Choosing a distributor is one of the most important decisions an independent artist makes — and one of the least understood. The royalty commission is just one factor. Here is a full comparison of the three most widely used models.
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Fee and model comparison
| DistroKid | CD Baby | ONErpm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty cut | 0% | 9% | 15% |
| Annual cost | $24.99/year | $9.95/release | Free |
| Distribution | 150+ platforms | 150+ platforms | 150+ platforms |
| Payout speed | Daily | Monthly | Monthly |
| Playlist support | Basic | Moderate | Strong |
| Best for | High release volume | Single releases | Growing artists |
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How much you lose in royalties per year with each model
Assume you accumulate 500,000 streams/month on Spotify US ($0.0052/stream = $2,600/month gross):
| Distributor | Annual cost | Annual commission | Total lost | Annual net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | $23 | $0 | $23 | $31,177 |
| CD Baby | $0* | $2,808 | $2,808 | $28,392 |
| ONErpm | $0 | $4,680 | $4,680 | $26,520 |
For artists releasing more than 2 tracks per year, DistroKid is almost always cheaper than CD Baby, even factoring in the annual subscription.
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When ONErpm and Believe make sense
Distributors like ONErpm, Believe, and AWAL are not just distributors — they are artist development partners. In exchange for their 15%, they offer: editorial playlist pitching teams, sync licensing support (TV, film, ads), access to advanced audience analytics, and for selected artists, advances. If you are growing fast and want strategic support, that 15% can pay for itself.
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Compare how much you would receive with each distributor based on your actual stream count. Our calculator applies each distributor's fee automatically.
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Perguntas Frequentes
DistroKid or ONErpm for beginners?+
DistroKid for beginners: low fixed cost ($24.99/year), 0% commission, and daily payouts. Switch to ONErpm when you have traction and want growth support.
Is CD Baby still worth it in 2026?+
For artists releasing 1–2 tracks per year who prefer paying per release (no subscription), CD Baby still makes sense. For higher volumes, DistroKid is more cost-effective.
Can I switch distributors without losing my stream history?+
Yes, but the process takes time. You need to pull your music from the current distributor, re-upload through the new one, and your historical streams remain in Spotify's data even after migration.