How to choose the best distribution service for your music
By Matt Mateus
Posted in Guides
If you want your music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and everywhere else fans might stream or buy it, you’ll need a digital music distributor. These services act as the middlemen between your finished tracks and the platforms people actually use to listen to music.
But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right one?
This guide breaks down what distributors actually do, how they differ, what fees to watch out for, and which features might matter depending on your goals. It also includes a comprehensive, up-to-date list of distribution services — big and small — so you can explore your options without relying on hype or biased reviews.
What does a digital music distributor do?
At the most basic level, a distributor takes your audio files and metadata (song titles, artist name, artwork, etc.) and delivers them to streaming services and digital stores. Some also help collect royalties, handle licensing, or offer additional services like YouTube Content ID, publishing admin, and more.
You upload your release once, and they handle sending it to dozens (sometimes hundreds) of platforms.
Types of platforms your music can land on
Distributors don’t just send your music to Spotify. They typically cover three main types of platforms, which fall into two broad categories: interactive and non-interactive.
Interactive streaming services – These are platforms where the listener controls what plays and when. Services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and Tidal fall into this category. This is the core of modern music consumption.
Digital download stores – Platforms like the iTunes Store, Amazon MP3, or Beatport sell your music as downloadable files. These are also interactive, since users can buy and listen to specific tracks or albums anytime.
Non-interactive or radio-style platforms – Services like Pandora and iHeartRadio stream music algorithmically. Listeners can’t choose specific songs on demand, and the music experience is more like traditional radio — often based on genre, mood, or similar artists.
Not every distributor supports all three types. If you want your music to be on a specific kind of platform — like a download store or a radio-style service — it’s worth double-checking their platform list.
How do distribution services differ?
Not all distributors are built the same. Here are the three main ways they tend to vary:
1. Fees and pricing models
Distributors vary widely in how they charge for their services. Some charge a one-time fee per release. Others use an annual subscription model, which may apply per artist or per album. Some take a cut of your royalties, while others let you keep 100%. A few combine all of these elements in different ways. And in some cases, services are now completely free — especially those that operate on a commission or upsell model.
Pay attention to:
Upfront vs recurring costs – Are you paying per release, per year, or just once? This affects long-term cost depending on how often you release.
Commission taken (if any) – Some distributors take a percentage of your revenue, while others let you keep everything. Know what cut (if any) they keep from your streaming or download income.
Fees for takedowns, changes, or re-releases – Some platforms charge to update your release, remove it, or re-upload the same music. This can add up, especially if you make frequent adjustments.
If you're planning to release singles and later bundle them into an EP or album, know that most distributors treat that as a new release — even if the tracks are the same. You’ll typically need to upload it again with a new UPC and pay again unless you're using an unlimited plan. Reusing ISRCs may help preserve stream counts and avoid duplicates, but results can vary across platforms.
2. Royalty collection
Most distributors collect your master recording royalties, which come from streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. But some go further and help you tap into other revenue streams that are often overlooked:
Publishing royalties – These are royalties owed to songwriters and publishers, including performance and mechanical royalties. Some distributors partner with publishing administrators to help you collect money from global PROs (Performing Rights Organizations) and mechanical rights societies.
YouTube Content ID monetization – This system tracks when your music is used in YouTube videos and lets you earn ad revenue from it. Some distributors enroll your music in Content ID automatically, while others offer it as an opt-in service.
Neighboring rights – These are royalties generated when your music is played on radio, TV, or in public venues in certain countries. Not all distributors offer this, but those that do can help collect these royalties on your behalf if you're the performer or owner of the master recording.
If you're not already set up with a publishing admin or don't want to manage all of this separately, choosing a distributor that offers these services can make royalty collection more complete and less stressful.
3. Extra features
Common extras offered by some distributors include:
Spotify/Apple Music profile verification – Some distributors can fast-track your artist profile verification and help you claim your page, which is useful if you're building a presence across platforms.
Pre-save links and smart URLs – These tools let fans save your upcoming release in advance or access all major streaming services from a single link, which helps streamline marketing and conversions.
Sync libraries (usually non-exclusive) – Some distributors submit your music to non-exclusive sync libraries or marketplaces where your tracks can be licensed for film, TV, or ads.
Promo tools or email collectors – A few offer built-in tools to create landing pages, capture email addresses, or run social media ads directly through their dashboard.
Discounts on mastering, design, or marketing tools – Many distributors partner with third-party services to offer reduced rates on things like mastering, playlist pitching, or cover art design.
Some artists love having everything in one place. Others prefer to handle each step independently using specialized services.
What you’re allowed to distribute (and what can get you taken down)
Before you upload, make sure you understand what kind of music distributors will actually accept — and what might get rejected or removed. That includes covers, remixes, and anything using samples.
Cover songs and licensing
If you’re releasing a cover song — meaning a new version of a song someone else wrote — you’ll need a mechanical license. In the U.S., this is usually handled through services like Easy Song Licensing or Songfile (Harry Fox Agency), unless your distributor offers to take care of it for you.
Some distributors will:
Handle the licensing for you (usually for a small fee or baked into your release cost)
Require you to license the cover yourself before they’ll accept the release
Reject cover songs entirely, even if you’ve done the licensing yourself
Also important: a cover is different from a remix, a sample-based track, or a mashup. Those fall under a different kind of clearance (sync or master use rights), which most distributors don’t help with at all.
Sampling and remixing
If your track uses samples from another artist’s recording — whether it’s a drum break, a vocal line, or even a tiny loop — that’s considered using someone else’s master recording. Unlike cover songs, there’s no compulsory license for sampling, which means:
You must get permission from the copyright holder (usually the label or artist) before releasing it.
Distributors typically won’t help with sample clearance.
If you don’t clear the sample, your release could get flagged or taken down.
Best practices:
Use royalty-free or properly licensed sample packs
Get explicit written permission if using recognizable samples
Consider alternative release platforms (like SoundCloud or Bandcamp) if it’s unofficial
What should you look for?
With so many distribution platforms offering slightly different pricing, services, and support, it helps to narrow your options by considering what matters most to your specific goals. Ask yourself:
How often do you release music? – If you’re putting out singles regularly, an unlimited annual plan may save you money. If you only release occasionally, a one-time fee per release might be better.
Do you want to keep 100% of your royalties? – Some distributors take a cut, while others let you keep everything. Decide what you’re willing to trade for added features or support.
Are you releasing cover songs? – Not all distributors allow covers, and some require you to handle the licensing yourself.
Do you want help collecting publishing or neighboring rights royalties? – If you’re not already set up with a publishing admin or collecting all your royalties, look for a distributor that offers this.
Do you care about international reach or genre-specific platforms? – Some distributors specialize in regional delivery or niche platforms like Beatport or Boomplay.
Would you benefit from extras like smart links, email capture, or sync opportunities? – These can be valuable if you’re doing your own marketing.
How is their support reputation? – Look into how responsive and fair they are when issues come up.
Matching your goals with what a distributor offers can save you time, money, and future headaches.
How to do your own research before signing up
While pricing and features matter, it’s also important to understand how a distributor behaves behind the scenes — especially when things go wrong.
There have been growing reports of distributors enforcing their terms more aggressively, removing music, or suspending accounts without giving artists a chance to respond. So it’s worth taking a few extra steps before you commit:
Read the Terms & Conditions
Even a quick skim helps. Look for policies about:
Content ownership
Licensing and sampling
Account suspensions
Music takedowns
Rights to terminate service
Look for real artist feedback
Try to find out what other artists are saying about their experiences with each distributor. Look in places like Reddit, Discord, Facebook groups, or YouTube. Focus on how the company handles support issues, how long releases take to go live, and whether artists have run into problems with takedowns or lost royalties. Hearing directly from people who’ve used the service can give you a clearer picture than a sales page ever will.
Check their support access
Do they offer real human support (email, chat)?
Is there an appeals process for takedowns?
Do they reply publicly when artists have issues?
A flashy feature set is great — but when your music is stuck in limbo or your earnings are delayed, support matters more than anything.
Final thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all music distributor — and that’s a good thing. Whether you’re focused on releasing singles regularly, bundling older material into new formats, collecting every royalty you’re owed, or finding new sync opportunities, there’s a platform that can support your goals.
This guide is meant to help you understand what to look for—not to declare one distributor better than the rest. What works best for one artist might not work for another, and that’s okay. Take your time, research carefully, and don’t be afraid to switch distributors later if your needs evolve.
Music distribution services (current list)
Here’s a current list of music distribution platforms that are open to everyone — no application or approval needed:
