Getting your music heard by the world requires more than just talent. You need the right distribution partner.
Music distributors act as the bridge between your creative work and streaming platforms, ensuring your tracks reach listeners across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and dozens of other services.
For independent artists, choosing the right distributor can make the difference between obscurity and success.
If you’re an artist too, and looking for a reliable distributor, here are some of the best platforms that are renowned for their music distribution services.
Read on.
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1. DistroKid
DistroKid stands out for its simplicity and speed.
Artists pay an annual fee and can upload unlimited songs, with releases going live within 1-2 days.
The platform keeps 100% of royalties and offers useful features like automatic splits for collaborators, cover song licensing, and YouTube Content ID.
Their user-friendly interface makes it ideal for artists who want to focus on music rather than complex distribution logistics.
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2. RouteNote
RouteNote offers both free and premium distribution options.
Their free tier takes a percentage of royalties but requires no upfront payment, making it accessible for new artists.
The premium option works like traditional paid distributors, allowing artists to keep all earnings.
They distribute to major platforms worldwide and provide decent analytics and support.
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3. CD Baby
As one of the oldest players in digital distribution, CD Baby has built a reputation for comprehensive services.
Beyond standard distribution, they offer physical CD manufacturing, sync licensing opportunities, and detailed analytics.
Their Pro Publishing Administration service helps artists collect performance royalties worldwide.
While slightly more expensive than some competitors, their extensive support and additional services justify the cost for serious independent artists.
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4. Fresh Tunes
Fresh Tunes operates as a digital aggregator with competitive pricing and quick turnaround times.
They distribute to all major platforms and provide basic analytics and reporting.
While they don’t offer extensive additional services, their straightforward approach and reliable distribution make them a solid choice for artists who prefer simplicity and want to handle marketing themselves.
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5. TuneCore
TuneCore operates on a pay-per-release model, charging separate fees for singles and albums.
This works well for artists who release music selectively rather than frequently. They distribute to over 150 platforms globally and provide detailed sales reports.
TuneCore also offers publishing administration and sync licensing services, making it a one-stop shop for music business needs.
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6. Believe Digital
Believe Digital operates as both a distributor and digital music company, offering comprehensive services for independent artists and labels.
They provide distribution to over 100 platforms globally, along with marketing support, playlist pitching, and rights management.
Their data-driven approach helps artists understand their audience and optimize their releases.
Believe is particularly strong in emerging markets and offers localized support in multiple regions.
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7. Ditto Music
Ditto Music combines distribution with artist development services, offering playlist pitching, radio promotion, and marketing support.
Their tiered pricing structure accommodates different artist needs, from basic distribution to comprehensive promotional packages.
The platform provides excellent analytics and has strong relationships with streaming platforms, potentially giving artists better visibility.
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8. Symphonic Distribution
Symphonic Distribution focuses on providing personalized service alongside their technology platform.
They offer different service tiers, from basic distribution to comprehensive marketing packages.
Their team provides hands-on support for playlist pitching, social media marketing, and release strategy. They’re particularly strong in Latin and urban music markets.
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9. LANDR
LANDR started as an AI mastering service and expanded into distribution, creating a unique ecosystem for music creation and release.
Their distribution service includes mastering credits, making it attractive for artists who want professional-sounding releases without additional costs.
The platform offers collaboration tools and educational resources, supporting artists throughout their creative process.
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10. Amuse
Amuse takes a modern approach with its mobile-first platform and free distribution tier.
Artists can upload music directly from their smartphones and keep 100% of their royalties.
Their premium tiers add features like faster release times, detailed analytics, and playlist pitching.
The company also has a record label arm that scouts talent from their distribution platform.
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11. AWAL (Artists Without A Label)
AWAL is a well-regarded distribution and artist services company aimed at independent artists who already have some momentum.
It offers global distribution, marketing support, sync licensing, data analytics, and even funding opportunities to select artists.
Unlike traditional labels, AWAL lets you keep full ownership of your music while taking a percentage of your earnings as their fee.
The platform is known for its clean interface, timely reporting, and reliable payment structure, which makes tracking royalties easier.
However, AWAL is selective about who they accept, so not every applicant gets approved. This exclusivity can be frustrating for newcomers trying to break in. Still, if you are gaining traction and want a professional team behind you, AWAL can be a powerful partner.
12. Stem
Stem is designed for independent artists and small labels who want strong royalty-splitting tools and clean financial management.
The platform makes it simple to divide royalties among collaborators, producers, and songwriters, which is a huge advantage if you work with multiple people.
Stem also provides detailed analytics to help you understand where your revenue is coming from. Their approach is slightly more curated, so they tend to work with artists who already have some proven success.
While they take a small commission, they also offer optional advances and promotional support for qualified artists.
13. UnitedMasters
UnitedMasters is a tech-forward distributor that gives independent artists access to brand partnerships, sync opportunities, and global streaming platforms.
They have a free plan that takes a small commission, along with paid plans that let you keep more royalties. The platform is very mobile-friendly and has an intuitive app that makes uploading music fast and simple.
UnitedMasters also integrates with social media, allowing artists to run campaigns and build audiences more easily.
Even though some artists feel that their promotional opportunities are geared more toward mainstream genres, UnitedMasters is still a good choice for artists who are just starting out and want a modern, accessible distribution option.
14. Soundrop
Soundrop is known for making it easy to release cover songs legally, which sets it apart from many other distributors.
They handle the licensing process for covers and include it in their pricing, which can save you a lot of hassle. The platform has a simple pricing structure with a small upfront fee per track and a modest commission on earnings.
It also supports royalty splitting between collaborators and gives clear sales reporting. While Soundrop doesn’t offer much in the way of promotional services, it excels at low-cost and straightforward distribution.
It’s especially ideal for artists who release music occasionally rather than in high volume.
15. Octiive
Octiive is a newer digital distributor offering global reach and a wide network of stores, including many in emerging markets.
They provide multiple plan tiers, including unlimited release options where you can keep 100% of your royalties.
Octiive also includes optional promotional tools, social media marketing add-ons, and detailed analytics for tracking performance.
The platform is designed to support artists at different career stages, from beginners to experienced professionals.
Octiive is a flexible and ambitious platform worth considering.
16. Record Union
Record Union is a straightforward platform that focuses on getting your music onto major streaming services quickly and reliably.
They offer features like royalty splits, custom release dates, smart links, and YouTube Content ID. Artists keep ownership of their music while paying a small annual fee per release.
Record Union also provides helpful analytics and a simple interface that makes managing releases easy. However, their promotional support is minimal, so you’ll need to handle marketing yourself.
All in all, if you want a clean, no-frills distribution solution, Record Union is a dependable pick.
17. Redeye Worldwide
Redeye Worldwide is a full-service distribution company that works closely with independent artists and labels.
They offer both digital and physical distribution, making them a good choice if you also plan to release vinyl or CDs. Redeye has strong relationships with streaming services and retail outlets, which can help get your music more visibility.
They also offer marketing, publicity, and sync services for qualifying artists.
However, Redeye tends to work with artists who already have some traction, so it may not be accessible to total beginners.
For artists seeking a blend of traditional and digital reach though, Redeye is a strong option.
18. ReverbNation
ReverbNation is a long-running platform that combines music distribution with promotional and fan engagement tools.
They provide global distribution as part of their premium plans, alongside features like press kits, email marketing, and gig opportunities.
This makes them useful for artists who want an all-in-one career-building platform. ReverbNation has an intuitive dashboard that simplifies uploading and managing music.
However, their best features are locked behind paid tiers, which can be pricey for new artists.
Still, if you want a single hub to manage both promotion and distribution, ReverbNation is worth considering.
19. FUGA
FUGA is a high-end distribution and services platform used by many labels and professional artists.
It offers powerful tools for managing metadata, delivering releases to DSPs, and tracking revenue. FUGA also provides in-depth analytics, royalty accounting, and marketing support.
Because of its scale, it is ideal for artists planning frequent releases or running their own label. However, it can be overly complex and costly for newcomers releasing just a few singles.
It’s best suited to serious independent artists with an established fanbase.
20. iMusician
iMusician is a European-based distributor known for its global reach and flexible pricing.
It offers a pay-per-release model as well as subscription plans for unlimited distribution.
iMusician supports a wide range of stores and territories, making it appealing to international artists.
The platform also provides detailed analytics, YouTube monetization, and optional marketing tools.
Though it may be expensive for some users if they release music frequently. Still, iMusician is a reliable choice if you value flexibility and international coverage.
21. Boost Collective
Boost Collective is a newer platform aimed at helping independent artists get their music onto major streaming services quickly.
It has simple pricing, a user-friendly dashboard, and offers free distribution plans with optional upgrades.
The platform focuses on fast delivery and ease of use, which is helpful for first-time artists. However, it does not offer much in the way of marketing or promotional support.
Despite its simplicity, Boost Collective is useful if you want to test the waters and release your first songs easily.
It’s best suited for artists who value speed and simplicity over depth of features.
22. OneRPM
OneRPM offers a blend of distribution and promotional services, appealing to artists who want more than just delivery to DSPs.
They provide playlist pitching, marketing campaigns, and detailed performance data. Artists can distribute music for free while giving OneRPM a share of their royalties.
They also have teams in multiple countries, giving them strong global coverage. However, the level of promotional support you receive often depends on your existing success.
If you want distribution plus the potential for marketing help, OneRPM is a good mid-tier choice.
23. Sonosuite
Sonosuite is a white-label distribution platform that lets artists or small labels build their own branded distribution services.
It offers delivery to all major DSPs, royalty reporting, and metadata management.
This makes it ideal for artists who plan to scale up or manage multiple acts. The platform is very customizable, allowing you to brand your own dashboard and services.
However, it requires more setup effort and can be costly compared to standard distributors.
It’s best suited to advanced artists or entrepreneurs rather than solo beginners.
24. Idol
Idol is an independent distributor focused on offering personalized service and strong relationships with digital platforms.
They handle global delivery and provide analytics, marketing support, and playlist pitching for selected artists.
Idol often works with niche genres and independent labels, giving them a more curated roster.
While this ensures quality, it also means acceptance is competitive. Their team provides more hands-on guidance than most distributors, which can be helpful as your career grows.
However, this also means their services come at a higher cost. Idol is a good fit for artists seeking personalized, boutique-style distribution.
25. Level Distribution
Level Distribution is a professional music distribution company offering global digital delivery for independent artists and record labels.
It stands out by providing a dedicated account manager to guide you through the release process, which is rare among distribution platforms.
The service includes royalty collection, transparent reporting, and access to major DSPs like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and YouTube.
Level Distribution also offers marketing support, playlist pitching, and promotional campaign planning for select artists. While they accept independent artists, they primarily work with acts that have clear growth potential or existing traction.
Their pricing is personalized, so you’ll need to request a quote based on your release plans.
If you’re looking for a more hands-on, white-glove approach to distribution, Level Distribution can be a great fit for growing artists and boutique labels.
Conclusion
The right music distributor depends on your specific needs, budget, and career goals.
Artists releasing frequently might prefer DistroKid’s unlimited model, while those seeking comprehensive services might choose CD Baby or Symphonic Distribution.
Consider factors like pricing structure, additional services, customer support, and platform relationships when making your decision.
Ensure your chosen distributor gets your music to all major streaming platforms while providing the tools and support you need to build your career as an independent artist.
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