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TuneCore

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Empower independent artists with global music distribution, publishing, and promotional tools.

Music DistributionRoyalty ManagementRights Management
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Tracked since2026
0 reviews tracked·6 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Paid plans only

Biggest pro

Artists keep 100% of their music ownership and rights.

Biggest con

Requires an annual subscription for unlimited distribution plans.

TL;DR - TuneCore

  • Distribute music to 150+ global digital stores and streaming services.
  • Artists retain 100% ownership and creative control of their music.
  • Offers publishing administration and promotional tools to maximize earnings and audience reach.
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros

What is TuneCore?

Editorial review
TuneCore is a leading global platform designed for independent artists to distribute their music worldwide without needing a record label. It enables musicians to get their tracks onto major streaming services and digital stores like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and YouTube, while retaining 100% ownership of their music and royalties. The platform simplifies the process of uploading music and ensures it reaches a global audience. Beyond distribution, TuneCore offers comprehensive services including publishing administration to help artists collect royalties from various sources such as streams, video creations, radio spins, and live performances. It also provides promotional tools through TuneCore Accelerator to help artists grow their audience and revenue. With detailed sales data and an artist-first approach, TuneCore supports musicians in building sustainable careers and maintaining creative control over their work.

Available on: Web

how we evaluateSourcetunecore.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Artists keep 100% of their music ownership and rights.
  • Extensive global reach with distribution to over 150 platforms.
  • Comprehensive services including distribution, publishing, and promotional tools.
  • Flexible pricing with unlimited plans and pay-per-release options.
  • Provides detailed analytics and sales data to inform artist strategy.

Cons

  • Requires an annual subscription for unlimited distribution plans.
  • A 20% fee is applied to earnings from social platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for unlimited releases.

Key Features

Unlimited music distribution to 150+ digital stores and streaming services100% ownership and creative control retention for artistsMusic publishing administration for worldwide royalty collectionTuneCore Accelerator program for audience development and fan engagementDetailed sales data and advanced analytics on royaltiesCover Art Creator for customizing album artworkArtist Revenue Splits for collaboratorsOfficial Sales Reports

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Aug 2, 2026

Professional

$49.99 / year

  • Official Sales Reports
  • Premium Schedule Your Own Release Date
  • Unlimited Releases to all Digital Stores
  • Spotify Verified Artist Checkmark
  • Apple Music for Artists Verification
  • Artist Revenue Splits
  • Unlimited Releases to all Social Platforms
  • Earn money from TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, & YouTube (20% fee)

Breakout Artist

$39.99 / year

  • Official Sales Reports
  • Premium Schedule Your Own Release Date
  • Unlimited Releases to all Digital Stores
  • Spotify Verified Artist Checkmark
  • Apple Music for Artists Verification
  • Artist Revenue Splits
  • Unlimited Releases to all Social Platforms
  • Earn money from TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, & YouTube (20% fee)

Rising Artist

$22.99 / year

  • Official Sales Reports
  • Premium Schedule Your Own Release Date
  • Unlimited Releases to all Digital Stores
  • Spotify Verified Artist Checkmark
  • Apple Music for Artists Verification
  • Artist Revenue Splits
  • Unlimited Releases to all Social Platforms
  • Earn money from TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, & YouTube (20% fee)

Pay Per Release - Single

$22.99 / year

  • Distribute music across 150+ digital music stores and social media platforms worldwide

Pay Per Release - Album

$39.99 / year

  • Distribute music across 150+ digital music stores and social media platforms worldwide
Calculate your costView full pricing

Is TuneCore worth the price?

80/100

TuneCore's pricing is fair, especially for independent artists looking for unlimited distribution.

The 'Professional' tier at $49.99/year offers a strong feature set for its price, making it a good value. The 'Rising Artist' tier at $22.99/year is a solid entry point for those just starting out, offering core distribution without breaking the bank.

It's best for artists who prioritize retaining 100% of their royalties from digital stores and need comprehensive distribution and promotional tools.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

20% fee on social media platform earnings

Potential extra costs for advanced features

Annual commitment for best pricing

No free tier to test the service

How TuneCore Compares to Competitors

Compared to DistroKid, which offers unlimited uploads for $22.99/year, TuneCore's 'Rising Artist' tier is similarly priced but offers more features like daily trend reports and customer service. However, DistroKid retains 0% of social media earnings, unlike TuneCore's 20% fee. CD Baby charges a one-time fee per release but takes a 9% commission, making TuneCore's annual, 100% royalty model more appealing for active artists.

How TuneCore's pricing compares

At $1.92/mo, TuneCore is mid-range of its 2 direct competitors ($1.67 to $2.42/mo across the set).

UnitedMasters
$1.67
TuneCore
$1.92
Ditto Music
$2.42

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Aug 2, 2026.

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Best TuneCore Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Ditto Music logo
Ditto MusicPaid

Distribute your music globally, keep 100% of your royalties, and access industry tools.

LANDR logo
LANDRFreemium

The all-in-one platform for music creation, mastering, distribution, and collaboration.

CD Baby logo
CD BabyPaid

Distribute your music to 150+ global platforms with a one-time fee and keep over 90% of your earnings.

UnitedMasters logo
UnitedMastersFreemium

Empower independent artists with global music distribution, marketing, and brand partnerships.

See all music distribution tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

TuneCore vs Ditto MusicHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsTuneCore vs LANDRHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsTuneCore vs CD BabyHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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TuneCore FAQ

How does TuneCore help artists manage their music rights and royalties?

TuneCore offers publishing administration services that assist artists in collecting royalties from various sources. These sources include streams, video creations, radio spins, and live performances, ensuring artists receive earnings from different uses of their music.

Which teams or individuals benefit most from using TuneCore?

TuneCore is designed for independent artists who wish to distribute their music globally without a record label. It supports musicians in building sustainable careers by providing tools for distribution, publishing, and promotion while maintaining creative control.

How does TuneCore's distribution reach compare to services like CD Baby?

TuneCore provides extensive global reach, distributing music to over 150 platforms, including major streaming services and digital stores. This broad distribution ensures that artists' music can reach a worldwide audience.

What kind of promotional support does TuneCore offer artists?

TuneCore provides promotional tools through its TuneCore Accelerator program. These tools are designed to help artists grow their audience and increase their revenue, complementing the distribution and publishing services.

Does TuneCore include a free tier for artists to distribute their music?

TuneCore is a paid product and does not offer a permanently free tier for music distribution. It provides flexible pricing options, including unlimited plans and pay-per-release choices, to suit different artist needs.

What are the main limitations artists should consider when using TuneCore?

Artists should be aware that unlimited distribution plans require an annual subscription. Additionally, TuneCore applies a 20% fee to earnings generated from social platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for unlimited releases.

How does TuneCore ensure artists maintain ownership of their work?

TuneCore's model ensures artists retain 100% ownership of their music and all associated rights. This allows musicians to maintain full creative and financial control over their intellectual property.

Source: tunecore.com