Is DistroKid better than TuneCore?

For most independent artists who release more than 2-3 songs per year, DistroKid is better. DistroKid charges a flat annual fee (~$22.99/year) for unlimited releases, while TuneCore charges $9.99 per single per year. If you release 3+ singles annually, DistroKid is already cheaper. Both keep 100% of royalties.

Does DistroKid take a percentage of royalties?

No. DistroKid does not take a percentage of your streaming royalties. You pay a flat annual fee and keep 100% of what the streaming platforms pay out. CD Baby is the outlier here — they take a 9% cut on top of their per-release fee.

Which distributor is best for one song only?

For a single one-time release, CD Baby's one-time fee ($9.95/single) can make sense if you don't plan to release anything else. TuneCore charges $9.99/year per single (recurring). DistroKid requires a $22.99/year subscription. If you're only releasing once, CD Baby's one-time payment avoids ongoing fees — though the 9% royalty cut adds up over time.

Can I switch distributors after releasing?

Yes, but it requires taking your music off one distributor and re-uploading to the new one. This means temporary unavailability on streaming platforms and potentially losing your stream count history on some platforms. It's better to choose the right distributor upfront. Most artists switch from CD Baby or TuneCore to DistroKid once they start releasing frequently.

Does DistroKid distribute to Beatport?

Yes. DistroKid distributes to Beatport, which is important for EDM and electronic music producers. Beatport is where DJs discover and buy tracks, so having your music there is important for credibility and sync opportunities in the electronic music world.

What does CD Baby Pro do that DistroKid doesn't?

CD Baby Pro ($49/album or $14.95/single one-time) includes publishing administration — they register your songs with performing rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP and BMI globally, and collect performance royalties from radio play, TV syncs, and public performances. DistroKid doesn't offer this natively, though they partner with Publishing Administration services at extra cost.

DistroKid vs TuneCore vs CD Baby: Which Music Distributor Should You Use in 2026?

Three distributors dominate the independent music market: DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby. They all get your music onto Spotify, Apple Music, and 150+ platforms. The differences are in pricing structure, royalty splits, and what extras they include.

I've used DistroKid for my releases. Here's the full breakdown.

TL;DR Comparison

	DistroKid	TuneCore	CD Baby
Pricing model	Annual subscription	Per release, annual	Per release, one-time
Single cost	~$22.99/year (unlimited)	$9.99/single/year	$9.95/single (one-time)
Album cost	Included in subscription	$29.99/album/year	$49/album (one-time)
Royalty cut	0%	0%	9%
Beatport	Yes	Yes	Yes
Speed	2–5 days	3–7 days	5–10 days
Publishing admin	Add-on	Add-on	CD Baby Pro (included)
Best for	Frequent releasers	1–2 releases/year	One-time releases

Pricing in Plain English

DistroKid: $22.99/year, unlimited releases

You pay once a year and release as much as you want. 10 singles, 3 EPs, 2 albums — same price. For any producer releasing consistently, this is the most cost-effective model by far.

The catch: if you stop paying, your music eventually gets removed from streaming platforms. DistroKid offers a "Leave a Legacy" add-on ($29 one-time) that keeps one artist's music live permanently even after you cancel.

TuneCore: $9.99/single/year, $29.99/album/year

Lower upfront cost for a single release — but it's a recurring annual fee. Two singles at $9.99/year each = $19.98/year, and you're already close to DistroKid's subscription price without the unlimited benefit.

TuneCore does keep 100% of your royalties, which is the same as DistroKid.

Math: If you release 3 singles per year on TuneCore, you're paying $29.97/year in recurring fees. On DistroKid, that's $22.99 for unlimited releases. DistroKid wins from release #3 onward.

CD Baby: One-time fee + 9% royalty cut

CD Baby's model is fundamentally different: you pay once per release and never again. $9.95 per single, $49 per album. No annual subscription.

The tradeoff: CD Baby keeps 9% of your streaming royalties forever. On a track earning $100/month, that's $9 going to CD Baby every month. After ~1 year, you've paid more than DistroKid's annual subscription through royalty cuts alone.

For one-off releases by artists who don't plan to release again, CD Baby makes sense. For anyone building a catalog, the 9% cut adds up significantly.

Speed to Market

Getting your music live fast matters — especially if you're timing a release around a DJ set, content calendar, or trend.

DistroKid: Typically 2–5 business days to major platforms, sometimes faster to Spotify
TuneCore: 3–7 business days on average
CD Baby: 5–10 business days, sometimes longer

DistroKid's speed advantage is real and consistently reported by artists. When you need a track live by Friday, DistroKid is the safest bet.

Features That Matter for EDM Producers

Beatport Distribution

All three distribute to Beatport. This matters for EDM/house producers — DJs discover music there, and it gives your track credibility in the electronic music world.

Royalty Splits

DistroKid has the best built-in splits feature. You can automatically divide royalties between collaborators — producer, vocalist, remixer — directly from your dashboard. Each collaborator gets paid directly by DistroKid. TuneCore and CD Baby have less elegant split payment workflows.

ISRC and UPC Codes

All three assign ISRC codes (track identifiers) and UPC codes (release identifiers) automatically. No need to buy these separately.

Publishing Administration

None of the three handle this natively by default:

DistroKid: Partners with publishing admin services at extra cost
TuneCore: Publishing admin available as an add-on
CD Baby Pro: Includes publishing admin — the main reason to choose CD Baby Pro over standard

If you're serious about collecting performance royalties (from radio play, TV, live venues), CD Baby Pro or a dedicated publishing admin service (Songtrust, etc.) is worth looking at.

Which Distributor Should You Choose?

Choose DistroKid if:

You release more than 2–3 songs per year
You collaborate frequently (splits feature)
You want the fastest distribution speed
You want a simple, modern interface
You're building a catalog over time

Choose TuneCore if:

You release 1–2 songs per year and want to minimize subscription costs
You want a well-established platform with strong customer support
You don't need the unlimited release volume

Choose CD Baby if:

You're releasing music once and don't plan regular releases
You want publishing administration built in (CD Baby Pro)
You prefer paying once rather than annually

My Recommendation

DistroKid is the right choice for the vast majority of independent EDM/house producers. The math is simple: from your third release onward, it's cheaper than the alternatives. The speed, royalty split tools, and unlimited release model fit the workflow of a producer who's releasing regularly.

If you're just releasing one song ever, CD Baby's one-time fee makes sense. But if you're building a music career — even a small one — DistroKid is the move.

Get DistroKid here (affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no cost to you).

Why DistroKid Is the Best Music Distributor — Deep dive into DistroKid's features
How to Release Your Songs on Spotify — Step-by-step guide to your first release