distributors available today, three names dominate the conversation: DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby.
Each has a fundamentally different pricing model, and choosing the wrong one can cost you thousands of dollars in recurring fees or lost royalties. Here is how they stack up on fee structure, royalty cuts, and what you actually keep.
Comparing the fee structures
The major difference between these three services is how they charge you for uploading music. Some charge an annual subscription, while others charge a one-time fee per release.
- DistroKid. Pioneered the flat-fee annual subscription model. For a single yearly payment, you can upload unlimited songs and albums. The biggest selling point is that DistroKid keeps 0% of your royalties. However, DistroKid is known for a cafeteria-style pricing model where features like Shazam registration, YouTube Content ID, and keeping your music online if your subscription lapses (Leave a Legacy) cost extra fees.
- TuneCore. Offers a hybrid approach. It historically charged a flat, recurring annual fee per single or album. Today, it has transitioned to include unlimited release plans similar to DistroKid. TuneCore keeps 100% of your royalties on their primary distribution plans, though they do take a commission of revenue generated on social platforms on some of their cheaper plans.
- CD Baby. Uses a classic pay-per-release structure. You pay a one-time fee to upload a single or an album, and it stays online forever with no recurring annual fees. The catch is that CD Baby takes a 9% cut of all your digital distribution royalties.
At-a-glance comparison
To help visualize how these models compare, here is a general breakdown of their standard structures:
| Distributor | Fee Structure | Royalty Cut | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | Flat annual subscription (unlimited uploads) | 0% (You keep 100%) | Prolific creators releasing music frequently |
| TuneCore | Flat annual plans or per-release fees | 0% (fees apply on social platforms) | Artists wanting robust reporting |
| CD Baby | One-time fee per single or album | 9% commission on all digital sales | Occasional releases, permanent catalog |
The math of distribution: What do you keep?
The math of distribution comes down to volume. If you are a prolific artist releasing a dozen singles and multiple albums a year, CD Baby's one-time fees will quickly add up. Conversely, if you release a single album, get a few thousand streams, and then take a multi-year hiatus, paying DistroKid's annual subscription just to keep that archive online is a losing proposition. If you stop paying, your music is removed (unless you paid the Leave a Legacy fee). In that scenario, CD Baby's one-time fee is much cheaper in the long run.
The royalty cut is the most critical factor for successful releases. A 9% cut might sound small when you are earning pennies. But if a song gets hot and generates $10,000 in royalties, CD Baby will take $900 of it. In that case, paying DistroKid's flat annual subscription or TuneCore's annual fee saves you hundreds of dollars. Always model your expected streaming volume: higher stream numbers make commission-free models vastly superior, while small, permanent catalogs favor one-time payment models.
Determine your potential catalogue value and recoupment target with the recoupment calculator:
Open the calculator →Important notes and fine print
Keep in mind that the distribution landscape is constantly shifting. Services frequently change their pricing, introduce new subscription tiers, or adjust their policies on store takedowns. Always check each platform's current terms, add-on costs, and withdrawal fees before committing. Understanding how your distribution costs scale alongside your stream counts is the best way to keep more money in your pocket.