DistroKid vs. TuneCore vs. CD Baby vs. UnitedMasters vs. Amuse | Best Digital Distributor for Music

For our most up-to-date report and chart, check out the article on aristake.com: aristake.com/d...
Putting out a release soon? Get my 26 Things to Do Before Releasing a Song or Album Checklist here: aristake.io/26...
DistroKid vs. TuneCore vs. CDBaby vs. AWAL vs. Amuse vs. Ditto Music vs. FreshTunes vs. Horus Music vs. LANDR vs. ONErpm vs. RouteNote vs. Songtradr vs. Soundrop vs. Stem vs. Symphonic Distribution vs. UnitedMasters
How to get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Instagram, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon, NetEase, Alexa, and the rest? Ari explains how to do that in this video.
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[@ArisTake]

Are you a musician collaborating on sessions with other musicians? Make sure you fill out a Split Sheet, so you establish who owns what pieces of the song when it comes time to collect royalties. Get my free split sheet template here: aristake.io/5TdSHZ

[@IgnacioIzarra-v5g]

Hey! Can you make an updated version for 2024 please? A lot of changes!!

[@drorangutan]

A helpful piece of information to add is which of these distributors pull your music if you discontinue membership. Some of them are a one time fee but your music stays up indefinitely, others require you to maintain a membership fee or pay an extra fee to keep your music up if you cancel.

[@gepettowins]

yes, this is absolutely crucial!

[@briane.9743]

I agree

[@gepettowins]

i didn't have the time to deep dive on this, but it sounds like cdbaby, for example, doesn't require you to keep a subscription going to keep your music up BUT they take a commission from all your streaming royalties forever (can someone confirm this?). So you could weigh that, for example, against DistroKid who doesn't take any commission but requires you to keep a subscription. So if you're getting significant streaming revenue, a losing a percentage of that is going to hurt you a lot more than the $20-30 a month for a subscription

[@da1king0fwakanda56]

@@gepettowins Unless I’m mistaken, Distrokid is actually $20-30 per year, not per month.

[@gepettowins]

@@da1king0fwakanda56 woops thats what i meant

[@rickhorvath]

Crazy biz we’re in and then there’s all the royalty collecting entities! Who can keep track !?!

[@ursogames]

I don't even have words to thank you for your post on the site. And even after reading everything, I didn't regret seeing the video. Your charisma is incredible!

[@ArisTake]

Thank you for all the kind words! Glad you are finding our resources helpful -Alexis

[@younghustlazgt]

@@ArisTake great video but do you have any advance on octiive. I been looking for information about them but really can't find anything good or bad.

[@devarni]

Very helpful information! I have actually always published via a label until now. They always wanted to have a lot of the revenue, but in the end they hardly did anything for it (no advertising etc). Therefore, I had the idea to do it myself and this overview comes just right ;)

[@shakeerahjohnson3306]

@devami pls how do you do it by yourself?

[@chrisbougere2281]

This is the most helpful channel teaching the ins-and-outs of the new music industry that I have come across. I seriously ❤️ this. Ari, you are amazing! Thank you. 🙌🏿

[@ArisTake]

you're very welcome! 🎼

[@IgnacioIzarra-v5g]

@aristake Hey! Can you make an updated version for 2024 please? A lot of changes!!

[@BlessedByBrooklyne]

You are indeed an Educator Ari .. Great research 😊

[@EleonoraMusic1]

Ok. So, 57 seconds of playing your video until I realize you are THE Ari whose book I'm still reading and loving. Definitely not one of my brightest moments

[@Saint300_MG]

I got over 100 albums released through tunecore I’ll never distribute through anybody else once you learn how to make your music work for u it honestly pays for all my work

[@Ncognitomusic]

Okay, enlighten us (Maybe through a KZbin Video)

[@LuvShy45]

How long does it take for them to release it

[@drinkinslim]

How do you work so fast to produce and release up to 1,000 songs? (Honest question.)

[@baukadrun]

We or me myself gonna assume youre not mastering your 100 album, just mixed bit but not mastered your album yet!

[@swagjet]

@Dan Threepwood bro I can’t even write a single in 2 months but you with 2500 albums

[@2002music]

Any thoughts about A-Train for digital distribution?

[@Mavenne]

Thank you for the update, Ari!!! I'd love to hear what you think about "Level" too.

[@NikolaTefov]

Using level for about a year now, happy so far. Missing some features hopefully they’ll get them soon.

[@Starrysofficial]

Amazing content!!! Please do an update ok!? It's been a year now🥺🙏

[@victormaxwellchannel]

Good day Ari, I am always grateful to catch one of your articles, or videos such as this one. Does Landr or Spinnup do physical Distribution? If so, what are thier rates. Thank you amd emjoy the weekend.

[@dj_aljnmusic]

Im using Symphonic for couple years now

[@Adrian_Franco]

How's it been?

[@ClareLongendyke]

Hey Ari! Thank you so much for these in-depth discussions of the ins-and-outs of DSPs. You help clear some of the smoke from the smoke and mirrors of this business. I am a classical musician and I just self-released my debut solo album with CD Baby. As a classical musician, I have an expectation for how my music should appear in Spotify, where the composers names that wrote the music are listed alongside my name in the track listing. As an unknown, independent artist, this helps with my discoverability BIG time, as you know. But CD Baby doesn't seem to get this, nor have any deep understanding of how classical music works (I get it, we're niche in this field). I've been going back and forth trying to clarify how I can remedy the issue, but it's becoming clear that they just may not be equipped to understand the process of releasing strictly classical genres. Can you recommend which platform you think is best for classical music releases based on this? Thank you!!

[@YannisFyssas]

Thank you for this Ari !

[@arcadiansounds2850]

bro how could anyone not subscribe? youre so comprehensive and did so much work for the rest of us.. thanks a ton man!

[@giulianamusic]

Question, a lot of this distributors make you sign a contract. How exclusive and how formal is this?

[@ChrisStrompolos]

Kick ASS info, Ari. Thank you!!!!!! Soooooooooooo helpful!

[@dirtydragonflybeats]

Very straight to the point. Love it!

[@MusicMom-c9l]

When are you gonna post an updated video on distribution? A lot has changed in 2 years!

[@ZackSkyes]

so the question is.. which is the most convenient?

[@dealsbetweenfriends]

2023 thanks Ari,, Learned alot here ,,but unique and solid music is the key and good appeal to market !

[@freddanslecielavecdesdiamants]

Un criss de gros merci pour avoir démêler toutes ces grosses compagnies 😮

[@TikkiMasala]

Thanks for the video , i wanted to ask whats about octiive, before called mondo tunes , why there is no mention about them? they are long time distributing and distribute to all possible platforms worldwide more then any other distributor ... i have good experiences with them and payment is good , didnt had any problems with them , any more info on this please? thanks

[@stevenbarry6488]

Great synopsis. I'm very inspired by your energy and hope to be of that caliber when I grow up...which better be soon. Lol We met when I was your engineer in Malibu for Tu'Bishvat a lifetime ago. you had a high energy show back then and you haven't quit. Again be well. a fan. Steven Barry

[@PRAFITJOSIAH]

How Many artists can you upload unlimited releases for on United Masters?

[@BatuhanErol]

Ari thank you for all these info. I have also read your article about the distrubitors, very helpful!!

[@donit.]

Yay finally someone who isnt affiliated! Thanks for this video!

[@searchpartylintonkush]

Distrokid now charges $10.89 per year for shazam/siri😳

[@Vergilxx]

the Cheapest?

[@RicardoNevesMusic]

There's no need to pay for that and get "robbed". Your music will be available for free (or without any extra cost) on Shazam once it gets delivered to Apple Music (they own Shazam; that's why it's delivered for free).

[@ArasGokceOfficial]

distrokid is a scam@@RicardoNevesMusic

[@shawtybee7031]

@@RicardoNevesMusicso do your music go on every site

[@griffgalexxzee]

Thank you for this! 🙏🏿

[@liho26]

Hey Ari! What about the same in 2024?

[@evanodyssey]

Does Amuse & Awal get affected by the 30% international customers tax rate?

[@Tazmanian_Ninja]

I don’t think Amuse do. Only if you’re in Sweden (they’re a swedish company). Otherwise they leave it up to you to pay your countries specific taxes.

[@TheGarageJump]

Thanks for this no-nonsense video Ari. Food for thought as I am planning to take the plunge and distribute some of my songs. Very helpful, cheers. I have subscribed.

[@gilhadanimusic7494]

Coretune use their code instead of mine without leting me know is this legal and exceptable? other distrbution send me to 3rd party site after I paid. it is an uncontroled and regulated jungle

[@vanbillsing]

Very helpful information. I’ve been on TuneCore for a year now with very little success. I want to release more music and short bits but that album fee is a killer. Probably going to give DistroKid a shot.

[@ArisTake]

To manage your expectations, none of these companies do much to promote. That’s all on you.

[@kadogonyangara7888]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGWpp6WsocR4e6c

[@rivetapp]

Hey I loved this comment, choosing the right distribution service is something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’m doing some research on how musicians weight the pros and cons of services tailored to help them. I’d love to buy you some lunch over a phone call to talk more about this!

[@colorblind.0001]

did u try distrokid? how it was bro

[@ReynaldoIvanPena]

no mention of symphonic

[@ArisTake]

hey! you read my distribution full comparison article here: aristake.com/digital-distribution-comparison/#symphonicdistribution

[@nunoteixeira27]

Very helpful video. A big thanks from Portugal, Ari

[@OrchestraUnderGround3000]

Always informative nice work !

[@mateomusic5813]

Omg I have your book! Didn’t know you were on KZbin!

[@DarioImaz]

Very informative Ari! Thanks a lot!

[@HowToWatchMovies]

Saw you in a Vox video, then stumbled upon you independently the next day. HAD to subscribe.

[@lilthepaingod8458]

Bro which one is best ? & And where should I go distrokid or others ?

[@neydaescobarmusic]

Hello I have a question no one seems to have the answer to. I originally subscribed to the label plan (5 to 10 artists) then a year later by mistake, when trying to renew my subscription (I didn’t know it had already renewed automatically) they accepted my “second”payment as an upgrade payment and put me on the label plus account (10-20 artists)! So currently I’m paying a fortune yearly and every time a released is renew I am charged with the extras too. I’m desperate and don’t know what to do!!! So frustrating! I know the only way to downgrade is by canceling my current label account and subscribing again, but this time I would subscribe to the musician plus account. Do you know if I was to do this, will I have to pay for all the uploads individually again? I have 7 releases of my own and 26 from other artist. That will be a fortune for me to pay at once! Hopefully I can find someone with this experience to walk me through.

[@marek-maria-lipski]

All the best. Great post. Anyone can from 200 euros monthly own music distribution.Yes. That is possible.

[@benalbert3063]

My band is with Tunecore after I found out that our previous distribution platform was going to charge me about $89 Australian dollars to put our Debut EP back on there.

[@susannehager3162]

Amazing video, thank you so much! I have a question, what would happen if your digital distribution company did not exist anymore, would your music still stay on the platforms? Or if you wanted to change your distributor, would your statistics of your plays still stay?

[@ArisTake]

you can always switch distributors if you have the ISRC numbers. if you’re worried the distributor might not exist, write down those numbers for safe keeping!

[@SpazzedIN]

Thanks bro, who you go with?

[@godric1010]

Hi Ari , thanks for your video , really helpful. I have one original song with TuneCore but was thinking of distributing my next original song with DistroKid and then distributing my cover songs on sounddrop. Is it ok ( or wise ) to use different distributors ?

[@ArisTake]

Yes.

[@ABandCalledStoned]

As long as the song is released in a different package. Example... Released as a single on DistroKid, it should be released on an Album when used elsewhere. In many instances if the same song is released as a single by diff. distributers, both will be removed. You will need to choose one Dist. per store/service. Unless, released in different packages. And don't forget to join a PRO (ASCAP/BMI/etc). This gets you paid when people perform performing/streaming on a pod cast/etc, your music.

[@ButterflyLullabyLtd]

Having lived through many recessions. I feel CD baby is s a good choice because your music is up forever. If you can't afford the fees for a distribution company one year, then you end up having all your music taken down. We wasted money putting songs up before and could not afford the yearly fees and all our music got taken down. Very unfair. ♥️

[@code3records]

🙌Great information!

[@Bradleybrookwood]

It's between CD Baby and AWOL in my books especially when it comes to doing the maths.

[@prod.bylvwlee]

Hey Ari, have you been signed by a major label?

[@ArisTake]

wouldn’t sign to a major with a gun to my head.

[@illahboii225]

@@ArisTake straight up

[@artg7909]

So many choices. completely fabregssted by it. Great video.

[@ArisTake]

you're very welcome! here's the full article version on the top distributors: aristake.com/digital-distribution-comparison 🤘🙂

[@HedgehogDude18]

One thing I have yet to see anyone mention when comparing these services is which services allow you to upload your high res master greater than 44.1/16. Putting aside whether that actually makes a difference in sound quality or not, services like Quoboz, Apple Music, and Amazon music all support high res music. CD Baby for example only allows you to upload 44/16.wav files. Curious if any of these other services do this.

[@shilpabalagopalan]

very helpful thank you so much for a no nosense video and laying it out all

[@christiang5128]

Best chart ive come across

[@TheSunnySlimEffect]

The best is CD Baby ..i use them without regret

[@younghustlazgt]

Great video. Really informative but what about octiive? What happened to it I've been looking for more information about it. Can't find nothing good or bad.

[@andreasonarheim]

Great vid! Thanks a bunch! What are your thoughts on EmuBands?

[@anonymouse527]

A beginner here. Would I have to register as an artist or copyright my songs somehow before using these services? Should I also do ASCAP/BMI?

[@MasoudSargon]

Awesome video 🔥🤘🏽

[@TheJoeyCB213]

I kinda wanted to hear differences in add revenue percentages. Some let you keep 100% royalties from streams but 20% add rev

[@MrWilkat1]

Thanks--good overview--a lot to take in!

[@gordongregory1615]

Ari, great video. Any insight for those artist that do comedy / spoken word? Trying to get my comedy up on the DSP's. Thanks!

[@shawtybee7031]

So the 59 yearly with united masters is that a good deal I see they also mix music n do beats good deal don’t u think

[@babar54]

@ari, this was awesome-- thank you! what's your take on Venice?

[@FirstBassEnt]

Hey Ari, please do a video breakdown about music VIDEO distribution services (ie. services that distribute your music videos to platforms like VEVO, Tidal, etc) 🙏🏽

[@ArisTake]

hey! i actually interviewed the head of artist and label relations at vevo on my podcast. you can watch the full interview here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5_dhoJ4iJWlfKs

[@eso_teric6666]

Can you use multiple distributors?

[@swagjet]

I’m preparing to release an EP. Hopefully start of next year. Who would be the best best option

[@ArisTake]

all up to your personal preference! here's the full article version of this video that further breaks down the distributors: aristake.com/digital-distribution-comparison 🤘🙂

[@robertmellang6998]

What can you say about Session Studio?

[@AnonymousPerspective33]

What about tunecore new subscription plans?

[@davidsonmusicofficial]

i thought this was benny blanco at first

[@zackorr421]

Nice overview thank you !

[@Peter28148]

Amazing Video! ngl for me it was an overload of info (because I didn't write it down). I am almost done with my album and my cousin uses CDBaby which he didn't have an issue with but some other people online had issues so idk. any recommendations?

[@nikhilghatnekar]

Do I have to pay additional money for each song or album each year on top of the annual subscription fee? I know you mention that for tunecore, but what about distrokid?

[@condilow16]

Thanks for this gem man

[@Jack-fs2im]

wow lot to think about.headache ha.thanx great vid

[@seansethi196]

What if you have songs from your band or personal KZbin? Which places are friendly about that and don’t shut them down?

[@rodneycarter3842]

super informative. Thanks

[@themarcos150591]

Well done, you are the first to mentioned the tax treaty thing 👏🏻

[@JasonHader]

Is there an update for the article?

[@ArisTake]

yes! updated just a few months ago: aristake.com/digital-distribution-comparison 🤘

[@Ncognitomusic]

I think there’s one last distributor you missed, and that should end the Gray Area…. There’s someone who’s been promoting Tully (Upcoming Distributor) probably old; They have an app and apparently they complete with all the other DSs…. What’s your take on them (Potential YT video idea?)

[@rivetapp]

Hey I loved this comment, choosing the right distribution service is something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’m doing some research on how musicians weight the pros and cons of services tailored to help them. I’d love to buy you some lunch over a phone call to talk more about this!

[@tekkmane]

Symphonic?

[@ArisTake]

yup! in there

[@tekkmane]

@@ArisTake yeah i partnered with them , do you think this is good?

[@notsogood9449]

Who would you recommend for a Mix Engineer?

[@theruxperience]

Years ago, my music, entered WWD via ReverbNation🎸

[@JAWAMTV]

United masters vs routenote which one is preferable

[@RicardoNevesMusic]

RouteNote Keep in mind that you cannot reuse the ISRC codes, so it might be harder to link tracks and keep plays/streams, if you decide to release the song twice as part of an album/EP or something similar (once it's logged into their system, it cannot be reused).

[@alphasky2174]

@@RicardoNevesMusic Hey Ricardo, wich plataform you cannot reuse the ISRC, united masters?

[@RicardoNevesMusic]

@@alphasky2174 RouteNote. I believe they still haven't changed it. This is a shame and truly unprofessional, because we can't bet on luck and that our tracks will link properly in stores (although it's true that Spotity may be able to link our tracks, it's also true that the other platforms will fail to do the same thing, so it's most likely that things will look awful, disorganized and all over the place as a consequence). [I'm considering getting back to releasing new music soon enough - maybe in a couple of months -, so yeah, picking the next "free" distributor or choosing to stay RouteNote, will definitely plague/trouble my mind for a while;]

[@Harmonical1]

Everyone says Distrokid is great. Yes it has a great interface, incredibly cheap and gets releases out super fast. BUT I have found a problem. I checked my Distrokid streaming stats and they no way agreed with Spotify's own stats. Spotify's were way way more. One example Spotify said 1597, Distrokid said 63! Also they say that "n/a" means that the platform just didn't pay anything and that plays on Spotify often don't attract any fee. I checked with Spotify direct and they confirmed they absolutely DO pay whether it's a basic or paid for account for every single play. I've challenged Distrokid and so far...nothing.

[@ArisTake]

Spotify delays payment and numbers to distributors by a couple months. The numbers you’re seeing on Spotify are instant, the numbers you’re seeing in Distrokid are delayed about 2-3 months.

[@RLofficial2019]

i used beatstars before , and yeah distrokid isnt really good at passing us the cash , and the tally is always wrong

[@Wxve6]

Also anyone have experience with Universal Masters? I like their interviews they do on social media and stuff but to me Distrokid seems like clearly the best one . . . curious why anyone would pick otherwise

[@robertojefferson3428]

For one distrokid does not do their own collection. So yes they are paying you 100 percent of what they collect. But that is what they are collecting from the collection agency that already took a cut of what the storefront paid.

[@neovincibeats]

​@@robertojefferson3428So what do you recommend

[@gexcube1981]

good evening, i am a techno music producer which music distributor is best for me? which music distributor is better at marketing in order to receive more income?

[@DrTae233]

I like his positive vibe

[@allensimpsoncomposer]

One more question. I can't find a good answer to this ANYWHERE on the Internet! I have a writer membership AND a publisher membership with ASCAP. CD Baby says, "Sign up for CD Baby Pro Publishing because we'll collect your publishing for you!" But nowhere do they explain why I need them for that if I already have a publishing membership with ASCAP. They explain that *writers* are leaving money on the table if they don't have someone collecting their publishing, which makes sense. But do you know: If I already have a publishing membership with ASCAP, will CD Baby Pro Publishing be doing anything that I'm not already getting from my ASCAP PUBLISHING membership? Is CD Baby Pro able to collect money that ASCAP doesn't collect?

[@ArisTake]

There are two kinds of streaming royalties for songwriters. 1) performance royalties. These are collected by Performance Royalty Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP or BMI. 2) mechanical royalties. These are collected by Mechanical Rights Organziations like the MLC. ASCAP only collects performance royalties. Not mechanicals. Publishing companies collect all of your publishing royalties. Explains this more here aristake.com/songwriter-royalties/

[@allensimpsoncomposer]

@@ArisTake This is AWESOME! Exactly what I've been looking for. Thanks so much!! You rock!! 😁

[@notsogood9449]

@@ArisTake Wait… so what’s the answer. Will CD Baby Pro collect any money that his PRO isn’t already collecting?

[@BearcatJamboree]

Just curious... 1) any major changes to these companies in the past two years? and 2) what about copyrights? Do any of them have that service? Or, do you have any content on copyright protecting your work?

[@TeknaTronik]

Best bet is to start your own or use a site that doesnt need a distro.

[@elevan2760]

So much to digest.. I just want to make and share music lol

[@ArisTake]

you got this! 🤘

[@suyog805]

How many times we can switch distributors? What if we are switching and it's live on both distributors, can we cancel the switching?

[@dddocmusic]

Why you can't sign up to Spotify and just cut out the middle man I'll never know. By the way are there no musican run platforms that by pass these sites publishers who like a union work for the artists and make sure the costs are 100% transparent..

[@Tazmanian_Ninja]

Spotify did do that until last year or so, for a period of one to two years. They decided it wasn’t such a good idea afterall. And personally I’m glad it didn’t become a trend. Would be horrendous signing up and uploading to each individual platform!

[@mlkyblack2038]

Because they only want people that will play the game in the game. That's business. Put it another way. Nobody gets 100% of the royalties from their music from anybody. You are just led to believe you will. You get what's detailed and reported to you ;-) It's not a conspiracy theory. It's all in the game. It's business.

[@RicardoNevesMusic]

@@mlkyblack2038 I get this. I'd much rather take a 85% commission instead of taking 100%, if said platform helps me sell more or improve/grow as a musician (people need to focus more about what they're paying for vs what they're getting as distribution service, rather than just focusing on the small picture and making it all about how much money they will make or stop making with one platform). Sometimes in order to grow and be paid more or to be worth more later on, you need to make a few sacrifices in order to be on the platforms the music fans are on, so they can find you and become a customer of yours later down the road.

[@solomoneyob6054]

bummer you forgot to talk about symphonic which is one the one I was waiting for lol. just joined them and its been really really great.

[@ArisTake]

Hey! You can check out our review on Symphonic here: aristake.com/digital-distribution-comparison/#symphonicdistribution -Alexis

[@Capturecapturez]

How are you liking it? I got accepted not sure if it's for me

[@rickysu5219]

@@Capturecapturez I got accepted too. Maybe they really accept everyone, but just set that application thing?

[@Capturecapturez]

@@rickysu5219 no because I got denied in the past lol

[@RicardoNevesMusic]

@@rickysu5219 Do you have to prove anything to them to get in? In other words, do you need to prove you have fans or a lot of releases going? Or are they accepting mostly everyone right now?

[@TogetherEvery1AchievesMore]

#TogetherEvery1AchievesMore TEAM‼️