Free Music Distribution: How to Get Your Music on Spotify and Beyond
You make music. You want people to hear it. Between those two things sits a system most artists never fully understand.
This guide explains how music distribution actually works, who takes what, and how to distribute your music for free without a label, without upfront fees, and without giving away your rights.
How Music Distribution Works
When you upload a track to Spotify or Apple Music, you are not uploading directly to those platforms. You need a distributor to get it there.
A distributor delivers your music files and metadata to streaming platforms, collects the royalties those platforms pay out, and passes them back to you. That is the core of what distribution does.
The question is who your distributor is, and what they take in exchange.
The Three Paths: Major Labels, Independent Labels, and Aggregators
There are three main ways artists get their music distributed. Each comes with a different deal.
Major Labels
Major labels like Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music handle everything: recording costs, marketing, playlist pitching, press, and global distribution. In exchange, they take a large share of everything you earn.
For streaming royalties, artists signed to major labels typically keep somewhere between 13% and 20% of what their music generates. The label keeps the rest. They also usually own the master recordings.
The upside is resources, reach, and advance money. The downside is that most of what your music earns goes to the label, often for years.
Independent Labels
Independent labels like Monstercat, Spinnin Records, Armada, Ninja Tune, and XL Recordings operate outside the major label system. They tend to offer better terms and more creative freedom, though deals vary widely.
A common independent label split lands around 50/50, with some deals running 60% label / 40% artist. More established artists with leverage can negotiate better. Unlike majors, indie labels sometimes let artists retain their masters depending on the deal.
The trade-off is still real though: you are giving up a meaningful share of every dollar your music earns, and often some control over your releases.
Aggregators
An aggregator is a distributor with no label attached. They get your music onto platforms and collect your royalties, but they are not signing you, funding your career, or owning your masters. You remain fully independent.
This is where the real choice happens for most artists today. Aggregators come in two main flavors.
Paid aggregators like DistroKid and CD Baby charge an upfront fee (annual subscription or per-release) and let you keep 100% of your royalties. You pay to access the service. If you are deciding between the two most common paid options, the DistroKid vs TuneCore breakdown compares pricing models, royalty splits on social platforms, and what happens when you stop paying.
Free aggregators like RouteNote, ONErpm, UnitedMasters, and Amuse charge nothing upfront. Instead, they take a percentage of your royalties, typically 10 to 15%.
What Each Path Actually Costs You
Here is what artists typically keep across each distribution model.
| Distribution Path |
Examples |
Artist Keeps |
Owns Masters? |
| Major label |
Universal, Warner, Sony |
13-20% |
Usually no |
| Independent label |
Monstercat, Spinnin, Ninja Tune |
~50% |
Sometimes |
| Paid aggregator |
DistroKid, CD Baby |
85-100% |
Yes |
| Free aggregator (revenue share) |
AWAL, RouteNote, ONErpm |
85-90% |
Yes |
| Free aggregator (no cut) |
Amuse, FreshTunes |
100% |
Yes |
The numbers tell a clear story. With free music distribution, you keep more of what your music earns than under any label deal, major or independent. The only cost on some free platforms is a small royalty percentage, and even that disappears on the fully free options.
The Best Free Music Distributors
These platforms all let you distribute music for free. No upfront payment, no annual subscription. The differences are in what percentage they take and what they offer beyond basic delivery.
RouteNote
RouteNote is one of the most established free music distributors available. The free tier delivers to over 50 platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and YouTube Music.
RouteNote takes 15% of royalties on the free plan; you keep 85%. If your streaming income grows to the point where that cut becomes significant, you can switch to RouteNote's paid plan to keep 100%. Your catalog stays live when you switch.
Best for artists who want reliable free distribution with a clear upgrade path.
ONErpm
ONErpm offers free entry-level distribution with a revenue share model. Beyond basic delivery, it includes YouTube Content ID monetization, playlist pitching tools, and royalty advance options for qualifying artists. It functions more like a full-service distributor than a simple delivery platform.
Best for artists already building streaming numbers who want support beyond just getting music onto platforms.
UnitedMasters
UnitedMasters offers a free tier that covers Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Instagram, and other major platforms. The free plan keeps 10% of streaming royalties; you keep 90%. Their paid Select plan at $5/month removes the cut entirely.
UnitedMasters has strong roots in hip hop and urban music and has developed brand partnership programs that create additional income opportunities for artists on the platform. If you are weighing UnitedMasters against the most common paid alternative, our UnitedMasters vs DistroKid comparison breaks down the trade-offs in detail.
Best for hip hop, R&B, and urban artists who want brand deals and sync opportunities alongside distribution.
Amuse
Amuse offers free music distribution through a mobile-first interface. The free tier delivers to major platforms with no royalty cut taken. The app makes uploading and release management fast, which suits artists who work primarily from their phones.
Amuse also scouts for emerging talent on the platform and has historically offered development deals to artists showing strong growth.
Best for mobile-first artists who want simplicity and the possibility of being discovered.
FreshTunes
FreshTunes offers completely free distribution with no upfront fees and no royalty cut. Releases go to major streaming platforms at no cost. It is a straightforward option for artists who want the simplest possible free distribution with no strings attached.
Best for artists who want 100% of their royalties without paying anything upfront.
How to Distribute Your Music for Free: Step by Step
Once you have chosen a platform, the process is straightforward.
Step 1: Master your track properly
Streaming platforms normalize loudness, but a well-mastered track still competes better in playlists. Aim for around -14 LUFS integrated loudness for streaming delivery. You can check your track's loudness for free with our LUFS Meter.
Step 2: Prepare your metadata
Have these ready before you upload: artist name exactly as you want it to appear on all platforms, song title, featured artist credits, genre and subgenre, release date, composer and producer credits for publishing royalties, and an explicit content flag if needed. If you are working with an existing MP3 file and need to update this information directly in the file, our MP3 tag editor lets you edit all ID3 fields in your browser.
Step 3: Create your cover art
Most platforms require 3000x3000 pixels, JPG or PNG, RGB color mode. Design for readability at small thumbnail sizes since that is how most listeners will encounter it.
Step 4: Submit with enough lead time
Build in at least two to three weeks before your intended release date. This gives you time to handle any submission issues and, importantly, to pitch Spotify editorial playlists before the track goes live. Spotify requires pitching before release.
Step 5: Register with a PRO
Distribution covers your master royalties, meaning the recording itself. Publishing royalties, the songwriting side, are collected separately. Register with a Performing Rights Organization like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC to make sure you collect both. If you are weighing the two main options, see our ASCAP vs BMI comparison for a side-by-side breakdown of cost, payout speed, and contract terms.
Step 6: Promote before and on release day
Free music distribution gets your track onto platforms. It does not get listeners to it. Have a plan for reaching your audience: social posts, playlist curator outreach, emails, short-form video content. The algorithmic push from platforms comes after real listeners engage.
Free Music Distribution FAQ
What is the best free music distributor?
It depends on what you need beyond basic delivery. RouteNote is the most established with a clear upgrade path. FreshTunes and Amuse take no royalty cut at all. ONErpm and UnitedMasters offer more tools for artists building real traction.
Do free music distributors take a cut of royalties?
Some do, some do not. RouteNote takes 15% on the free tier. UnitedMasters takes 10%. ONErpm uses a revenue share model. Amuse and FreshTunes do not take a royalty cut on their free tiers. Always read the terms before you upload.
Do I keep the rights to my music with a free distributor?
Yes. Aggregators, free or paid, do not own your music. You keep full ownership of your master recordings. A distributor delivers your music and collects royalties on your behalf, nothing more.
How long does free music distribution take?
Turnaround varies by platform. Some deliver in 24 to 48 hours. Others take up to 10 business days. Submit well in advance of your release date.
Can I distribute cover songs for free?
Cover songs require a mechanical license before you can distribute them legally. Most free distributors do not handle this automatically. You need to obtain a license separately through a service like Harry Fox Agency or Easy Song Licensing before submitting.
What happens if my music starts earning real money on a free plan?
Most free distributors with revenue share models let you switch to a paid plan at any time. Your catalog stays live and you move to better royalty terms. RouteNote and UnitedMasters both work this way.
Final Thought
A major label deal used to be the only path to getting music heard globally. Now it is one of the more expensive paths, and you give up ownership to take it.
Free music distribution puts your music on the same platforms, into the same playlists, reaching the same listeners, with you keeping the rights and most or all of what it earns. The tools exist. The only thing left is releasing.
Curious how much you can make with your music? Try our Streaming Royalty Calculator.