Release Your Music — The Honest Rundown
Most articles about 'free music distribution' are years out of date — the free tiers they recommend are dead. Here's what's actually true in 2026, checked against the platforms themselves.
Actually free
The last real free distributor standing — no upfront cost, you keep 85%, upgrade any release to 100% later. Free tiers at Amuse, TuneCore, and UnitedMasters are all gone.
Free direct-to-fan store — fans pay what you charge, you keep the majority, and you get their email. Every serious independent should have one.
Free hosting for demos, works-in-progress, and DJ-world discovery — not a replacement for real distribution.
Paid, and worth knowing
Roughly $23–$50 a year buys you 100% of royalties and faster support. Fair trade once music is earning.
~$23/yr unlimited releases, keep 100% — the default paid choice; music comes down if you stop paying.
Pay per release, no annual fee, stays up forever — plus built-in publishing administration.
The tools around a release
Pitch unreleased songs to Spotify's editors free — submit at least 7 days early (3–4 weeks is better) to also land Release Radar.
The continuously-updated comparison of every distributor — read this before choosing, it's the industry's reference.
Pre-save links capture followers and emails before release day — most distributors include one free.
The honest math: free distribution costs 15% forever; paid costs ~$23 a year. The moment a release earns more than pocket change, paid wins. Until then, RouteNote and Bandcamp cost nothing to start.
This page is part of the No-Money Music Resource Library — free, working links for every corner of a music career, checked by hand.