Choosing the right music distributor can make or break your release strategy. CD Baby, DistroKid, and TuneCore are three of the biggest names in the game, each offering unique strengths depending on your release habits, business goals, and promotional needs. Here’s a breakdown to help you pick the best fit.
Pricing Models
CD Baby works on a pay-per-release model—charging a one-time fee for singles or albums, plus a small cut of royalties. It’s cost-effective if you only drop music occasionally, and once you’ve paid, your release stays live forever without extra fees.
DistroKid runs on an annual subscription. For one flat yearly rate, you can upload as much music as you like, keeping 100% of your streaming royalties. It’s ideal for artists who release frequently, though some extra features come with additional costs.
TuneCore offers both annual unlimited plans and per-release pricing, giving you flexibility depending on your output. Unlimited plans include full royalty retention, while per-release pricing can work for smaller catalogs.
Royalties & Publishing
All three platforms let you keep your streaming royalties in full on their paid tiers.
- CD Baby offers optional publishing administration, helping you collect composition royalties worldwide.
- DistroKid focuses on performance royalties only and leaves publishing to outside services.
- TuneCore provides an affordable publishing add-on, plus tools for sync licensing and songwriter payments.
Features & Artist Tools
CD Baby has a long-standing reputation for supporting artists with robust promotional tools, educational resources, and even physical distribution for those who still press CDs or vinyl.
DistroKid is built for speed and simplicity, with perks like instant promo pages, playlist submission tools, and automatic royalty splits for collaborators.
TuneCore combines analytics, publishing administration, social media tools, and even revenue advances, making it a more comprehensive business platform for artists ready to scale.
Distribution Speed
If timing is crucial, DistroKid is generally the fastest, with releases often appearing on major platforms within days. TuneCore is close behind, typically taking less than a week. CD Baby tends to be slower due to its review process, so it’s better for artists who can plan their releases well in advance.
Which Should You Choose?
- Pick CD Baby if you release occasionally, value lifetime distribution without subscriptions, and want access to physical media and sync opportunities.
- Pick DistroKid if you release often, need quick turnaround, and want to maximize output without paying per track.
- Pick TuneCore if you want a flexible pricing model, built-in publishing, and a wider suite of business tools.
No matter which you choose, your distributor should fit your workflow, goals, and release schedule—not the other way around. The right choice will make your music easier to release, promote, and profit from.