BEST FREE MUSIC DISTRIBUTORS
If you're an independent artist looking to distribute your music for free, several platforms offer no-cost distribution while still allowing you to retain your royalties. While some free distributors may have limitations or take a cut of your earnings, others allow you to keep 100% of your royalties. Here are the best free music distributors:
1. Amuse
Best For: Artists who want a free option with some premium upgrade possibilities.
Pricing: Free plan available (100% royalties to the artist), or you can upgrade to Amuse Pro for $24.99/year with additional features.
Distribution: Distributes to Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, TikTok, YouTube Music, and more.
Features:
- 100% of royalties for free plan users.
- Fast release times (often under 1-2 days).
- Ability to distribute music to major platforms and social media sites like TikTok.
- Basic analytics included in the free plan.
- Pro version adds features like faster customer support, quicker release times, and access to publishing services.
Cons:
- Free plan offers basic analytics compared to other paid distributors.
- Limited access to advanced features like faster customer support and music publishing.
- Sync licensing is available only for the Pro version.
2. RouteNote
Best For: Artists looking for flexibility with free distribution and optional premium upgrades.
Pricing:
- Free plan: RouteNote takes 15% of your royalties.
- Premium plan: One-time payment of $10 per single or $30 per album, and you keep 100% of royalties.
Distribution: Distributes to Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, TikTok, and other platforms.
Features:
- Free distribution with no upfront costs, and you retain 85% of your royalties (RouteNote takes 15%).
- Option to upgrade to premium for 100% royalties and additional features.
- YouTube Content ID, which can help you monetize your music on YouTube.
- Fast and easy setup.
Cons:
- With the free plan, you give up 15% of your royalties.
- Limited customer support compared to premium options.
- Premium plan requires an upfront payment, which can be restrictive for frequent releases.
3. FreshTunes
Best For: Artists who want 100% royalties with a completely free distribution model.
Pricing: 100% free, no upfront costs, and you keep all royalties.
Distribution: Distributes to Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon, Tidal, YouTube Music, and more.
Features:
- No fees for distribution, and you keep 100% of your royalties.
- Simple and user-friendly interface.
- Ability to upload and release music quickly.
- Available to all independent artists globally.
Cons:
- Limited features and no advanced marketing tools or promotional services.
- Slower customer support compared to larger platforms.
- Not as widely known as other distributors, which might limit some additional opportunities or resources.
4. Soundrop
Best For: Artists looking for free distribution with an easy process and decent monetization features.
Pricing: Free distribution (they take a 15% cut of your royalties).
Distribution: Sends music to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube Music, and more.
Features:
- Free distribution, but they take a 15% cut of your royalties.
- Direct YouTube monetization (YouTube Content ID) to help you monetize your music on YouTube.
- Includes sync licensing opportunities and helps place your music in TV shows, films, and ads.
- Simple upload process and fast release times.
Cons:
- 15% cut of royalties can add up over time.
- More limited customer support compared to paid distributors.
- Some users have reported that the platform isn’t as responsive as larger distributors.
5. UnitedMasters
Best For: Independent artists who want a free option with the potential for sync licensing and promotion.
Pricing: Free distribution, but they take a 10% cut of your royalties (you keep 90%).
Distribution: Distributes to Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, TikTok, YouTube, and more.
Features:
- You keep 90% of your royalties on the free plan (UnitedMasters takes 10%).
- Sync licensing opportunities (place your music in TV, films, and advertisements).
- Promotion tools to help you connect with brands and playlists.
- Analytics to track your streams, sales, and audience demographics.
- Option to upgrade to a Pro plan for $5/month for even more features.
Cons:
- The 10% royalty cut is higher than some other free options (like RouteNote, which takes 15% on the free plan).
- Some features, like direct communication with brands, are available only on the paid plan.
- Limited marketing tools unless you upgrade.
6. Routenote (Pro Version)
Best For: Artists who want full control over their royalties and are willing to pay for premium features.
- Pricing: Free option or premium plans that allow you to keep 100% of royalties (with a one-time payment).
- Distribution: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc.
- Features:
- You can monetize your music by allowing the service to take a commission or pay upfront with a one-time fee.
- Analytics provided.
- YouTube Content ID included with premium.
7. Ditto Music
Best For: Artists looking for fast distribution and free/low-cost options for releasing music.
- Pricing: $19 per year for unlimited uploads (no per-song fees).
- Distribution: Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, TikTok.
- Features:
- Free version has some features, but the Pro version is more comprehensive.
- Allows you to distribute directly to TikTok, Spotify, and other platforms.
- Some extra tools offered for increased performance analytics.
Final Thoughts:
Here are a few factors to consider when choosing the best free distributor for your music:
- RouteNote and Amuse are both top options for free distribution, with the added benefit of keeping 100% of royalties if you’re willing to upgrade.
- FreshTunes offers a completely free service with no royalties taken, which makes it an excellent choice if you want to keep everything.
- Soundrop and UnitedMasters provide free options, but they take a small cut of royalties (15% or 10%).
- If you're serious about sync licensing, UnitedMasters and Soundrop are good choices for placement opportunities in films, TV, and ads.
The right choice for you depends on your needs, whether it's keeping 100% of your royalties or gaining access to additional promotional and licensing opportunities.
