Releasing new music is one of the most exciting parts of being an independent artist. But before your tracks hit Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok, you have to answer a crucial question: Which music distributor should you use?

With dozens of options available—led by industry heavyweights like DistroKid and CD Baby—picking the right partner can feel overwhelming. The wrong choice could cost you extra money, take a cut of your royalties, or make managing your catalog a headache.

Here is a simple framework to help you choose the best music distribution model for your specific release schedule and goals.

1. Understand the Two Main Business Models

Music distributors generally charge in one of two ways. Deciding between these two structures is the most important step in making your choice.

MusicPulse

Business Model	How It Works	Best For	Top Examples
Subscription (Flat Annual Fee)	You pay an annual fee ($20–$45/year) to release unlimited tracks and keep 100% of your streaming royalties.	Prolific artists who drop singles every few weeks or months.	DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto
Pay-Per-Release (One-Time Fee)	You pay once per single or album (e.g., $9.99/single). Your music stays online forever, but the company usually takes a commission (e.g., 9%).	Artists who release music infrequently and want a permanent catalog without recurring costs.	CD Baby, iMusician

2. Evaluate Your Release Frequency

Before looking at specific features, do the math based on how much music you plan to drop over the next 12 to 24 months.

• If you are dropping 4+ singles or albums a year: A subscription model like DistroKid pays for itself almost instantly. Paying $24.99/year for unlimited uploads is far cheaper than paying individual release fees for every single drop.Orphiq
• If you drop one album or EP every two years: A pay-per-release model like CD Baby might save you money over time. You pay the one-time upload fee and never have to worry about an annual invoice to keep your music streaming.Orphiq+ 1

3. Compare the Core Features Beyond Delivery

Every major distributor will deliver your audio to the main Digital Service Providers (DSPs). What sets them apart are the extra services and hidden fees:

A. What Happens If You Stop Paying?

• DistroKid: If your annual subscription lapses, your music can be removed from streaming services unless you pay an extra one-time “Leave a Legacy” fee per track.Orphiq
• CD Baby: Your music stays online permanently because you paid upfront, though they keep 9% of your ongoing digital royalties.MusicPulse

B. Add-On Costs & Royalties

• Pay close attention to optional add-ons. Features like YouTube Content ID (collecting money when other people use your song in videos) are included for free with some distributors, but require an extra annual fee or percentage cut on platforms like DistroKid.song.so | Dashboard+ 1

C. Publishing & Sync Licensing

• If you want help collecting publishing royalties (mechanicals, performance royalties) or pitching your music to TV, films, and video games, CD Baby offers integrated publishing administration. DistroKid focuses purely on digital distribution.SoundCampaign+ 1

Summary Checklist: Which One Should You Pick?

Choose DistroKid If:

• You plan to release singles frequently and quickly.SoundCampaign
• You want to keep 100% of your digital streaming royalties.
• You need automatic royalty splitting between collaborators (e.g., producers or featured artists).SoundCampaign

Choose CD Baby If:

• You release music slowly or sporadically.
• You never want to pay an annual subscription fee to keep your catalog online.MusicPulse
• You want publishing collection and sync licensing services built into the platform.SoundCampaign