Soundcloud vs Symphonic

Transaction Fees: What you pay to payment gatways like PayPal to process payments. The standard transaction fee is 2.9% + $0.30 unless otherwise stated. If a distributor doesn't declare they're capping the fee, you pay an unlimited amount as a percentage of whatever you withdraw

Tax-Treaty: Distributors located in the United States are required to collect 30% of revenue earned by users that reside in a country without a US Tax-Treaty. Find out if you're Country subjects you to the tax-treaty here

Stores: Where your music will be sent
Limited Stores: Your music won't be sent to the full invenotory of stores offered by top distributors
Your music will be sent to a inventory of stores

Primary Artists: The number of artists you're allowed to distribute music for under one subscription or account.

Payment Threshold: The minimum amount you're required to earn before qualify for a payment.

Music Stays Live: Your releases will remain in stores, even if you cancel your subscription.

Exclusivity: Distributor restricts you from using other distributors to distribute the same release or any releases.

Dolby Atmos: Apple Music pays 10% more in royalties for songs mixed in Dolby Atmos but not all distributors accept the format.

Direct Deals: Informs you of whether the distributor has direct deals with digital service providers like Spotify or go through a third party like Fuga. Third parties charge fees that are passed down to you so it means you earn less.

The standard transaction fee is 2.9%. It isn't clear if Amuse's fee range is based on averae payouts or a cap. A cap restricts the max amount you pay. If Amuse isn't imposing a cap, you can pay an unlimited amount in transaction fees. If a distributor doesn't declare they cap the fees, it's likely they don't. Amuse provides a range but no clarity on scenarios of when you'd pay what. Read the Full Review

ACH (U.S. only) - $1.07 per payment
eCheck (U.S - $1.61 per payment
eCheck/Local Bank Transfer/SEPA (non-U.S.) - $5.35 per payment
Paper Check - $3.21 per check
Wire Transfer (U.S.) - $16.05 per payment
Wire Transfer (International in local currency) - $21.40 per payment
Wire Transfer (International in USD) - $27.82 per payment
PayPal (Non-US resident): USD 1.07 + 2% Up to USD 22.47
PayPal (US resident): USD 1.07 + 2% Up to USD 2.14
Read the Full Distrokid Review Get 7% Off Distrokid

Musician: 1 Artist
Musician Plus: 2 Artists
Ultimate: 5 - 100 Artists Read the Full Distrokid Review Get 7% Off Distrokid

Ultimate: $7.50 per Month or $89.99 Annually
Musician Plus: $3.75 per Month or $44.99 Annually
Musician: $2.08 per Month or $24.99 Annually
Read the Full Distrokid Review Get 7% Off Distrokid

No without Leave-a-Legacy - Removed from all stores
Yes with Leave-a-Legacy
$29/Single or $49/Album for Leave-a-Legacy
Read the Full Distrokid Review Get 7% Off Distrokid

$4.99/per single Annually
$14.95/per album Annually
+$20% of Royalties
Read the Full Distrokid Review Get 7% Off Distrokid

Emubands is a company located in the United Kingdom that pays in British Pounds which requires currency conversion fees that can dip into your profit if you're not located in the EU. Read the Full Review

Basic: No
Plus: Yes
Pro: Yes
Read the Full Review

Basic: No
Plus: No
Pro - Yes & keep 100%
Read the Full Review

Basic: $0
Plus: $25 Annually
Pro: $60 Annually
Read the Full Review

Basic: 1 Artist
Plus: 2-5 Artists
Pro: 6 Artists
Read the Full Review

Landr bundles a number of services that combine audio mastering, access to elite plugins, DAWs, sample libraries, and more with music distribution. It doesn't offer one-on-one customer reps but their customer might be the best on the market out of the distributors that don't. It's a great choice for producer who are also recording artists, self-recording recording artists, and artists exploring the possibilities of where their music can take them. A major plus for Landr is that it won't remove your music from stores if you cancel or can no longer afford to pay switching to a revenue share model where you keep 85%. Read the Full Landr Review Get 20% Off Landr

Landr offers Bundles that combine services like audio mastering, access to elite plugins, DAWs, sample libraries, and more for a single price at the Pro tier
Basic: $23.99/Yr.
Pro: $49.99/Yr.
Studio Essentials: $99.99/Yr.
Studio Standard: $143.88/Yr.
Studio Pro: $191.88/Yr. Read the Full Landr Review Get 20% Off Landr

Basic: No
Plus: Yes
Pro: Yes
Read the Full Landr Review Get 20% Off Landr

Basic: No
Plus: No
Pro - Yes & keep 100%
Read the Full Landr Review Get 20% Off Landr

SoundCloud offers artists promotion in addition to distribution by promising to expose to music to 100 listeners upon release to give artists a head start. It also has a unique fan-centric revenue model paying artists based on individual listener consumption for SoundCloud streams. Read the Full SoundCloud Review

SoundOn offers artists promotion as well as distribution by allowing you to opt-in to having your music sent to an army of TikTokers it has enlisted to promote releases. This is a feature that comes included at no additional cost with SoundOn. The issue with SoundOn is it’s owned by the company that owns TikTok which is actively being targeted for removal from the US along with services like this. It could literally be gone tomorrow so buyer beware. Read the Full SoundOn Review

Paypal - Undisclosed but likely 2.9% of each withdrawal
Payoneer - Undisclosed but likely 2.9%
Bank account - Free
Zelle - Free
OVO: Indonesia - Undisclosed
Dana: Indonesia - Undisclosed
Pix: Brazil - Undisclosed
SEPA: United Kingdom, Germany - Undisclosed
Mercado Pago: Mexico - Undisclosed Read the Full SoundOm Review

Allows you to keep 100% of revenue from all sources for the first year. After the first year, you only keep 100% of royalties earned from Bytedance owned properties such as Resso and TikTok. For all other platforms SoundOn will take a 10% cut. Read the Full SoundOn Review

United States Dollar（USD）：10
British Pound (GBP) : 7
Brazilian Real (BRL) : 50
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) : 140,000
Australian Dollar (AUD) : 14
New Zealand Dollar (NZD): 16
Canada Dollar (CAD) : 13
Euro (EUR) : 10
Read the Full SoundOn Review

Venice is the choice for artists looking to make a splash in the industry. Success in the music industry depends heavily on relationships and Venice puts that first by orchestrating weekly live Workshops, Meet and Greets, Talent showcases, and more. Artists are provided with opportunities to network with other artists as well major industry players from producers to executives and music supervisors. The comparison chart will not reflect the value of Venice because its offer is unique and extends beyond the standard features offered by most distribution companies. Read the Full Venice Music Review Get 25% Off Landr

ACH (US only) USD $1.15
Check USD $3.45
eCheck (international) USD $5.75
eCheck (Local UK bank account only) USD $1.72
PayPal (Non-US Resident) USD $1.15 + 2% Up to USD $21.15
PayPal (US Resident) USD $1.15 + 2% Up to USD $2.15
Wire Transfer (Non-US resident paid in non-USD) USD $23.00
Wire Transfer (Non-US resident paid in USD) USD $29.90
Wire Transfer (US resident) USD $17.25
Foreign Exchange Rate 2.50% Read the Full Vydia Review

Vydia doesn't disclose its share of revenue anywhere on its website or in its terms but the platform takes 35% of revenue Read the Full Vydia Review

Record Union charges per release for Content Id based on the release type: 1-3 Tracks: $10
4-6 Tracks: $14
7-12 Tracks: $16
Over 20 Tracks: $20
Read the Full Record Union Review

Record Union will keep your music in stores but you won't be paid royalties until you reactivate your subscription. 100% of your royalties will be claimed by Record Union until reactivation. You're paid royalties from the point after reactivation. Read the Full Record Union Review

Record Union has pricing options that varies across tiers and release types with annual fees per release.


A 10 song album under their Top Dog plan would cost you $24 annually. Releasing 3 albums on the same plan would result in annual payments of $72 annually. Read the Full Review

If you prioritize customer service, Record Union should be at the top of your list because that's an area of focus for the company. The limited number of stores can be an issue but not if you aren't concerned about any store outside of the major one like Spotify, Apple Music, etc. Record Union Discount Read the Full Record Union Review

Free: $0.00 - Keep 85%
Premium: $9.99 per Single | $20 per EP | $30 per Album | $45 per Extended Album + $10 Annually Read the Full Symphonic Review

Releases you distribute through Symphonic are exclusive to Symphonic. You cannot enter into any partnerships with DSPs without the express consent of Symphonic. Technically, you are in breach of the agreement if you do so much as upload your music to SoundCloud or Bandcamp. It's highly unlikely they'll excersize the right they have to hold you accountable for the breach, but you should be aware. Read the Full Symphonic Review

ACH (US only) USD $1.00
Check USD $3.00
eCheck (international) USD $5.00
eCheck (Local UK bank account only) USD $1.50
PayPal USD $1.00 +2% per $9,500 transaction
$2 max for US accounts $21 max for non-US accounts
Wire Transfer (Non-US resident paid in non-USD) USD $20.00
Wire Transfer (Non-US resident paid in USD) USD $26.00
Wire Transfer (US resident) USD $15.00
Foreign Exchange Rate (Under $5k) 2.50%
Foreign Exchange Rate (Over $5k) 1.90%
Read the Full Symphonic Review

PayPal: US $0.25 cap | Non-US: $20 cap
ACH: $1 - $5
Check: $5
Pre-paid Debit:$1 Read the Tunecore Full Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

Rising Artist: $29.99
Break Out Artist: $39.99
Professional: $49.99
Read the Tunecore Full Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

PayPal: US $0.25 cap | Non-US: $20 cap
ACH: $1 - $5
Check: $5
Pre-paid Debit:$1 Read the Tunecore Full Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

Rising Artist: No
Break Out Artist: Yes
Professional: Yes
Read the Tunecore Full Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

Rising Artist: No
Break Out Artist: No
Professional: Yes
Read the Tunecore Full Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

Tunecore auto-opts artists into their Accelerator Program which takes 20% of revenue generated by streams earned from the program. Accelerator provides access to Spotify Discovery Mode which may drive increased streaming activity. Read the Tunecore Full Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

Possibly the best option available with its combination of reliability, longevetity, consistency, store inventory, resources, relationships, pricing, and ability to assist growth. There are drawbacks, as there are with every distributor, but it offers a near perfect mix. Read the Full Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

The standard transaction fee is 2.9%. It isn't clear if Amuse's fee range is based on averae payouts or a cap. A cap restricts the max amount you pay. If Amuse isn't imposing a cap, you can pay an unlimited amount in transaction fees Read the Full Tunecore Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

Tunecore, uncommonly, charges you for each featuring artists if you choose to list that artist as an additional Primary artist on the release. You only have the ability to add additional Primary artists on the Professional plan at a rate of $14.99 annually per artist. Read the Full Tunecore Review Get 20% Off Tunecore

United Masters has terms that are cause for alarm and you should read through them thoroughly prior to deciding to use the company. These terms impact things like the control you have over your music, your freedom as an artist, and the type of business relationships you can form. Read the Full United Masters Review

Releases you distribute through United Masters are exclusive to United Masters. You cannot enter into any partnerships with DSPs without the express consent of United Masters. Technically, you are in breach of the agreement if you do so much as upload your music to SoundCloud or Bandcamp. It's highly unlikely they'll excersize the right they have to hold you accountable for the breach, but you should be aware. Read the Full United Masters Review