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 $24.99/year (Musician plan) or $44.99/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 ~$167/year, the 15% commission costs more than DistroKid's $24.99/year subscription
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 $24.99 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 $24.99/year vs RouteNote Free at 15% commission. If each single earns $20, you'd pay $36 in RouteNote commissions vs $24.99 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 price beats DistroKid's $24.99/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, $24.99/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)
The focus on royalty percentage misses a bigger variable: per-stream rates vary far more than a 10% or 15% distributor commission. Keeping 100% of a low-paying platform can earn less than keeping 85% of a higher-paying one.
Use the live streaming royalty dashboard before choosing a distributor. Compare the platforms that matter for your audience, especially Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Art Tracks, and TikTok. A distributor that gets your music onto high-value platforms and helps listeners find you there is worth more than one that only advertises a better royalty split.
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. But the royalty percentage is only part of the equation — which platforms your listeners use matters far more to your bottom line. For AI music creators, DistroKid and UnitedMasters DEBUT+ offer the best combination of 100% royalties, AI acceptance, and affordable pricing.
Sources and verification
- Reviewed: 2026-10-28 — Claude
- Scope: DistroKid plan prices cited in this article, and any totals or comparisons derived from them, as listed on DistroKid's pricing page on the review date. Other providers' prices, delivery times and other numbers are outside this scope.
- Methodology: Read DistroKid's live pricing page on the review date, compared the listed plan prices with the article, and recalculated derived totals from the listed prices.
- Sources: DistroKid pricing
This is a dated snapshot. Check the sources for current prices; providers can change them.
