DistroKid or TuneCore? What to Know in 2024
Get to know the differences between the music distributors DistroKid and TuneCore. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of each distributor and decide which is best suited for you.
Is it best to release new music through DistroKid or TuneCore?
Understand the music distributors getting independent artists’ music on major music streaming platforms.
As an independent artist or producer looking to release their music on Spotify, Apple Music and all other streaming platforms, you’re likely going to need to choose a music distributor to make that happen.
It works like this, upload your music to your distributor of choice with all of it’s information, the distributor will then send your music to streaming services worldwide for release on the specified date, and as you generate streams or downloads, the music distributor will collect money from the streaming platforms on your behalf.
You can think of distributers like the middleman between you and the music streaming platforms. These music distributors have various pricing plans, features and tools to assist the artists, some providing more support than others.
Two of the main distributors used by independent artists Today are DistroKid and TuneCore. The two of them have their respective advantages depending on what you need as you release music.
I’ll go through the pro’s and con’s of each, to give you a better understanding and help you feel more confident in deciding which option is best for you at this point in your career.
Let’s get started!
Distrokid
Pricing:
Musician - $22.99/year
Musician Plus - $39.99/year
Ultimate - $89.99/year
What is DistroKid?
DistroKid keeps it simple with a flat yearly fee starting at just $22.99 per year for their Musician plan. This grants you unlimited releases to over 150 streaming platforms (like Spotify). The best part? You pocket 100% of your sales, and they ensure artists get in around 2 months.
If you’re looking for more than the basics, upgrade to Musician Plus at $39.99 per year. It unlocks daily stats, custom release dates, and control over iTunes pricing. Plus, you can manage an extra artist/band on the same account.
The Ultimate at $89.99 per year will allow you to manage an impressive 5-100 artists profiles, include RIAA gold & platinum monitoring, and contacts for thousands of playlists.
Add-ons: Some added features DistroKid offers that you can choose to add to your singles, EP, and Album, on any plan, as you submit to streaming platforms are:
Audiomack (free) - DistroKid will upload your music to Audiomack.
YouTube Content I.D. ($4.95/yr + 20% revenue collected) - Get notified and paid the ad revenue if your music is ever used in YouTube videos by others. This is $14.95 for an EP/Album.
Store Maximizer ($7.95/yr) - DistroKid will ad your music to any new stores as they get added.
Leave a Legacy ($29 one-time fee) - Distrokid will never delete your song even if you stop paying your bill. This is $49 for an EP/Album.
Pros: DistroKid is a simple and user-friendly platform for independent artists, bands, or collectives. For each plan you can release unlimited songs to 150+ music stores and you keep 100% of music royalties collected. It also allows you to manage multiple artists under a single plan without the need to pay an extra fee per artist added.
DistroKid even gives you the option to add extra features to any release you have, so you’re not so restricted to your monthly plan.
Cons: Distrokid doesn’t offer many promotional opportunities or artist services. They pay out just 80% of revenue collected by YouTube Content ID.
Who uses DistroKid?
DistroKid is perfect for hands on independent artists, bands, or collectives looking for cost-effective music distribution. It's especially beneficial for artists who release music regularly. DistroKid has a more DIY feel, where they provide you with more than enough tools and features for you to have a great release no matter which monthly plan you choose.
TuneCore
Pricing:
New Artist - Free (Social Platforms)
Rising Artist - $14.99/year
Breakout Artist - $29.99/year
Professional - $49.99/year
Pay Per Release - Free (Social Platforms), $9.99/year (single), $29.99/year (album)
What is TuneCore?
TuneCore kicks off with a low annual fee of $14.99/year in the Rising Artist plan, granting you unlimited music releases across various streaming platforms and paying you 100% of revenue collected.
The $29.99/year Breakout Artist tier adds in daily and monthly stats, free store automator add on, and a cover art creator. Where the $49.99/year Professional tier has all of that, along with promotional and partnership opportunities and added control over release details.
They also offer a free tier, perfect for social platforms like YouTube, Tik Tok, and Instagram. Note: TuneCore will take a 20% fee from YouTube revenues.
Add-ons: Some added features TuneCore offers that you can choose to add to your singles, EP, and Album as you submit to streaming platforms are:
Store Automator ($10) - TuneCore will ad your music to any new stores automatically. (Similar to DistroKid’s ‘Store Maximizer’)
Pros: TuneCore flexes many pricing tiers suitable for artists of all stages, and all paid plans allow unlimited releases to digital streaming platforms/ stores, paying you 100% of the royalties they collect. TuneCore has free plans, which allows for unlimited releases to social platforms - Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
For the highest plan, they provide access to partnerships, promotional opportunities, and they have also started TuneCore Publishing, where they would collect publishing royalties on your behalf too.
Cons: Value is skewed to higher plans, with the lower tiers lack some basic features. TuneCore charges an extra $14.99 per artist profile added to your account (professional accounts only). Customer service time is based on you account tier, the higher the faster. TuneCore pays out just 80% of YouTube revenue.
Who uses TuneCore?
TuneCore is an excellent choice for artists who want extensive control over their music releases and seek an all-in-one option for distribution. The highest-tiered plan has the most value, and is ideal for established artists looking to maximize distribution and promotional opportunities. If you need that extra assistance with publishing, looking for opportunities for expert advice and partnerships, TuneCore has it covered.
Conclusion
DistroKid has the tools. TuneCore has the services.
In summary, DistroKid and TuneCore cater to artists with different priorities.
DistroKid excels in simplicity and affordability, giving you many tools to assist with your release, making it an excellent choice for beginners, those managing multiple artists, or making frequent music releases.
On the other hand, TuneCore offers versatility, control, and revenue-maximizing options, while providing artist services, this makes it appealing to artists at various career stages.
When choosing between them, consider your budget, how many artists you’ll manage, and customization needs, as both platforms provide valuable resources tailored to different artists preferences.
I hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding of TuneCore vs. DistroKid and which to choose.
As always, If you have any extra points to add, topics or questions I should cover, let me know in the comments.
Take it easy!