The Best Music Distributors [2026 Full Comparison]

In the age of digital music consumption, it’s more important than ever to work with a distributor who gets your music on the right platforms at the right time.

With so many options available, though, understanding what to look for in a music distributor in 2026 can feel overwhelming. This full comparison guide will help you navigate the music distribution landscape and make a decision about which distributor is best for your needs.

What to look for in a music distributor in 2026

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Global Reach & Market Access

The core purpose of music distribution is to get your music on music platforms - so one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a distributor is the reach of their distribution network.

The best distributors give access to streaming platforms across the globe, from the major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, to the more territorial-focused platforms like Anghami (Middle East & North Africa), Hungama (India), or Tencent (China).

Choose a music distributor that provides:

• Multi-platform distribution, without per-platform costs
• Territory-specific market penetration
• International royalties collection and reporting

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Costs & Pricing Models

Earning money from your music is crucial to developing your career as an artist, so understanding how much distributing your music is going to cost is vital.

While some distributors charge upfront per-release fees, others work on a royalty share basis with no upfront fees. Your financial position, career goals and release schedule will all factor into which pricing model is best suited to your needs.

Key factors to consider include:

• Any upfront costs
• Additional (sometimes hidden) fees for other services offered
• Payout methods and minimum payout thresholds
• Payment frequencies

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Marketing & Promotional Support

Getting your music onto streaming platforms doesn’t automatically mean it will be heard. Which is why many distributors now offer additional marketing and promotional support alongside distributing your music.

When choosing a distributor to work with, consider any promotional tools, marketing support or other services that are included in their fees.

Identify any promotional support included (and any extra costs), such as:

• Editorial or third-party playlist pitching
• Fan links and pre-save links
• Spotify Discovery Mode access
• Social media integration
• Analytics dashboards

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Analytics & Reporting Functionality

Making data-driven decisions about your music will help you stand apart from the hundreds of thousands of other independent artists releasing music, so working with a distributor who provides access to as much data as possible is crucial.

While streaming platforms themselves (e.g. Spotify for Artists) often provide a level of insight into your performance, having those analytics for all platforms accessible in a single distributor dashboard can support you in making data-driven decisions about your next steps.

Look for a distributor who provides:

• Streaming statistics and trends
• Geographic audience breakdowns
• Demographic insights
• Data exports or integrations with other tools

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Ease of Use & Client Support

Being able to distribute your music easily is important, but so too is being able to quickly access high-quality support when you do have questions.

While technical support is available from most digital music distributors, it’s not always fast, easily accessible or effective support. Understanding the distribution dashboard and level of client support a distributor offers will help you to decide which distributor is best for your needs.

Consider whether a distributor offers:

• Fast and effective client support, e.g. live chat
• Intuitive distribution dashboard
• Onboarding or support resources, e.g. guides, tutorial videos, etc.
• Mobile app support

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2026 Top Music Distributors Compared

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Identity Music

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The best choice for ambitious independent artists & record labels, consistently positive reviews & industry-leading support team

Identity Music, one of the newer music distributors in the industry and less well-known than its competitors, stands apart from other music distributors for its highly-rated client support and extensive support of independent artists and record labels.

Distributing to over 80 global platforms and offering music promotion, digital rights management, and publishing administration at no extra cost, Identity Music is an invite-only (or application) distributor that works with independent artists and record labels who are looking for a step up from DIY distribution, without sacrificing rights or ownership to major labels.

Their client support is often cited as the best in the industry, with an average live chat response time of under 2 minutes and a team of knowledgeable humans (not AI robots) on-hand to support artists with releases.

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DistroKid

⭐⭐ A good option for new artists, but limited in support & rife with hidden fees

DistroKid is possibly the most well-known music distributor, albeit not always for the best reasons. DistroKid has been active in the music industry since 2013 and has established itself as a go-to entry-level distribution platform for new and emerging artists.

Offering distribution across global music platforms through a simple distribution dashboard, DistroKid works on a monthly fee basis that starts from less than $5/month, making it a good option for new artists testing the waters in their music career.

Many of DistroKid’s more advanced features, like track splits, YouTube Content ID and music promotion, come with additional fees (some commission-based, some upfront) and online reviews, as well as social media comments, do not rate DistroKid’s client support highly.

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CD Baby

⭐⭐⭐ A good alternative to DistroKid for new artists, but limited functionality & mixed reviews of support

CD Baby was the first open-to-all digital distributor, entering the music industry way back in 1998. While there are now hundreds of distributors to choose from, CD Baby has maintained its position as an instantly recognisable name for artists.

Particularly suited to artists with an irregular release schedule, CD Baby works on a per-release fee basis with no ongoing payable fees. They do, however, keep 9% commission on streaming revenue and 30% on YouTube Content ID, in addition to the upfront distribution fee.

CD Baby offers additional services alongside basic distribution, but many incur additional costs and there are some notable features, like track splits, SoundCloud monetisation, and distribution to Beatport, that CD Baby does not offer. Reviews of CD Baby’s support are mixed, with some mentioning extended review times, unexpected fees, and lack of response to support questions.

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TuneCore

⭐⭐⭐ A good choice for regular release schedules & early/mid-level artists, but overall mixed reviews

TuneCore, while longer established than DistroKid, is less well-known than its DIY competitors, but does offer an alternative for emerging artists.

Its Standard plan allows you to keep 100% of your streaming royalties for an annual payment, offering a good alternative to per-release payments for artists with a busier release schedule. Track splits, Spotify Discovery Mode, Beatport distribution, and YouTube Content ID are included (although YouTube Content ID incurs a 20% commission), but other features, like SoundCloud monetisation, music video distribution and pre-save links aren’t offered by TuneCore.

TuneCore’s payout threshold is $0, but they only offer payouts quarterly, which may not make it the best option for artists looking for more consistent cashflow. Reviews are mixed, but generally positive. Some cite fast support times, while others claim support to be non-existent. Overall, TuneCore seems to offer a good level of distribution for early-mid level artists, but if you’re looking for more advanced features it may not be the best option for you.

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Ditto Music

⭐⭐⭐ Good for entry-level artists looking for better support/functionality than DistroKid or CD Baby, but still limited with mixed reviews

Ditto Music has been around since 2005, but has more recently become a serious competitor in the music distribution landscape. Offering distribution on a yearly fee basis, they present themselves as the solution for artists wishing to maintain their independence, but reviews are mixed when it comes to how effective their support and promotional features actually are.

Ditto Music does not take any streaming commission, but there are features that are only available to artists on their higher cost Pro or Label plans. The basic plan includes only basic features, excluding YouTube Content ID, Beatport distribution or editorial playlist pitching, and standard users can expect delayed distribution processing times too (although Ditto Music offers the chance to get ‘priority’ release review for additional costs).

For independent artists looking for an alternative to DistroKid or CD Baby, Ditto Music offers a reasonable solution - but with mixed reviews about support, processing times, and the effectiveness of high-cost promotional add-ons, it might not be the best option for mid-level artists looking to grow their careers.

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Symphonic

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A decent choice for mid-level artists & small record labels, but additional costs for some features/services

Symphonic stands as one of the few distributors that offer both open-to-all services and invite-only services. On their Starter plans, yearly fees secure unlimited releases and 0% commission, but artists miss out on Symphonic’s additional services. On their Partner plans, only available to select clients, there are no yearly fees, but instead a 15% streaming commission and full access to a wide range of features.

On both plans, track splits are included at no extra cost, pre-save links are provided, additional artists are included, and all artists get access to Spotify Discovery Mode as standard. However, there are still features that incur extra costs, including Dolby Atmos delivery ($30), music video distribution (from $95) and YouTube Content ID (15-30% commission).

Reviews of Symphonic are somewhat mixed, but mostly positive. While there is no live chat support option, reviews suggest that email queries are responded to promptly (their official turnaround time is 1 business day) and effectively. Symphonic gets particularly positive feedback from independent labels managing multiple artists, thanks to its Partner plan offering a wider range of features.

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How to choose the best music distributor for your career stage

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For new music artists: DistroKid, CD Baby & Ditto Music

For new artists, the key factor is cost and convenience. Cost, because new artists often don’t have the funds to invest in their music career right at the start, and convenience, because new artists need a platform that’s simple to understand in their first foray into the music industry.

The best options for new artists are usually DistroKid, CD Baby or Ditto Music, all of which offer:

• Low cost entry points
• Simple upload processes
• Basic analytics and reporting
• Access to major streaming platforms.

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For mid-career artists: Identity Music, TuneCore & Symphonic

Independent artists looking to take their careers to the next level often face a choice between giving up some of their rights to a major label for the support they offer, or going it alone to keep all their rights but miss out on label-level support.

However, there are a few independent distributors who offer a middle-ground: label-level support, but without giving up freedom, ownership or rights. TuneCore’s Accelerator plan and Symphonic’s Partner plans both offer a good middle-ground, where artists retain all ownership rights - but some features still incur additional costs.

Identity Music offers access to all advanced features (including YouTube Content ID, Spotify Discovery Mode, editorial playlist pitching, and more) at an agreed royalty share rate, without taking any ownership of music or tying artists into an exclusive contract. There are no additional costs outside of the agreed royalty share (a maximum of 20% commission taken) and industry-leading support is what sets Identity Music apart from others.

If you’re a mid-career independent artist looking to take your music full-time or to the next level, you should look for a music distributor who offers:

• Good quality support
• Access to major streaming platforms
• Editorial playlist pitching
• In-depth analytics and reporting
• Marketing and promotional tools/support included
• Competitive royalty share rates

Identity Music ticks all of those boxes (and more).

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For independent record labels: Identity Music & Symphonic

For independent record labels, the focus shifts to finding a distributor with advanced features, efficient support, and the ability to be a partner in managing multiple artists.

The best distributor for independent labels looking for that next level of support is Identity Music or Symphonic. Both offer label-specific support, including multi-artist management, advanced analytics and reporting, and comprehensive marketing and promotional support.

Identity Music is the standout choice for independent labels because of its commitment to providing industry-leading support. With live chat responses in an average of 2-3 minutes and a support team of friendly humans (not chatbots), they’re a great choice for labels looking for a true partnership, without handing over rights or ownership or sacrificing more than a maximum of 20% in royalties. Identity Music’s support for labels includes:

• Global distribution network
• Multi-artist capabilities, including payee reporting, track splits and dashboard access
• Advanced analytics and reporting
• Marketing and promotional tools for all label artists
• Strong support for label operations

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Key Features of Music Distributors in 2026 Compared

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