Music Distribution in India: DistroKid vs TuneCore

For most independent artists in India, the choice of distributor comes down to TuneCore India, DistroKid, CD Baby or Amuse. All four are open sign-up services. Believe works differently: it is a selective, label-style partner rather than an upload tool. TuneCore India is the only one of the four that prices in rupees, from ₹1,599 a year. DistroKid is the cheapest flat annual plan at $24.99. CD Baby charges once per release but keeps 9% of streaming income. Amuse starts at $23.99 a year and takes a 15% cut on YouTube Content ID on its entry tier.

This guide compares what each service costs, what it keeps, and what happens to your music if you stop paying. Every price and percentage below was taken from the companies' own pricing and help pages on 23 October 2026. Check them again before you sign up, because distributors change plans often.

If you have not released before, start with our explainer on how to release music without a record label. This piece goes a step further and puts the services side by side.

More facts

• TuneCore India: Entry price ₹1,599 a year (Rising Artist); Model Annual plan, or a fee per release; Commission on streams Annual fee; 20% fee on social platforms
• DistroKid: Entry price $24.99 a year (Musician); Model Annual plan, unlimited uploads; Commission on streams Keeps 0%; Social Media Pack takes 20% of ad revenue
• CD Baby: Entry price $9.99 a single, $14.99 an album; Model One-time fee per release, no annual fee; Commission on streams 9% of download and streaming income
• Amuse: Entry price $23.99 a year (Artist); Model Annual plan; Commission on streams 0% on stores; 15% on YouTube Content ID on the Artist tier
• Believe: Entry price By selection; Model Label services partner; Commission on streams Negotiated per deal

Why the choice matters in India

India's streaming market rewards local music. In a 2023 interview with Music Ally, Believe chief executive Denis Ladegaillerie said 75% of Spotify streams in India came from local artists. He also said YouTube made up about 50% of Indian artists' revenue, with Spotify close to 20%. That is why YouTube Content ID, social-platform fees and access to JioSaavn and Gaana matter more here than they would for an artist in Europe or the US.

We broke down what Indian streams actually earn in our guide to Indian indie streaming income in 2026.

1. TuneCore India

What it costs

TuneCore runs a dedicated Indian site with rupee pricing:

• Rising Artist: Price ₹1,599 a year; Support response 72 hours
• Breakout Artist: Price ₹2,799 a year; Support response 48 hours
• Professional: Price ₹4,499 a year, plus ₹999 for each extra artist profile; Support response 24 hours

There is also a pay-per-release option at ₹1,599 for a single and ₹2,799 for an album. TuneCore says it delivers to more than 150 stores. Its Indian site names JioSaavn and Gaana alongside the global platforms. Social platforms carry a 20% fee.

Who runs it

TuneCore was founded in 2006 and has been part of the French music company Believe since April 2015. Believe's India page names Akhila Shankar as head of TuneCore India and South Asia.

Artists it features

The TuneCore India pricing page carries artist testimonials from Ritviz, Anuv Jain, Karan Aujla, Krsna, Kamakshi Khanna, Avanti Nagral, Baani Sandhu, Nikhita Gandhi, Tha Mystro and 100RBH. For an artist outside the dollar economy, the rupee pricing and local support are the main reasons to choose it.

2. DistroKid

What it costs

DistroKid is a New York company that launched in early 2012 under its earlier name, Fandalism. Its plans are flat annual fees with unlimited uploads, and it says artists keep 100% of their earnings:

• Musician: Price $24.99 a year; Artists covered 1; Notable extras Unlimited uploads
• Musician Plus: Price $44.99 a year; Artists covered 2; Notable extras Custom label name, release date and ISRC; daily stats
• Ultimate: Price From $89.99 a year; Artists covered 5 to 100; Notable extras Built for managers and small labels

The extras add up

The headline price is low, but DistroKid sells several add-ons. Its help centre lists them:

• Social Media Pack (YouTube and TikTok monetisation): $4.95 a single or $14.95 an album each year, plus 20% of ad revenue
• Leave a Legacy, which keeps releases live if you stop your plan: $29 for a single or $49 for an album, one time
• Cover song licensing: $12 a song each year
• Store Maximizer: $7.95 an album each year
• Discovery Pack: $0.99 a song each year
• Dolby Atmos mixes: $26.99 a track

If you plan to stop paying for DistroKid one day, the Leave a Legacy fee is the line to watch. Without it, your releases are tied to keeping the annual plan active.

3. CD Baby

What it costs

CD Baby is the main pay-once option. Its support centre lists $9.99 for a single and $14.99 for an album, with no annual fee. The trade-off is a commission on what your music earns:

• Downloads and streaming: CD Baby's share 9%
• MLC (US mechanical royalties): CD Baby's share 15%
• Social video: CD Baby's share 30%
• Sync: CD Baby's share 40%

It also sells optional upgrades, including Boost at $39.99 and FastForward at $29.99.

When it makes sense

CD Baby works best for artists who release rarely and want their catalogue to stay up without a yearly bill. If you release often, or your songs stream heavily, the 9% cut on every stream can end up costing more than an annual plan.

4. Amuse

What it costs

Amuse's pricing page lists three annual plans:

• Artist: Price $23.99 a year; Artists 1; Release scheduling 14 days ahead; YouTube Content ID 15% royalty fee
• Artist Plus: Price $39.99 a year; Artists 2; Release scheduling 10 days ahead; YouTube Content ID No fee
• Artist Pro: Price $59.99 a year; Artists 3 or more; Release scheduling 7 days ahead; YouTube Content ID No fee

Artist Pro adds a custom label name. Amuse says your music stays live when you downgrade a plan. Cover song licensing costs $14.99 one time per cover. Royalty splits with collaborators who do not have an Amuse account carry a 15% royalty fee.

When it makes sense

Amuse's entry price is close to DistroKid's. Its safety net is gentler too, because music stays up when you move to a lower plan. Given how much Indian artists earn from YouTube, though, the 15% Content ID fee on the Artist tier is worth weighing against the $16 a year it costs to move up to Artist Plus.

5. Believe

A partner, not an upload tool

Believe was founded in Paris in 2005 and reported revenue of €988.8 million in 2024. Wikipedia describes its artist services as invite-only, and Believe owns TuneCore. In India, Believe says it has been active since 2013 and has more than 300 staff, with Vivek Raina as managing director. It names artists such as Osho Jain, Anurag Saikia, Paal Dabba, Malayali Monkeys and Vaisagh. According to Wikipedia, its India expansion in 2019 came with a 15% market share. It also acquired Venus Music, Entco and Canvas Talent. Music Ally reported in 2023 that Believe had offices in Mumbai (its Indian headquarters), Mohali, Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

When it makes sense

Believe suits artists who already have an audience and want marketing, playlist and label-style support. The terms are negotiated, so read any contract closely, especially clauses on rights and term length. Our guide to who owns Indian indie music masters explains what to look for.

Which distributor should you choose

• You want rupee pricing and Indian support: TuneCore India.
• You release often and want the lowest flat fee: DistroKid's Musician plan. Budget for add-ons and Leave a Legacy if you might cancel later.
• You release once or twice a year and hate subscriptions: CD Baby. Accept the 9% commission.
• You want a cheap plan that keeps music live if you downgrade: Amuse. Consider Artist Plus to avoid the Content ID fee.
• You have traction and want a team behind you: talk to Believe or another label services company.

How releases grow into label deals

Distribution is often the first step, not the last. Prateek Kuhad, pictured on this page, makes independent music in Hindi and English. He released two EPs in 2013 and his debut album In Tokens & Charms in 2015. In 2020 he became the first Indian artist signed by the American label Elektra Records, seven years after his first release.

Whichever service you pick, register your songs with the Indian collecting societies as well, because distributors do not collect every type of royalty. Our guide to IPRS, PPL and Novex licensing for indie musicians covers that part.

FAQ

Which music distributor is cheapest in India?

DistroKid's Musician plan is the cheapest flat annual plan at $24.99, and Amuse's Artist plan is $23.99. TuneCore India is the cheapest rupee-priced option at ₹1,599 a year. CD Baby charges a one-time $9.99 per single but keeps 9% of streaming income.

Does TuneCore India take a commission?

TuneCore India's plans are annual fees, but social platforms carry a 20% fee, according to its pricing page.

What happens to my songs if I stop paying DistroKid?

DistroKid sells Leave a Legacy, a one-time $29 per single or $49 per album fee that keeps releases live after you cancel. Amuse says music stays live when you downgrade a plan.

Can I get my music on JioSaavn and Gaana?

Yes. TuneCore's Indian site names JioSaavn and Gaana among its stores, and it delivers to more than 150 stores in total.

Is Believe the same as TuneCore?

No. Believe owns TuneCore, but Believe itself works as a selective, label-style partner, while TuneCore is an open sign-up distributor.

Sources

• DistroKid, "Pricing", accessed 23 October 2026: https://distrokid.com/pricing/
• DistroKid Help Center, extras and add-on pricing, accessed 23 October 2026: https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013534274
• TuneCore India, "Pricing", accessed 23 October 2026: https://www.tunecore.in/pricing
• TuneCore, India site, accessed 23 October 2026: https://www.tunecore.com/en-in
• CD Baby Support, distribution pricing and commission, accessed 23 October 2026: https://support.cdbaby.com/hc/en-us/articles/213125406
• Amuse, "Pricing", accessed 23 October 2026: https://www.amuse.io/pricing
• Believe, "Believe India", accessed 23 October 2026: https://www.believe.com/india
• Music Ally, interview with Believe CEO Denis Ladegaillerie on India, 8 September 2023: https://musically.com/2023/09/08/interview-believe-ceo-denis-ladegaillerie-india-is-the-perfect-market/
• Wikipedia, "DistroKid" (accessed 23 October 2026): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DistroKid
• Wikipedia, "TuneCore" (accessed 23 October 2026): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TuneCore
• Wikipedia, "Believe Music" (accessed 23 October 2026): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Believe%5FMusic
• Wikipedia, "Prateek Kuhad" (accessed 23 October 2026): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prateek%5FKuhad

Cover photo: Prateek Kuhad / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).