5 Best Music Distributors For Independent Artists | 2024 Update

In today’s music market, many companies offer services that make releasing music easier than ever for independent musicians and labels. One of the critical services that artists must use to get their music out there is music distribution. As you might know, uploading music directly to major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music is not possible for indie artists. Instead, music distributors work as the middleman between streaming platforms and artists.

Among the different services available, some have gained a lot of reputation over the years for offering desirable services. However, each company offers different tools and comes with specific advantages and drawbacks, making it impossible to consider one company objectively better than others in all cases and scenarios. Instead, artists should choose one based on their goals, needs, and budget. In this post, I’ve listed five of the best music distributors for artists who want to publish their music in 2024.

Here’s a quick look:

1. TuneCore: Overall Best Distributor
2. Ditto: Budget-friendly & Straightforward
3. DistroKid: Quickest Uploads 
4. Landr: Offers A Plethora Of Tools For Indie Artists
5. CD Baby: Industry Pioneer

1. TuneCore: Overall Best Distributor

As one of the most popular music distribution services out there, TuneCore checks many boxes as a reliable distributor for independent musicians and labels alike. The company offers its services in four different plans, starting with “New Artist,” which covers uploading music to TikTok and Instagram for free. However, if you want to put your music on Spotify and Apple Music, you’ll have to go for the “Rising Artist” plan, which costs $19.99 a year.

All of TuneCore’s plans allow artists to upload unlimited tracks. Moreover, higher tiers give you access to cover art creator tools, scheduled releases, and uploading music under multiple artist names.

Besides covering all the major platforms and offering competitive prices, TuneCore offers various services that help artists grow. Impressive analytics and reporting, taking no cut on royalties with paid plans, and artist development plans (brand deals, promotions, and sponsorships) make it one of the best Music Distributors to sign up with in 2024.

2. Ditto: Budget-friendly & Straightforward

Although relatively newer to the market, Ditto Music has attracted a lot of attention as a budget-friendly and easy-to-use music distributor. Ditto Music offers three plans: Starter, Pro, and Label. Even if you decide to go for its most affordable option ($19/year for Starter), you’ll still get access to all the essentials you need to kickstart your music career.

Moreover, Ditto Music offers a straightforward interface and doesn’t drill a hole in your pocket with numerous extra add-ons, though you can opt for optional features, such as a faster release.

As for the drawbacks, Ditto Music doesn’t offer exclusive promotional opportunities like some other industry giants on this list. Moreover, some customers have complained about the customer service not reaching out promptly, taking a week or so to respond.

3. DistroKid: Quickest Uploads

DistroKid is another reputable name in the music distribution business. Similar to the aforementioned companies, DistroKid offers affordable annual subscriptions that allow you to upload unlimited tracks. Among the three plans that DistroKid offers, the “Musician Plus” tier provides the best value and covers all the essentials. Although it might be slightly more expensive compared to Ditto, the quality of services provided by DistroKid makes up for it.

One of the biggest advantages of DistroKid is its responsiveness. DistroKid is by far the fastest music distributor out there, able to get your music on Spotify in no more than a couple of days. If you want the same speed from a music distributor like Ditto, you’ll have to pay $40 extra.

DistroKid offers a bunch of add-ons and extras that artists can opt for, including a social phone number, loudness normalization for streaming services, and a store maximizer. Most of these add-ons are not dealbreakers for most artists. In another post, I’ve thoroughly explained what DistroKid extras are.

4. Landr: Offers A Plethora Of Tools For Indie Artists

Landr’s services go beyond just music distribution. One of Landr’s primary services is its mastering plugin SE, which automatically masters songs for different streaming platforms. However, Landr has broadened the services it offers to answer to a wider range of musicians’ needs. Landr’s two tiers are dubbed “Studio” and “Studio Pro.”

With the Studio plan, you’ll be able to upload unlimited songs on music platforms and use 2 million royalty-free samples, premium plugins, and instruments. Moreover, Landr offers premium courses and collaboration tools that help you build your audience further. The Studio Pro plan offers all that plus Unlimited WAV + HDWAV masters and a PRO version of the company’s mastering plugin.

While the services are great, the biggest downside of Landr’s services is their price tags. The Studio plan can cost you $12 a month, and the Studio Pro plan can go all the way to $25/month. If you’re merely looking for a music distributor and don’t care about extra services, then Landr is not for you.

5. CD Baby: Industry Pioneer

Last but not least, CD Baby is one of the oldest distributors in the business. One of the main points that sets CD Baby apart from the rest of the competition is that it distributes your music both digitally and physically. Moreover, CD Baby offers exclusive opportunities for artists to appear on major promotional platforms, such as Show.co and HearNow.

Another feature that puts CD Baby apart is its payment method. Instead of a subscription, you can upload your track/album for a one-time $9.99 fee. If you’re not going to release a lot of music in a year, CD Baby can be much more affordable than other distributors. However, if you plan to release more frequently, yearly subscriptions that allow for unlimited uploads are more affordable.

Another factor to consider is that CD Baby takes a 15% commission on all streaming royalties. This is while most other music distributors transfer 100% of your revenue to you.

Final Thoughts

To keep up with the competition, most music distributors offer valuable services nowadays. Any of the mentioned distributors above will cover you on the basics and much more. The differences boil down to artists’ goals and preferences.

If you’re looking for an affordable and straightforward option, Ditto Music can be an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you need more tools for music production, promotion, and collaboration, Landr’s services can aid you in your journey, though for a higher price tag.