Music distribution used to mean a deal with a label. In 2026, any artist can get on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and 150+ other platforms for less than $25/year. The question is which distributor to use — and the answer depends on your volume, budget, and whether TikTok promotion is part of your strategy. Here's the honest breakdown of every major option, including the detail most comparison articles skip: how each handles TikTok's native sound library.
DistroKid — best for high-volume artists
Price: $22.99/year for unlimited releases. You keep 100% of royalties. This makes DistroKid the best per-release value if you release more than 1 song per year — which most active artists do.
TikTok integration: DistroKid delivers your music to TikTok's sound library as part of standard distribution. When someone hears your song on TikTok, they can tap the vinyl icon and find your track — driving Spotify saves.
Weakness: customer support is slow and largely automated. Disputes about takedowns or distribution issues can take weeks to resolve. If you're expecting hands-on support, DistroKid will frustrate you.
TuneCore — best for artists who release slowly
Price: $14.99 per single or $29.99 per album per year. You keep 100% of royalties. More expensive than DistroKid per release if you release frequently, but cheaper if you release 1–2 singles per year.
TuneCore has stronger publisher administration services than DistroKid — if you're writing music that might get licensed or covered, TuneCore's publishing arm collects mechanical royalties more reliably. Good for singer-songwriters and composers.
Amuse — best free option
Price: Free tier (basic distribution, 2-week delivery) or $24.99/year (fast delivery + more features). Amuse takes 0% of royalties on paid tier. The free tier takes no royalties either but has slower delivery times.
Amuse is the best starting point for artists who want to test the waters without spending anything. The free tier gets you on Spotify and Apple Music — slower, but functional. Upgrade to paid when you're ready to promote seriously.
CD Baby — best for legacy catalog and publishing
Price: $9.95 per single (one-time) + 9% royalty cut. More expensive long-term than DistroKid but no annual fee. Good for artists who have a stable catalog they don't plan to change.
CD Baby's publishing administration is the strongest of any distributor — they collect royalties from 100+ countries including many that DistroKid misses. If your music is being played internationally or on radio, CD Baby's publishing arm can recover money you're currently leaving on the table.
Which distributor is right for you?
If you're releasing more than 2 songs per year: DistroKid at $22.99/year is the best value. Simple.
If you're releasing 1–2 songs per year and want publishing royalty collection: TuneCore.
If you have zero budget: Amuse free tier. Get on the platforms, then upgrade when you're earning.
If you're establishing a stable catalog and want the best international royalty collection: CD Baby.
Important: whichever distributor you choose, make sure TikTok is included in your distribution. The TikTok sound library integration is non-negotiable in 2026 — it's the primary discovery pipeline for turning TikTok views into Spotify saves.
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Start your free trial →Frequently asked questions
Can I switch distributors after releasing a song?
Yes, but it requires taking down and re-uploading, which resets your stream count and loses your playlist placements. Switch distributors between releases, not mid-release. If you must switch, DistroKid's 'Leave a Legacy' feature keeps old releases up after you cancel.
Does my distributor affect how Spotify's algorithm treats my music?
No — Spotify's algorithm treats music identically regardless of distributor. DistroKid, TuneCore, Amuse, and CD Baby all deliver to Spotify via the same ingestion pipeline. Distributor choice has no algorithmic effect.
Should I use multiple distributors for different songs?
Not recommended — it creates fragmented reporting and makes royalty tracking difficult. Pick one distributor and stick with it for your full catalog.