1. Too Lost
This is a relatively new music distribution platform that was just launched in 2020, offering a direct distribution model to over 450 outlets. Artists benefit from a 0% commission structure, allowing them to retain all their royalties without any hidden fees or annual charges.
The platform supports payment splitting and provides access to instant advances, catering to the financial needs of independent musicians. Moreover, Too Lost ensures quick distribution, with music available on major platforms like Apple Music and Spotify within 1-3 days. It also includes features like Spotify pre-save and Dolby Atmos distribution. Their plans start at $2.99 / month for artists and $5.99 / month for labels.
2. Amuse
This music distribution platform offers artists a mix of free and paid options for releasing their music to over 35 outlets worldwide. The platform stands out by offering a 0% commission on its free tier, ensuring artists keep all their royalties, while also providing an instant advance feature to qualifying users.
Amuse supports Spotify pre-save and offers additional services like payment splitting and Dolby Atmos distribution for users on higher plans. It’s an accessible and flexible option for independent musicians looking to distribute their work efficiently and affordably. Their plans start at $1.67 / month for the lowest tier and $5 / month for a more premium set of features.
3. AWAL
Part of Kobalt Music Group, it’s a premium music distribution service catering to a curated selection of artists. The platform charges a 15% commission but provides a broad distribution network, reaching over 200 outlets.
AWAL is designed for artists who are serious about their music careers, offering services like instant advances through their Fast Forward service, Dolby Atmos distribution, and Spotify pre-save. Although the platform is not open to all, it offers extensive support, including payment splitting and the distribution of credits for songwriters, producers, and other contributors. You have to apply or be scouted to be an AWAL artist.
4. CD Baby
Established in 1998, it is one of the oldest and most well-known music distribution platforms, offering services to independent artists and labels. The platform charges a 9% commission on sales and provides access to over 150 outlets, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.
CD Baby supports artists with features like Spotify pre-save, instant advances, and the ability to distribute music videos to platforms like Apple Music and Vevo. It also offers tools for managing songwriting credits and mechanical licenses for cover songs. With a long-standing reputation, CD Baby is a trusted choice for many independent musicians looking to distribute their music globally. CD Baby is on the pricier side of distribution options. Instead of a monthly or annual plan, they charge $9.99 per release whether it's a single or an album. They also take 9% of download and streaming revenues, 15% for MLC collection, 30% for YouTube and Facebook collection, and 40% of any sync placements through their platform.
5. DistroKid
This popular music distribution platform is known for its affordability and simplicity. Artists can release unlimited music to over 150 outlets for a flat annual fee, with no additional commission on sales.
DistroKid offers a range of features, including Spotify pre-save, payment splitting, and the ability to distribute credits for songwriters and producers. It also supports Dolby Atmos for enhanced audio quality and provides fast distribution, often getting music onto major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music within 1-3 days. DistroKid has rates of $22.99 / year for their basic plan and $39.99 / year for their more premium plan. The premium plan allows you to customize your label name and release date as well as upload lyrics to streaming platforms and some other features.
6. Ditto
It provides services to independent artists and labels with a global reach, distributing to over 200 outlets. The platform charges an annual fee based on the number of artists, with no commission taken on sales, allowing artists to keep 100% of their royalties. Ditto offers features like Spotify pre-save, payment splitting, and access to advances for select clients.
In addition, the platform supports distribution to niche markets, including China and TikTok, and offers additional services like Dolby Atmos distribution. Ditto is a versatile option for artists seeking comprehensive global distribution and financial flexibility. Ditto starts at $21 / year for their basic plan which allows for unlimited releases for 1 artist profile. Their next tier is $65 / year which gives you more features such as releases for 2 artists, pitching songs for sync placements, collecting publishing royalties, YouTube Content ID, priority support, and more.
7. LANDR
This platform stands out for its integration with its well-known AI-driven mastering services. Artists can release their music to over 75 outlets with a flat annual fee, depending on the plan chosen, and keep 100% of their royalties as LANDR takes no commission.
The platform offers features like payment splitting, Spotify pre-save, and Dolby Atmos distribution for those on higher-tier plans. LANDR also provides a quick distribution turnaround, getting music onto major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music in as little as 24 hours. Pricing starts at $23.99 / year for their basic plan which gives you unlimited releases for 1 artist profile and even includes YouTube Content ID. Their next tier is $44.99 / year and gives you bonus features like advanced analytics, faster releases, and premium support. Their top tier is awesome for artists who want additional services for the music creation process. They offer unlimited mastering services, plugins and royalty free samples across a variety of DAWs, and much more. This tier costs $143.88 / year.
8. ONErpm
It’s a versatile music distribution platform offering a broad reach to over 100 outlets globally on both free and premium plans. Artists on the premium plan keep 100% of their royalties and benefit from features like payment splitting and Spotify pre-save. Right now ONErpm itself is invite only.
ONErpm is known for its speed, with music typically going live on major platforms within 1-5 days. It offers services like Dolby Atmos distribution and the ability to distribute music videos to platforms like Apple Music and Vevo. ONErpm is well-suited for artists looking for flexibility, speed, and comprehensive distribution options, including access to the growing markets in China and TikTok. ONErpm just launched a new set of distribution services called OFFstep. The pricing starts at just $1 / month for unlimited releases! There's 2 more tiers at $48 / year and $96 / year and the features scale up with each one.
9. RouteNote
Users love both free and premium plans to independent artists and labels. The free plan operates on a revenue-sharing model where RouteNote takes a 15% commission, while the premium plan allows artists to keep 100% of their royalties for an annual fee.
RouteNote distributes music to over 200 outlets, including major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and offers additional features such as Spotify pre-save, payment splitting, and distribution to niche markets like China and TikTok.
The platform is known for its flexibility, providing artists with a cost-effective way to reach a global audience while choosing between a no-cost option with revenue sharing or a fee-based model with full royalty retention.
10. Songtradr
As both a music distribution and licensing platform, it is designed to help artists monetize their music across various channels. The platform distributes music to over 100 outlets and offers a 0% commission structure on its premium plans, allowing artists to keep all their royalties. Songtradr also stands out for its licensing opportunities, enabling artists to place their music in films, TV shows, advertisements, and more.
Its features include payment splitting, Spotify pre-save, and distribution to niche markets like China and TikTok.
11. Soundrop
It’s tailored for artists who focus on releasing cover songs and niche genres. The platform offers a straightforward, pay-as-you-go model, charging $0.99 per track with a cut of 15% as well.
Soundrop provides features like payment splitting and distribution to over 23 outlets, including major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. One of its cool features is the inclusion of mechanical licensing for cover songs, making it easy for artists to legally distribute their covers. We're not too sure about this one as 15% while still paying for each release is pretty hefty without any additional support.
12. SoundOn
This music distribution platform by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is for artists looking to tap into TikTok's massive audience. The platform distributes music to over 60 outlets, including TikTok and other major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, with a 0% commission structure that allows artists to keep all their ownership. SoundOn could see growth as TikTok has become the leader in music discovery over the past few years. They are constantly looking to partner with artists who are growing on TikTok and give them more premium deals as well, hoping to help push songs on the platform and make them even more popular. Be weary though as the promise of 100% ownership doesn't mean you are receiving 100% of royalties. It's tough to tell right now their pay structure, so do some additional research before signing up.
SoundOn offers features like payment splitting, Spotify pre-save, and Dolby Atmos distribution. Additionally, it provides unique opportunities for exposure through its integration with TikTok, making it a compelling choice for artists looking to maximize their reach on social media and beyond.
13. Symphonic
This full-service music distribution platform caters to independent artists, labels, and content creators. The platform offers distribution to over 150 outlets globally, including major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, with a commission structure that varies based on the plan, ranging from 0% to 15%.
Symphonic provides wide services, including payment splitting, Spotify pre-save, Dolby Atmos distribution, and the ability to distribute music videos to platforms like Apple Music and Vevo. It also offers marketing and playlisting support, making it a top choice for artists and labels looking for both distribution and promotional services to maximize their reach and revenue. Their distribution starter rates are $19.99 / year where you keep 100% of royalties and can release unlimited music.
14. TuneCore
It’s one of the leading music distribution platforms, offering artists the ability to release their music to over 150 outlets, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. The platform operates on a flat fee model, allowing artists to keep 100% of their royalties with no additional commission.
TuneCore provides a range of features, including payment splitting, Spotify pre-save, and the ability to distribute music videos. It offers services like mechanical licensing for cover songs and revenue reports to help artists manage their earnings. With its long-standing reputation and extensive distribution network, TuneCore is a reliable option for artists looking to maintain control over their music and maximize their revenue. TuneCore plans start at $22.99 / year and scale up to $49.99 / year for additional features and label accounts.
15. UnitedMasters
Launched in 2017, it’s a music distribution platform designed to empower independent artists by providing access to major streaming services and opportunities in brand partnerships. The platform distributes music to over 100 outlets, including Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok, with a commission structure of 10% for most artists, or 0% for those on its premium "Select" plan.
UnitedMasters also offers features like payment splitting, Spotify pre-save, and distribution to niche markets like China and TikTok. Additionally, the platform is known for connecting artists with brand deals, offering unique monetization opportunities beyond streaming revenue. They've had some great success recently with deals with specific artists such as the mega-hit from latin artist FloyyMenor as well as releases from Sarz, Brent Faiyaz, EKKSTACY, BigXthaPlug, and more. Plans range from $19.99 / year to $59.99 / year for additional features.
Becoming a Music Seller on Royalty Exchange
These music distribution apps complement the services of royalty investing platforms such as Royalty Exchange by broadening the reach and visibility of an artist's catalog, which in turn can increase the catalog's value for potential investors.
By distributing music widely across streaming platforms and ensuring optimal monetization through features like payment splitting, pre-saves, and direct distribution to niche markets, artists can maximize their royalty earnings. These earnings and broad exposure make the catalog more attractive to buyers on Royalty Exchange, who are interested in acquiring rights to music with steady, predictable income streams.
Finally, distribution platforms offer financial transparency and advanced reporting tools help artists better understand and present their catalog's financial potential to investors on Royalty Exchange.
Royalty Exchange offers artists a unique opportunity to sell some or all of their music catalog to interested investors. This can be an excellent strategy for artists who have built a solid portfolio of work through platforms from any of these music distribution platforms.
Artists can also easily connect to a large pool of investors through the Instant Offer feature. As investor interest drives up offers, these artists can maximize the value of their royalties by receiving competitive offers in their investor network.
They also receive a cash offer for their music catalog or royalty streams within a few hours by entering basic information about their earnings. The platform provides an automated and transparent valuation based on historical royalty earnings, so artists can understand the fair market value of their catalog.
If you’re new to this site, Royalty Exchange has prepared a guide for various financing options available to musicians. You can learn how to receive immediate cash advances based on their projected future royalties. With Royalty Exchange, you have the flexibility to sell a portion or all of your catalog, giving you control over your financial decisions. Even after selling, you may retain certain rights or income streams, depending on the deal structure. So sign up now and get started so you can get a big payday today and take your career to the next level!
