DistroKid vs TuneCore vs CD Baby: Compared

DistroKid charges $22.99/year for unlimited releases and keeps 0% of royalties. TuneCore charges $9.99 per single annually and keeps 0%. CD Baby charges $9.95 per single once, keeps 9%, and never requires renewal. The right choice depends on your release volume, expected earnings, and how long you want your catalog available without managing subscriptions.

Every independent artist needs a distributor. The distributor gets your music onto Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and dozens of other platforms. Without one, your music does not exist in the streaming world.

DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby dominate the independent market. Each takes a different approach to pricing, ownership, and services. Picking the wrong one costs you money over time, and switching later means temporary gaps in availability.

This guide compares all three on the factors that matter for your career. For the full picture of how distribution works, see the How to Release Your Music: Distribution Guide.

Quick Comparison

Pricing Breakdowns by Scenario

The real comparison is not about sticker price. It is about what you pay over 5 years based on how you actually release music.

Scenario 1: Casual Release Schedule (1 album, 3 singles per year)

Year 1 costs:

Year 5 cumulative:

DistroKid wins on volume. CD Baby wins if your total royalties stay under roughly $600 over five years.

Scenario 2: Active Release Schedule (2 albums, 12 singles per year)

Year 1 costs:

Year 5 cumulative:

At high volume, DistroKid's unlimited model dominates.

Scenario 3: One Song Earns $50,000 Over 5 Years

When a single track earns significantly, CD Baby's 9% commission becomes expensive. TuneCore's per-release model is cheapest here.

Feature Comparison

Speed to Stores

DistroKid wins on speed by a wide margin. For artists who need fast turnaround, this alone can be the deciding factor.

Publishing Administration

TuneCore offers publishing admin and keeps 20% of publishing royalties collected. CD Baby Pro includes publishing admin with a one-time fee plus 15% of publishing. DistroKid offers publishing separately.

If collecting mechanical and performance royalties from your compositions matters (and it should), compare what each distributor charges against standalone publishing administrators. See Music Royalties Explained: The 6 Types You Earn for the full breakdown of every royalty type you need to collect.

YouTube Content ID

TuneCore and CD Baby include Content ID at no extra charge. DistroKid charges $4.95 per song annually or $14.95 one-time. For artists with catalogs of 20+ songs, this adds meaningful cost on DistroKid.

Customer Support

CD Baby has the strongest reputation for responsive support with phone and email options. TuneCore offers email and phone. DistroKid is email-only with response times ranging from hours to days. If you need a relationship with your distributor, this matters.

Catalog Retention: The Question That Matters Most

What happens to your music when you stop paying?

DistroKid: Your music gets pulled from all stores when your subscription lapses. Pay the Leave a Legacy fee ($29.99 per release) to keep individual releases online permanently. Without it, canceling means your catalog disappears.

TuneCore: Same model. Stop paying annual renewals for a release, and it comes down. You retain ownership, but the music is no longer available to listeners.

CD Baby: Your music stays up permanently. They continue collecting (and taking 9% of) royalties. You retain full ownership. No renewal, no maintenance.

If you might stop actively managing your career at some point, CD Baby's model protects your catalog. DistroKid and TuneCore require ongoing attention.

Which Distributor Fits Your Situation

Some independent artists use multiple distributors: DistroKid for frequent singles where speed matters, CD Baby for albums they want permanently available. This takes more management but can optimize costs. Understanding how artists actually earn helps you model which pricing structure works for your revenue picture.

What No Distributor Does for You

Regardless of which you choose, distributors do not guarantee playlist placement, promote your music, build your audience, handle sync licensing automatically, or collect all royalty types. You still need PRO registration for performance royalties and MLC registration for mechanical royalties. Distribution is delivery. Marketing and audience building are separate work.

FAQ

Can I switch distributors without losing streams?

Yes, if you use the same ISRC codes when re-uploading. Upload to the new distributor first, confirm availability, then take down from the old one.

Which distributor has the best analytics?

All three provide basic streaming data. For in-depth analytics, use Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists directly.

What about AWAL, Ditto, or other distributors?

AWAL is selective and takes a royalty percentage but offers editorial support and advances. Ditto offers annual unlimited plans similar to DistroKid. Both are worth comparing alongside the big three.

Read Next

• How to Release Your Music: Distribution Guide

• How Artists Actually Make Money

• Music Royalties Explained: The 6 Types You Earn

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