best music distributors in the usa (2026): every service compared
Eleven distributors, one honest table. We compared DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, UnitedMasters, Symphonic, ONErpm, Ditto, Amuse, RouteNote, LANDR and DistriBeats on what American artists actually pay in 2026 — real USD pricing, royalty splits, the add-on fees buried in the footnotes, and which distributors keep your catalog live forever after you stop paying.
The short answer
If you want the lowest real cost with no hidden fees and a catalog that stays live forever, DistriBeats wins 2026 for most US independent artists: $3 per track one-time on PayOnce with 90% royalties and lifetime release protection, or $12.99 a year on Pro Artist for unlimited releases at 100% royalties. DistroKid is still the default for artists who upload weekly. CD Baby is the safe choice for a single one-and-done release. UnitedMasters is the pick if brand deals and sync matter more than price. Everything else is a variation on those four positions.
Every US music distributor compared (2026)
Prices below are list prices for a single independent artist in the United States, billed in USD. Where a distributor uses a revenue-share model instead of a fee, the royalty column is the number that matters.
| Distributor | Pricing (USD) | Royalties | Catalog if you stop paying | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DistriBeats | $3/track one-time (PayOnce) · $12.99/yr Pro · $34.99/yr AI Pro · $99/yr Label | 90% PayOnce · 100% Pro & Label | Live forever — never removed for non-payment | Best overall value; one-time and unlimited options in one place |
| DistroKid | From ~$22.99/yr (Musician) up to ~$89.99/yr (Musician Plus / Ultimate) | 100% | Can be removed on lapse unless a ~$29–$49 legacy fee is paid | High-volume releasers who upload constantly |
| TuneCore | ~$14.99–$89.99/yr subscription tiers | 100% on paid plans | Tied to an active subscription | Artists who want publishing administration bundled |
| CD Baby | ~$9.99–$69 per release, one-time | 91% (9% commission forever) | Stays live — its headline promise | One-off releases you never want to renew |
| UnitedMasters | Free tier · ~$5/mo Select · ~$60/yr Pro | 90% free tier · 100% paid | Tied to plan on paid tiers | Brand partnerships, sync placements and sports licensing |
| Symphonic | Revenue-share model, application based | Typically 80–85% | Contract term based | Established labels wanting full-service marketing |
| ONErpm | Free to join, revenue share | Typically 85% | Contract term based | Artists wanting label services without upfront cost |
| Ditto Music | ~$19–$99/yr | 100% | Tied to subscription | UK/US artists wanting a label-services upgrade path |
| Amuse | Free tier · paid tiers from ~$24.99/yr | 100% on paid plans | Free tier has slower delivery windows | Testing the waters at zero cost |
| RouteNote | Free tier · ~$10–$50 per release premium | 85% free · 100% premium | Stays live on free tier | Zero-budget releases with no deadline pressure |
| LANDR | Bundled subscriptions from ~$8.25/mo | 100% | Tied to subscription on lower tiers | Producers who also want mastering and plugins |
Music distribution hidden fees: the fine print nobody reads
The subscription price is the beginning, not the end. Across the US market the same eight charges show up again and again — and most of them are billed per release, per song, or per year, which is exactly how a $22.99 plan becomes a $90 year.
| Hidden fee | Industry typical | DistriBeats |
|---|---|---|
| Keep-music-live / legacy fee | ~$29 per single, ~$49 per album | $0 — catalog stays live forever |
| Shazam & Siri recognition | ~$0.99 per song per year | Included |
| New-store delivery (store maximiser) | ~$7.95 per release per year | Included — all 25 stores |
| ISRC / UPC codes | $10–$20 per UPC on some services | Free with every release |
| Metadata / release edits | Per-change fees on several platforms | Free from your console |
| YouTube Content ID | 20–30% commission on claims | Included, no extra commission |
| Publishing administration | ~15% commission | Optional, never bundled silently |
| Takedown | Charged by some legacy distributors | $0 takedown on PayOnce |
Which distributor keeps your catalog live forever?
This is the single most important question, and the one pricing pages avoid. With DistroKid, a lapsed subscription can pull your music from stores unless you pay a Leave a Legacy fee of roughly $29 per single and $49 per album. Subscription-tied distributors such as TuneCore, Ditto and LANDR keep your releases live only while you keep paying. CD Baby's one-time releases stay up, which is why it survives despite a 9% lifetime commission. DistriBeats takes the clearest position: your catalog stays live forever on every plan, including after you stop paying — no legacy fees, no takedown fees on PayOnce, no hostage dynamics.
The three-year cost test
Pricing pages compare year one. Careers happen over three. Take an artist releasing six singles across three years. On an unlimited subscription at $22.99 a year, that is about $69 — plus Shazam and store-maximiser add-ons, plus a legacy fee if you ever pause. On CD Baby at $9.99 a single, that is about $60 up front plus 9% of every dollar you earn, forever. On DistriBeats PayOnce at $3 a track, it is $18 total, one time, and nothing again — ever. On DistriBeats Pro at $12.99 a year it is $38.97 for unlimited releases at 100% royalties.
DistriBeats pricing for US artists
| Plan | Price (USD) | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| PayOnce (human made) | $3 per track, one-time | 90% royalties, lifetime release protection, free ISRC/UPC, 10% off per track on EPs and 20% off per track on albums |
| PayOnce AI | $4 per track, one-time | AI-labelled delivery, automatic AI screening, same lifetime protection and EP/album discounts |
| Pro Artist | $12.99 per year | Unlimited releases, 100% royalties, DistriLinks smart links and Artwork Studio included |
| AI Pro | $34.99 per year | Unlimited AI-made releases with correct store labelling and 100% royalties |
| Label | $99 per year | Up to 10 roster artists, custom label name, consolidated reporting, 100% royalties |
| AI Mastering | $4.99 per master | Free 30-second A/B preview first; pay only if you want the full master |
| DistriLinks & Artwork Studio | Free with any distribution plan | Smart links and cover-art tooling at no extra cost ($3/year standalone) |
Payments are processed on international cards in 130+ countries, so US artists check out in dollars with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Apple Pay or Google Pay — no currency conversion, no failed international card holds.
The DistroKid alternative American artists keep searching for
- One-time pricing that actually exists: $3 per track, 90% royalties, protected for life — no renewal calendar to manage.
- $12.99/year unlimited Pro Artist with 100% royalties, roughly half the price of the nearest unlimited competitor.
- No add-on menu: ISRC and UPC codes, metadata edits, Shazam, new-store delivery and Content ID are included, not upsold.
- DistriLinks smart links and Artwork Studio bundled free with any distribution plan instead of metered per use.
- Automated copyright and AI screening on upload, so releases clear in minutes rather than sitting in a manual queue.
- Dedicated AI plans ($4 per track PayOnce AI, $34.99/year AI Pro) that label AI-assisted music correctly for store compliance.
- Delivery to 25 stores including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL, Deezer and Instagram/Facebook.
How to choose in 2026
You release occasionally (1–3 tracks a year)
Pay once, not yearly. DistriBeats PayOnce at $3 a track beats every subscription and every per-release competitor, and CD Baby is the fallback if you want a US-only legacy brand.
You release constantly (one drop a month)
Unlimited yearly is the right shape. DistriBeats Pro Artist at $12.99 is the cheapest 100%-royalty unlimited plan; DistroKid is the alternative if you need its specific upload tooling.
You run a label or manage a roster
DistriBeats Label at $99/year covers 10 artists with a custom label name and consolidated reporting for a flat fee. Symphonic and ONErpm are better if you want full-service marketing and are willing to give up 15–20% of revenue.
You make AI-assisted music
Use a distributor with an explicit AI policy and disclosure workflow. PayOnce AI ($4 a track) and AI Pro ($34.99/year) label releases correctly at stores; most legacy distributors either reject AI content or leave you exposed to later takedowns.
You want brand deals and sync more than low fees
UnitedMasters is the strongest US option for brand partnerships and sports licensing, and its free tier costs 10% of royalties rather than cash up front.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best music distributor in the USA in 2026?
For most US independent artists in 2026, DistriBeats is the best overall value: PayOnce releases from $3 per track one-time with 90% royalties and lifetime release protection, Pro Artist at $12.99/year with 100% royalties and unlimited releases, and a policy that never removes your catalog if you stop paying. DistroKid is the best-known unlimited subscription, CD Baby suits one-and-done releases, and UnitedMasters suits artists who want brand and sync deals.
What is the cheapest music distributor in the USA?
DistriBeats is the cheapest serious distributor for US artists: $3 per track one-time on PayOnce (10% off per track on EPs, 20% off per track on albums) or $12.99 per year for unlimited releases on Pro Artist — less than most competitors' single-artist plans. RouteNote and Amuse offer free tiers, but they take a revenue share or delay delivery.
Which music distributor pays 100% of royalties?
DistriBeats Pro Artist ($12.99/year), DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto and Symphonic's paid plans pay 100% of streaming royalties. CD Baby keeps 9% forever, UnitedMasters keeps 10% on its free tier, ONErpm typically keeps 15%, and RouteNote's free tier keeps 15%. DistriBeats PayOnce pays 90% for the life of the release with no yearly renewal.
Which music distributor keeps your catalog live forever?
DistriBeats keeps every release live forever — a lapsed subscription never removes music from Spotify, Apple Music or any other store, and there are no per-release legacy fees. CD Baby's one-time releases also stay live. DistroKid can remove music when a subscription lapses unless you pay a per-release Leave a Legacy fee (about $29 per single, $49 per album), and TuneCore's older per-release model relied on annual renewals.
What hidden fees do US music distributors charge?
The most common hidden fees are: keep-music-live or legacy fees to stop a takedown, Shazam and Siri recognition add-ons (about $0.99 per song per year), store-maximiser charges when new platforms launch (about $7.95 per release per year), paid UPC codes, metadata-change fees after release, YouTube Content ID commissions of 20-30%, publishing administration commissions around 15%, and payout minimums or withdrawal fees. DistriBeats charges none of these: ISRC and UPC codes, metadata edits and all 25 stores are included.
Is DistroKid or TuneCore better for American artists?
DistroKid is cheaper for high-volume release schedules and has faster uploads; TuneCore offers stronger publishing administration and label services but costs more and adds a 15% publishing commission. Both bill annually and both are more expensive over three years than a one-time $3-per-track PayOnce release on DistriBeats if you release occasionally.
Can I switch distributors without losing my Spotify streams?
Yes. If you re-deliver with the same ISRC codes and identical metadata, Spotify and Apple Music normally keep your existing play counts and profile placement. DistriBeats issues free ISRC and UPC codes and accepts your existing ISRCs, so migrating from DistroKid, TuneCore or CD Baby does not reset your streaming history.
Do I need a distributor that offers AI-music distribution?
If you release AI-generated or AI-assisted music, you need a distributor with an explicit AI policy, because most stores now require disclosure. DistriBeats has dedicated AI plans - PayOnce AI at $4 per track and AI Pro at $34.99/year - with automated AI-content screening on every upload so releases are labelled correctly instead of being rejected later.
How much does music distribution cost per year in the USA?
In 2026 a typical US artist pays between $0 and $100 a year. Free tiers (RouteNote, Amuse, UnitedMasters) cost nothing but take a share. Unlimited subscriptions run roughly $12.99 to $40 a year for a single artist. Label plans run $79 to $99 a year. DistriBeats sits at the low end: $12.99/year Pro Artist, $34.99/year AI Pro, $99/year Label for up to 10 roster artists.
Which distributor is best for record labels in the USA?
For small and mid-size labels, DistriBeats Label at $99/year covers up to 10 roster artists with unlimited releases, a custom label name on every release and consolidated reporting. Symphonic and ONErpm suit larger catalogs that want full label services, but both take a revenue percentage rather than a flat fee.
The verdict
No distributor wins on every axis, but in 2026 the gap is wider than it has ever been. If your priority is the lowest lifetime cost with no fee surprises and a catalog nobody can pull, DistriBeats is the strongest choice for American artists — $3 a track one time, or $12.99 a year unlimited, with 100% or 90% royalties and releases that stay live forever. Everything else asks you to keep paying to keep existing.