DistroKid: Choosing a Plan, Paid Add-Ons, Splits and What Happens If You Stop Paying

DistroKid is a music distribution service that sends your songs to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TikTok, YouTube Music and many other platforms. Unlike per-release distributors, DistroKid charges an annual subscription for unlimited uploads, and you keep the royalties your music earns.

What decides whether DistroKid is good value is simple: picking the plan that matches how many artists you release under, paying only for add-ons you will use, and understanding what happens to your catalogue if the subscription lapses.

Picking a DistroKid plan

The entry Musician plan covers one artist name with unlimited uploads. It suits a solo artist releasing under a single name.

Musician Plus covers two artist names and adds tools such as custom release dates, pre-save pages and more detailed stats. The Ultimate tier, aimed at small labels and managers, covers many artist names. Choose based on how many names you actually release under now, not how many you might; DistroKid lets you upgrade later.

Check the current feature table on the DistroKid site, as the exact tools included in each plan change from time to time.

Paid add-ons: which are worth it

At upload, DistroKid offers optional extras charged per release. YouTube Content ID claims money when others use your recording in YouTube videos; worth it if your music is likely to be used in videos, less so for a first demo.

Shazam and store extras add your tracks to recognition services and smaller platforms. A store maximiser option sends future releases to new stores automatically. Each is modest alone, but ticking every box on every single adds up quickly across a year of DistroKid releases.

Decide your add-ons once as a policy, rather than impulsively at each upload.

Leave a Legacy and cancellation

If you stop paying your DistroKid subscription, releases can be taken down from streaming services. That is the biggest risk in the subscription model.

Leave a Legacy is a one-off payment per release that keeps that release live even if your account lapses. It is worth buying for the tracks that earn steadily or matter most to you. For a large catalogue of experimental singles, keeping the subscription active is usually cheaper than buying it for every release.

Splits and teams

DistroKid Splits pays collaborators their share of royalties automatically. Set percentages per track, and each collaborator receives payments into their own DistroKid account. It removes the awkward job of sending money to bandmates or producers by hand.

Agree splits in writing before release. Changing them after money has flowed is possible but causes friction. Collaborators need their own DistroKid account to receive a split, though it does not need to be a paid plan.

Covers, samples and delivery times

Releasing a cover song requires a mechanical licence. DistroKid can arrange it for US distribution for an extra fee per cover. Uncleared samples are a common reason for takedowns and withheld royalties, so clear them before uploading.

Upload at least a few weeks before your release date. Stores take different times to process, and a pre-save campaign needs lead time. Check artwork against DistroKid's specifications, since non-compliant covers are a frequent cause of rejection.

Getting paid

Stores report earnings to DistroKid on their own schedules, often a couple of months after the streams happen, so do not expect money from a new release straight away. Earnings build up in your DistroKid bank and can be withdrawn by the payout methods offered in your country.

Complete the tax form in your DistroKid account early. Without it, withdrawals can be delayed or withholding applied. Check whether a small fee applies to your chosen withdrawal method before cashing out tiny balances.

Where the DistroKid savings are

DistroKid discount codes normally apply to the first year of a plan, not to renewals. Plan around the renewal price, because that is what you will pay every year afterwards.

Try DK45 first at sign-up. If it has expired, seven4dv is an alternative at the same level. Only one code applies per purchase.

The 7% code is the long-running partner-style offer and tends to work when the larger ones do not. On the Musician plan, 7% saves only a small amount, so it is a fallback rather than a reason to sign up.

A code does not change the value of add-ons, which are charged per release. The biggest long-term saving on DistroKid is choosing the smallest plan that covers your artist names.

Common questions

Does DistroKid take a cut of royalties?

DistroKid lets you keep your streaming royalties; you pay the annual fee plus any add-ons.

What happens to my music if I cancel DistroKid?

Releases can be removed from stores unless you have bought Leave a Legacy for them.

Do DistroKid codes work on renewal?

Usually not. They are normally first-year discounts for new subscriptions.

Can I upgrade my DistroKid plan later?

Yes. Start on the smallest plan that fits and move up if you add artist names.