Getting your music out there as an independent artist can be a hassle. As you may already know, uploading music directly to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music is not an option. Instead, musicians have to work with a music distributor company to take care of that task for them.

In some ways, music distribution services can make things much easier for you. For instance, almost all companies publish your songs to multiple streaming platforms, provide licensing services, and give you stats on your sales and stream on each platform. On the other hand, each of the distribution companies offers a unique set of services and comes with advantages and disadvantages. Because of this, it is vital to pick one that suits your goals, budget, and preferences as an artist.

Over the years, TuneCore has built a reputation as one of the pioneers in the music distribution industry. With different plans available, a vast coverage of music and social media platforms, and eye-catching promotional deals, it has become the go-to distributor for many artists. However, newer competitors have surfaced that offer much more affordable services.

Founded in 2017, Soundrop offers a straightforward and budget-friendly option for artists wanting to get their music out there. In this post, I will review everything you need to know about Soundrop’s offerings, how they stack up to those of TuneCore, and which music distributor is more optimal for you.

TuneCore: Who Is It For?

If you’re looking for a music distributor with a wide range of options, top-tier store and platform coverage, and decent customer service, TuneCore can be one of the best options for you. The company recently updated its plans and pricing, starting with a free tier and going all the way up to over 50 bucks for premium services targeted at labels.

Dubbed the “New Artist,” TuneCore’s free tier allows you to upload unlimited tracks on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, FaceBook, and YouTube. Although you won’t be paying anything upfront, you’ll have to share 20% of your total streaming revenue with TuneCore. Bear in mind that the free tier does not cover streaming platforms.

The “Rising Artist” plan comes as a yearly subscription with a price tag of $19.99. It covers all the essentials, including unlimited distribution to over 150 social media platforms, streaming outlets, and digital music stores worldwide. Moreover, TuneCore allows you to schedule your releases, and get verified artist pages on both Spotify and Apple Music

If you opt for TuneCore’s “Professional” Plan, you’ll have access to a bunch of exclusive partnership deals with outlets like Tidal and Twitch, take advantage of promotional opportunities, and get expert advice and detailed sales reports from TuneCore. If you’re committed to your career in music or you want to publish music as a label, TuneCore’s Professional can be an excellent option to grow your audience and enhance your career. It starts at $49.99 a year and allows you to upload music under five artist names. You’ll have to pay $14.99 annually per additional artist profile.

Besides the promotional benefits, another advantage of TuneCore is its customer feedback support. Even with the free plan, TuneCore says that the longest time to get a response from the customer support team is no more than five business days.

On the other side, the biggest disadvantage of TuneCore compared to a company like Soundrop is the pricing. To keep your music on streaming platforms, you’ll have to pay for your yearly subscription. TuneCore will automatically remove your songs if there’s a problem with your subscription payment.

All in all, if you’re looking for a reputable music distributor with lots of experience in this business and you’re not on a tight budget, TuneCore should definitely be under your radar.

If you decide to go with TuneCore, you can use my referral link to get a 20% discount on checkout.

Soundrop: Who Is It For?

Soundrop is predominantly focused on providing a simple-to-use and straightforward platform for artists who wish to get their music out there without investing too much at the beginning of their careers. When it comes to extra features and brand deals, TuneCore definitely takes the upper hand. However, Soundrop covers all the essentials you need to share your music with the world.

Instead of a subscription, Soundrop offers its services over a one-time fee of only $0.99 per track. You don’t have to worry about yearly subscriptions and the chance of having your music removed from platforms should there be a problem with your payment.

That sounds like a very good deal, right? But there’s a catch: Soundrop will take a 15% cut from your streaming revenues. That might not be much when you kick off your music career. However, if you’re planning to grow your audience and turn it into a full-time job, 15% can be substantial down the line.

One of the best features of Soundrop is its licensing services for cover songs. The $0.99 you pay for a track also includes mechanical licensing if you’re releasing a cover song. Moreover, splitting royalties to multiple collaborators is easily done with Soundrop. Other companies, including TuneCore, have also included such features in their arsenal recently.

Reading online reviews, you’ll see that customer support is certainly not one of Soundrop’s advantages. Some users have complained about unusual response times from the company’s customer service.

Moreover, having your songs published through Soundrop doesn’t seem to be a quick process with Soundrop either. Users have mentioned taking over two weeks before they see their tracks appear on Spotify and Apple Music. This is while TuneCore is one of the fastest music distributors on the market, with an impressive upload time of 24-72 hours.

Final Thoughts: Which Music Distributor Is For You?

If budget is not a problem for you, you can’t go wrong with TuneCore. The services they offer are top-notch, and they’ll respond to your questions in a timely manner if you face any problems. If you decide to go with TuneCore, you can use my referral link to get a 20% discount on checkout.

That said, not everyone is ready to make that commitment toward their music career, especially in the early stages. On the other hand, Soundrop promises to offer an affordable and easy-to-use platform for artists on a budget. If you want to get a couple of songs out there on streaming platforms and see how it goes, Soundrop can be a decent option.