Why Does the Outcome Depend on Your Pricing Model?
The answer comes down to how your distributor charges. Subscription-based services remove your music when you stop paying. One-time fee and commission-based distributors keep it up indefinitely. Understanding this difference before you release can save your catalog from unexpected takedowns.
Do Subscription Distributors Remove Your Music?
If you use DistroKid, TuneCore, or Ditto Music, your music only stays on streaming platforms while your subscription is active. Cancel or let your payment lapse, and your catalog gets taken down.
| Distributor | What Happens When You Cancel | Takedown Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | Music removed from all stores | Weeks after billing cycle ends |
| TuneCore | Music removed, no grace period | Within 1 week of subscription end |
| Ditto Music | Music removed from stores | Within 30 days of cancellation |
DistroKid keeps your music up through your current billing cycle, then begins removing tracks. You can still log in and withdraw earned royalties, but your releases disappear from Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. To restore them, you need to renew your subscription and wait for re-delivery.
TuneCore takes a harder line. When your plan expires, music removal starts immediately with no grace period. iTunes typically removes content within 48 hours. Takedowns are considered permanent by stores, so you cannot simply reverse the action.
Ditto Music instructs partners to remove your releases within 30 days of cancellation. The removal is not automatic, but once initiated, your music comes down across all platforms.
What Is DistroKid's Leave a Legacy Option?
DistroKid offers a workaround called "Leave a Legacy." For a one-time fee of $29 per single or $49 per album, your release stays on streaming platforms even if you cancel your subscription.
This converts specific releases from subscription to permanent, but you must pay for each release individually. For artists with extensive catalogs, the costs add up quickly. An artist with 20 singles would pay $580 to secure their entire catalog.
Do One-Time Fee Distributors Keep Your Music Up?
CD Baby operates differently. You pay once per release ($9.99-14.99), they take 9% of royalties, and your music stays on streaming platforms indefinitely. There is no annual fee to renew and no risk of catalog removal.
| Distributor | Fee Structure | Music Stays Up? |
|---|---|---|
| CD Baby | One-time + 9% commission | Forever |
| RouteNote Free | Free + 15% commission | Indefinitely |
| RouteNote Premium | One-time per release | Indefinitely |
| Dynamoi | Free + 10% commission | Indefinitely |
| AWAL | Free + 15% commission | Until you request removal |
CD Baby's "pay once, stay up forever" model provides catalog stability. Your music remains available regardless of future payments, which eliminates the anxiety of subscription lapses.
RouteNote offers both free and premium tiers. The free tier takes 15% of royalties but keeps music up without ongoing fees. The premium tier charges per release with no commission.
AWAL takes 15% of revenue with no upfront fees. Artists can terminate with 30 days notice, but music stays up until explicitly requested for removal.
What Happens to Your Streams, ISRCs, and Playlists
When your music gets taken down:
Stream counts disappear. Your Spotify streams, Apple Music plays, and other metrics are tied to the specific track delivery. When that delivery is removed, your public-facing stream counts go with it.
ISRCs remain yours. Your International Standard Recording Codes belong to you, not your distributor. You can use them with a new distributor if you re-release. Keeping your original ISRCs allows platforms to link old and new deliveries, potentially preserving some history.
Playlist placements are lost. Curators cannot add or keep a track that no longer exists on the platform. Editorial playlists, user playlists, and algorithmic placements all drop your song when the delivery is removed.
How Should You Protect Your Catalog Before Leaving?
If you plan to cancel a subscription distributor:
- Download your ISRCs and UPCs. You will need these to re-release with matching identifiers.
- Screenshot your analytics. Stream counts will disappear, so save your data.
- Set up with a new distributor first. Upload your catalog with original ISRCs before requesting takedowns.
- Overlap delivery timelines. Keep old versions live until new versions are confirmed on platforms.
- Consider your release velocity. Subscription models cost less for prolific artists; one-time fees may suit occasional releasers.
Which Model Should You Choose?
Subscription distributors (DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto) make sense if you release frequently, plan to stay subscribed long-term, and want to avoid per-release fees. The annual cost is predictable.
One-time fee distributors (CD Baby) make sense if you release occasionally, want guaranteed catalog longevity, or prefer not to manage ongoing subscriptions. The commission reduces your per-stream revenue but eliminates takedown risk.
Commission-only distributors (RouteNote Free, Dynamoi, AWAL) make sense if upfront costs are a barrier and you accept lower per-stream earnings in exchange for no fees. Commission-based distributors don't remove music if you stop paying — there's no subscription to cancel. Your music stays up as long as the distributor operates.
The right choice depends on your release cadence, budget, and how much you value catalog permanence versus per-release savings.