Several music distributors offer 100% royalty retention on streaming revenue, but the details matter. Most platforms require paid subscriptions to unlock full royalty retention, while free tiers take a percentage cut. Understanding these structures helps you choose the right distributor for your release strategy and expected earnings.

How Do Distributor Royalty Structures Compare?

Distributor	100% Royalties	Pricing	Social/YouTube Cut
DistroKid	Yes (paid)	$22.99/year	20% on YouTube
TuneCore	Yes (all plans)	$9.99+/year per release	20% on social
Ditto Music	Yes (all plans)	$14+/year	Varies by plan
UnitedMasters DEBUT+	Yes	$19.99/year	Varies
UnitedMasters DEBUT (Free)	No (90/10 split)	Free	Higher
RouteNote Free	No (85/15 split)	Free	15%
RouteNote Premium	Yes	$10/single	0%
LANDR	Yes (active sub)	$23.99+/year	20% on YouTube
Amuse	Yes (paid only)	$23.99+/year	Varies

Which Distributors Offer 100% Streaming Royalties?

DistroKid

DistroKid's model is straightforward: pay a flat annual fee, upload unlimited releases, and keep 100% of your streaming royalties from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and other DSPs.

Pricing: $22.99/year (Musician plan) or $35.99/year (Musician Plus)

Catches: DistroKid takes a 20% commission on YouTube Content ID and YouTube Music earnings. This is industry-standard, as YouTube operates differently from pure streaming platforms.

For AI creators: DistroKid accepts AI music with disclosure, making it popular among Suno and Stable Audio creators.

TuneCore

TuneCore pioneered the flat-fee, 100% royalty model. All subscription plans allow you to keep 100% of streaming royalties from DSPs.

Pricing: Plans start at $9.99/year for singles or $29.99/year for albums. Unlimited plans are $14.99/month.

Catches: TuneCore takes 20% from social platforms (TikTok, Instagram) and YouTube Content ID. They also charge per-release fees that can add up for prolific artists.

For AI creators: TuneCore does not accept 100% AI-generated content. They may accept AI-assisted tracks with significant human involvement on a case-by-case basis.

Ditto Music

Ditto offers 100% royalty retention across all subscription tiers with zero streaming commission.

Pricing: Starter ($14/year), Pro ($39/year), Label ($59-219/year)

Catches: The Starter plan excludes YouTube Content ID, Beatport distribution, and editorial playlist pitching. Higher tiers include more features but still maintain 0% commission on streaming.

For AI creators: Ditto accepts AI-generated music with appropriate disclosure.

UnitedMasters DEBUT+

UnitedMasters introduced DEBUT+ specifically to offer 100% royalties at an accessible price point.

Pricing: $19.99/year for unlimited releases

Catches: Release times are slightly longer (5 business days vs 2 for SELECT tier). Some premium features like priority sync licensing opportunities require the $59.99/year SELECT plan.

For AI creators: UnitedMasters accepts AI music, making DEBUT+ attractive for AI creators who want full royalty retention at a low cost.

RouteNote Premium

RouteNote offers both free and premium tiers. Premium unlocks 100% royalties.

Pricing: $10 per single, $45 per album (one-time fees)

Catches: Unlike subscription models, RouteNote Premium charges per-release. This can be cheaper for artists with few releases but more expensive for high-volume uploaders.

For AI creators: RouteNote accepts AI-generated content with disclosure.

LANDR

LANDR combines distribution with mastering tools. Active subscribers keep 100% of streaming royalties.

Pricing: $23.99/year (Basic) and up

Catches: If you cancel your subscription, LANDR doesn't remove your music but switches to an 85/15 split (you keep 85%). YouTube Content ID takes the standard 20% cut. As of June 2025, social platform monetization requires Pro or Studio plans.

For AI creators: LANDR accepts AI-assisted content. Policies on fully AI-generated content vary.

What Do Free Tiers Actually Cost?

Free distribution sounds appealing, but the royalty split can cost more than a subscription if your music performs well.

RouteNote Free

Split: 85/15 (you keep 85%)
Break-even point: If you earn more than ~$67/year, RouteNote Premium's one-time fees become cheaper

UnitedMasters DEBUT (Free)

Split: 90/10 (you keep 90%)
Break-even point: If you earn more than ~$200/year, DEBUT+ subscription saves money

Amuse (Legacy Note)

Amuse discontinued their free tier in March 2024. All plans are now paid, starting at $23.99/year with 100% royalty retention.

Tip Calculate your expected earnings before choosing. A 15% commission on $500/year in royalties ($75) costs more than a $22.99 DistroKid subscription.

What Are the Hidden Costs Beyond Streaming Royalties?

"100% royalties" typically refers to DSP streaming revenue. Most distributors take cuts elsewhere:

Nearly all distributors take 20% from YouTube Content ID earnings. This includes:

YouTube Music streams
YouTube Content ID claims
Some also take cuts from TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook monetization

Collaborator Splits

Some platforms charge fees when splitting royalties with collaborators:

Amuse takes 15% from unsubscribed collaborators on Artist-tier releases
Most other platforms don't charge additional split fees

Publishing Royalties

Distribution royalties and publishing royalties are separate. Some distributors offer publishing administration that takes additional cuts:

Ditto Publishing takes 10% of publishing royalties (20% for sync)
This is optional and separate from distribution

Which Model Works Best?

Flat-Fee Subscription (DistroKid, TuneCore Unlimited, Ditto)

Best for: Artists releasing multiple singles or albums per year. AI creators with high output. Anyone earning more than the subscription cost annually.

Example: Release 12 singles/year with DistroKid at $22.99/year vs RouteNote Free at 15% commission. If each single earns $20, you'd pay $36 in RouteNote commissions vs $22.99 flat.

Per-Release Fees (RouteNote Premium, TuneCore Singles)

Best for: Artists with few releases who want to keep music available long-term without ongoing fees.

Example: One album that earns $100/year. RouteNote Premium's $45 one-time fee beats DistroKid's $22.99/year after year two.

Free Tier with Commission

Best for: Testing distribution before committing. Artists uncertain about their release strategy. Very low earners where the percentage costs less than subscriptions.

Example: Testing your first AI track. RouteNote Free costs nothing upfront, and 15% of small earnings is minimal.

Which Distributors Work Best for AI Music Creators?

If you're distributing AI-generated music and want 100% royalties:

Best options:

DistroKid: Unlimited uploads, clear AI policy, $22.99/year
UnitedMasters DEBUT+: 100% royalties at $19.99/year
RouteNote Premium: Per-release pricing for selective uploads
Ditto Music: 0% commission on all streaming

Avoid for AI music:

TuneCore (rejects 100% AI-generated content)
CD Baby (prohibits all AI content)

What Is the Takeaway?

Most major distributors offer 100% streaming royalties through paid subscriptions, with prices ranging from $14-60/year. Free tiers take 10-15% commissions that can exceed subscription costs for even modest earners. YouTube and social platform revenue typically carries a 20% fee regardless of your plan. For AI music creators, DistroKid and UnitedMasters DEBUT+ offer the best combination of 100% royalties, AI acceptance, and affordable pricing.