iMusician vs DistroKid: Pricing, Features and Key Differences

Key Takeaways

• DistroKid starts at £19.99 per year in the UK for its Musician plan and includes unlimited song uploads.

• iMusician offers both pay-per-release and annual subscription models, including Starter, Rockstar and the AMPLIFY range.

• iMusician's Starter plan takes a 10% commission on standard sales and streaming revenue, while Rockstar and AMPLIFY plans take 0%.

• DistroKid says artists keep 100% of standard store and streaming earnings, before applicable payment fees and taxes.

• iMusician says distributed releases remain online indefinitely, even if an AMPLIFY subscription later ends.

• DistroKid removes music if the annual membership is not renewed, unless the relevant release has the optional Leave a Legacy extra.

• For non-US DistroKid users, up to 30% withholding tax may apply, although an applicable tax treaty can reduce or eliminate the rate.

• iMusician distributes to 200+ platforms, including specialist services such as Beatport, Traxsource and Apple Music Classical.

• DistroKid currently offers distribution to 150+ stores and services.

• YouTube Content ID is included with several iMusician plans, while DistroKid provides it through its optional Social Media Pack.

iMusician vs DistroKid at a Glance

iMusician

Pricing model: Pay per release or annual subscription

Pay-per-release plans: Starter and Rockstar

Annual plans: AMPLIFY, AMPLIFY+ and AMPLIFY Pro

Unlimited releases: Included with AMPLIFY subscriptions

Standard streaming/download commission: 10% on Starter; 0% on Rockstar and AMPLIFY plans

Release retention: Distributed music stays online indefinitely

Distribution reach: 200+ platforms

YouTube Content ID: Paid separately on Starter; included with Rockstar and AMPLIFY subscriptions

Content ID and social-media monetisation commission: 20%

Good fit for: Artists wanting a choice between one-off release fees and subscriptions, artists concerned about long-term catalogue availability, electronic music, classical music and labels needing specialist stores.

DistroKid

Pricing model: Annual subscription

UK entry price: £19.99 per year for Musician

Unlimited releases: Included on all standard plans

Standard streaming/download commission: 0%

Release retention: An active membership is normally required unless Leave a Legacy has been added to the relevant release

Distribution reach: 150+ stores and services

YouTube Content ID: Available through the optional Social Media Pack

Social Media Pack monetisation commission: 20%

Good fit for: Artists releasing frequently, musicians wanting a simple unlimited-upload subscription and collaborators who use automatic royalty splits.

Pricing and features can change, so check the current iMusician pricing page and DistroKid pricing page before purchasing.

Company Backgrounds and Origins

The growth of digital music distribution platforms has made it possible for independent artists to deliver music to major streaming services without signing a traditional record deal.

iMusician was founded in 2007 and is based in Switzerland. It distributes music to more than 200 digital platforms and has developed services for independent artists, labels, electronic music and classical releases.

DistroKid launched in 2013 and built much of its service around a straightforward proposition: pay an annual membership and upload an unlimited amount of music.

That distinction is less clear-cut in 2026 because iMusician now also offers unlimited annual distribution through its AMPLIFY subscriptions.

The choice is therefore no longer simply:

one-off payments with iMusician vs unlimited subscription with DistroKid.

Instead, iMusician lets artists choose between pay-per-release and subscription distribution, whereas DistroKid remains primarily subscription-based.

If you're still deciding how digital distribution fits into your release strategy, see our guide to music distribution dos and don'ts.

Distribution Reach and Store Coverage

Both services deliver music to the major platforms most independent artists are likely to prioritise.

These include services such as:

• Spotify

• Apple Music

• Amazon Music

• YouTube Music

• Deezer

• TikTok

iMusician currently advertises distribution to more than 200 platforms worldwide.

Its network includes specialist outlets such as Beatport and Traxsource for electronic music, alongside classical-focused services including Apple Music Classical, IDAGIO and Vialma.

It also works with regional platforms such as KKBox, Melon and Anghami.

DistroKid currently advertises distribution to 150+ stores and services, including the major international streaming platforms.

For most artists, however, the raw number of destinations should not be the deciding factor.

An artist focused primarily on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music may see relatively little practical difference between 150 and 200+ destinations.

An electronic label that specifically needs Beatport and Traxsource, or a classical artist looking for specialist classical services, may care much more.

Check the stores that actually matter to your music rather than simply choosing whichever distributor advertises the larger number.

Upload Limits and Flexibility

DistroKid includes unlimited song uploads across all three of its standard subscription plans.

iMusician now offers two approaches.

Artists can pay individually for releases through:

Starter

or:

Rockstar

Alternatively, AMPLIFY subscribers receive unlimited releases during their subscription.

That makes iMusician more flexible than older comparisons that describe it only as a pay-per-release distributor.

Unlimited Uploads Explained

DistroKid's Musician, Musician Plus and Ultimate plans all allow unlimited song uploads while the account has an active subscription.

iMusician's AMPLIFY, AMPLIFY+ and AMPLIFY Pro subscriptions also include unlimited releases.

Block Field

The important difference is that iMusician still offers pay-per-release options alongside those subscriptions.

An artist releasing only occasionally therefore does not necessarily need an annual iMusician subscription.

Someone releasing music regularly can instead use AMPLIFY and move onto an unlimited-release model.

DistroKid keeps the model simpler:

Pay an annual subscription and upload unlimited music.

iMusician Pay-Per-Release Plans

iMusician currently offers two main pay-per-release options.

Starter is its lower-cost entry option.

It includes:

• Pay-per-release distribution

• No annual subscription requirement

• Releases staying online indefinitely

• A 10% commission on standard sales revenue

• YouTube Content ID available separately

Rockstar is also pay per release but includes more features.

These include:

• Releases staying online indefinitely

• 0% commission on standard sales and streaming revenue

• YouTube Content ID

• Editorial playlist pitching

• Classical music distribution

• Custom release regions

• Pre-save pages

• Release Pages

• Artist Pages

iMusician localises its pricing, so check the current iMusician pricing page for the amount shown in your country before ordering.

iMusician AMPLIFY Subscriptions

Artists who release more frequently can use an annual subscription instead.

Current plans include:

AMPLIFY

Designed for one main artist and including unlimited releases.

AMPLIFY+

Designed for artists, collectives and smaller labels. You can select support for between 2 and 20 main artists.

AMPLIFY Pro

Designed for larger labels and supporting unlimited main artists.

The AMPLIFY plans include:

• Unlimited releases

• 0% commission on standard streaming and download revenue

• Releases staying online indefinitely

• Unlimited YouTube Content ID

• Music Analytics

• Artist Pages

• Release Pages

• Classical music distribution

Additional features vary by tier.

AMPLIFY+ adds tools including Revenue Splits and custom label functionality, while AMPLIFY Pro includes additional services intended for larger catalogues and labels.

DistroKid Pricing in the UK

DistroKid currently lists three main subscription levels for UK users.

Musician

£19.99 per year

Designed for one artist or band.

It includes:

• Unlimited song uploads

• Unlimited lyrics

• Spotify artist registration

• Royalty splits

• Promotional tools

• Mobile app access

Musician Plus

£35.99 per year

Designed for two artists or bands.

It adds features including:

• Daily streaming statistics

• Custom label name

• Custom release date

• Custom preorder date

• Custom iTunes pricing

Ultimate

From £71.99 per year

Designed for musicians, managers and labels handling larger numbers of artist profiles.

It adds features including:

• Support for additional artists

• Advanced analytics and statistics

• Spotify and Apple Music monitoring

• 1 TB Instant Share storage

• Playlister access

• Additional catalogue-management tools

These were the UK prices displayed by DistroKid when this article was last checked on 18 September 2026.

Always check DistroKid's current pricing before subscribing because prices can change.

Pricing: Which Model Costs Less?

There is no single cheapest option for every artist because release frequency matters.

Consider an artist releasing one album every two or three years.

A pay-per-release option can avoid paying for an annual distribution subscription during years when nothing new is released.

An artist putting out a single every month has a very different calculation.

For that musician, unlimited annual distribution may quickly become more economical than paying separately for every project.

DistroKid makes this decision relatively straightforward because every standard plan includes unlimited uploads.

iMusician gives you more options:

Occasional releases: Starter or Rockstar

Regular solo artist: AMPLIFY

Several artists or small label: AMPLIFY+

Larger label: AMPLIFY Pro

The best comparison is not simply the first advertised price.

Consider your likely distribution costs over two or three years, including:

• Number of releases

• Number of artists

• Optional extras

• YouTube monetisation

• Release retention

• Revenue commissions

• Promotional tools

A low annual subscription can be attractive for frequent releases, while a one-off distribution model can make more sense when releases are infrequent.

Music Retention: What Happens If You Stop Paying?

This is one of the clearest differences between iMusician and DistroKid.

iMusician

iMusician says that once a release has been distributed, it remains online indefinitely.

That applies to its pay-per-release options and releases distributed through an AMPLIFY subscription.

If you later cancel an AMPLIFY subscription, previously distributed releases do not require another annual payment simply to remain available.

DistroKid

DistroKid uses a different model.

If you do not renew your subscription, DistroKid says your music will be removed from streaming services.

There is, however, an optional exception.

DistroKid Leave a Legacy

DistroKid offers Leave a Legacy as an Album Extra for individual releases.

At the time of checking, it costs:

$29 for a single

or:

$49 for an album containing two or more tracks

The fee is non-recurring for the selected release.

If Leave a Legacy has been added, the release can remain available after a DistroKid subscription is cancelled or a membership payment lapses.

It does not replace the normal annual membership while your account remains active.

It also has to be purchased separately for every release you want covered.

You can read the current details in DistroKid's Leave a Legacy guide.

Royalty Commissions

Claims that a distributor lets artists “keep 100% of royalties” need some context because different revenue types can be treated differently.

iMusician

The current structure is:

Starter: 10% commission on standard sales revenue.

Rockstar: 0% commission on standard streaming and download revenue.

AMPLIFY plans: 0% commission on standard streaming and download revenue.

Social-media monetisation is treated separately.

iMusician currently deducts a 20% commission from revenue generated through social-media monetisation services, including:

• TikTok

• Instagram

• Facebook

• YouTube Content ID

That means 0% commission on an eligible iMusician plan does not necessarily mean 0% across every possible type of music income.

DistroKid

DistroKid says it takes 0% of the standard earnings streaming services and music stores allocate to the artist.

The artist therefore receives the normal store and streaming earnings sent to their DistroKid account, before applicable taxes and withdrawal charges.

DistroKid's optional Social Media Pack is treated separately.

Revenue generated through the Social Media Pack is paid to the artist minus 20%.

If you're trying to understand what those streaming earnings actually represent, see our guide to how much artists make on Spotify.

Withholding Tax: An Important Difference

The previous version of this article stated that DistroKid automatically withholds 30% from all non-US artists.

That is not accurate.

DistroKid says that if your country of tax residency is outside the United States, up to 30% of your earnings may be subject to US withholding tax.

The actual rate can vary.

If your country has a tax treaty with the United States and you qualify for the treaty benefits, withholding may be:

• Reduced

• Or eliminated entirely

Non-US users can enter their relevant tax information through DistroKid's payout system.

You can read the current policy in DistroKid's Tax Withholding for Non-U.S. Residents guide.

What About iMusician?

iMusician is a Swiss company and states that it does not apply the same US withholding-tax system to artist payouts.

That does not mean music income is tax-free.

Artists can still have tax obligations in their own country and should account for their earnings according to the rules that apply where they live.

Royalty Payments and Reporting

Both distributors receive revenue after streaming services and stores submit their reports and payments.

That means distributor earnings naturally appear after a delay compared with the date on which a stream actually happened.

iMusician provides sales and royalty reporting alongside Music Analytics on qualifying plans.

DistroKid reports earnings through its Bank system once stores have submitted the relevant revenue.

Artists can then request withdrawals subject to each distributor's current payout, tax and payment-processing requirements.

Distributor reporting should also be used alongside official DSP dashboards.

For Spotify-specific performance, for example, Spotify for Artists provides detailed audience and playlist information that a distributor's financial reporting does not replace.

YouTube Content ID

YouTube Content ID is another area where the two services differ.

iMusician

Content ID availability depends on the plan.

Starter: Available separately.

Rockstar: Included.

AMPLIFY: Unlimited Content ID tracks included.

AMPLIFY+: Unlimited Content ID tracks included.

AMPLIFY Pro: Unlimited Content ID tracks included.

iMusician deducts a 20% commission from YouTube Content ID revenue.

DistroKid

YouTube Content ID is available through DistroKid's optional Social Media Pack.

The Social Media Pack is an annually charged Album Extra that can help monetise eligible user-generated content containing your music on platforms including:

• YouTube

• TikTok

• Instagram

• Facebook

DistroKid sends the artist the Social Media Pack earnings minus 20%.

You can read the current details in DistroKid's Social Media Pack guide.

Revenue Splits for Collaborators

DistroKid's Splits feature is useful for collaborative releases.

Artists can specify what percentage of a song's earnings should go to contributors such as:

• Featured artists

• Producers

• Band members

• Other collaborators

DistroKid then allocates those earnings through its system.

iMusician also offers Revenue Splits on relevant AMPLIFY plans.

AMPLIFY+ and AMPLIFY Pro currently include the feature.

This can be particularly useful for artists and labels managing releases involving several rights holders because it reduces the amount of manual royalty accounting needed after earnings arrive.

User Interface and Ease of Use

The previous version of this article included precise user-interface ratings for DistroKid and iMusician.

Those figures were not adequately sourced, so they have been removed.

Both services provide online dashboards for tasks including:

• Uploading music

• Entering metadata

• Managing releases

• Viewing distribution status

• Checking royalties

• Accessing artist tools

DistroKid has built much of its proposition around a fast, relatively streamlined upload process.

iMusician combines music distribution with features such as Artist Pages, Release Pages, Music Analytics and its AMPLIFY tools.

Which interface feels easier is ultimately subjective.

It is more useful to compare the functionality included with the plan you would actually buy than rely on an arbitrary usability score.

Reporting Tools and Analytics

Both distributors provide reporting tools for monitoring music performance and revenue.

iMusician offers Music Analytics with its AMPLIFY subscriptions alongside royalty and sales reporting.

DistroKid provides earnings reporting across its subscriptions, while Musician Plus and Ultimate include more detailed streaming statistics and management features.

For example, DistroKid Musician Plus currently includes:

• Daily streaming statistics

• Enhanced statistics

• Additional release controls

Ultimate adds further analytics and catalogue-management functionality.

Distributor analytics should supplement rather than replace the dashboards offered by the streaming platforms themselves.

Promotional and Marketing Features

Distribution gets music onto streaming platforms, but it does not automatically create an audience.

Both distributors therefore provide additional promotional tools.

iMusician

Depending on the plan, iMusician offers features including:

• Pre-save pages

• Release Pages

• Artist Pages

• Editorial playlist pitching

• Music Analytics

• Cover art creation

• YouTube artist tools

Not every feature is included in every plan.

Starter has a more limited feature set than Rockstar or the AMPLIFY subscriptions.

DistroKid

DistroKid provides promotional tools including:

• HyperFollow

• Promo Cards

• Mini Videos

• Spotify artist registration

• Lyrics delivery

• Other artist tools

HyperFollow gives artists a shareable promotional page for directing listeners towards their music.

If you want to go beyond distributor-provided tools, see our guide to promoting your music as an independent artist.

Customer and Artist Support

Support is another consideration when comparing distributors.

iMusician provides online support resources and offers different support options depending on the plan being used.

Its higher AMPLIFY tiers provide more direct assistance, with AMPLIFY Pro including video consultation.

DistroKid operates a large Help Center alongside its customer-support system.

When comparing support, consider whether you primarily want:

a self-service platform

or:

more direct assistance with releases and catalogue management.

The difference can become particularly important for labels, complex releases or artists who frequently need metadata changes.

Genre and Specialist Store Support

Most independent artists using either service can distribute music across the mainstream genres and major DSPs.

iMusician places particular emphasis on specialist destinations including:

• Beatport

• Traxsource

• Apple Music Classical

• IDAGIO

• Vialma

That may make its network particularly relevant for electronic and classical artists.

DistroKid supports a wide range of genres and delivers to the major international streaming services.

The important question is not which company advertises the largest total number of destinations.

Check whether the specific stores that matter to your audience and genre are supported.

Switching From DistroKid to iMusician

The previous version of this article advised artists to remove their DistroKid release before uploading it to iMusician.

That is not iMusician's current recommendation and can create unnecessary downtime.

iMusician currently recommends an overlap when transferring an existing release.

1. Gather Your Existing Release Information

Save the original:

• ISRC codes

• UPC or EAN barcode

• WAV files

• Cover artwork

• Song titles

• Artist names

• Other important metadata

2. Recreate the Release With iMusician

Upload the same audio and matching metadata.

Reuse the existing ISRCs and barcodes where appropriate.

3. Wait Until the iMusician Version Is Live

iMusician recommends waiting until its delivery appears live on the streaming services.

4. Allow an Overlap

Once the iMusician version is live, its current guidance says to wait at least five days before asking the previous distributor to remove its delivery.

This overlap gives streaming services time to map the replacement version to the existing recording.

5. Request the Old Release Takedown

After the overlap, request the takedown from DistroKid.

Matching the:

• ISRCs

• Audio

• Artist information

• Release metadata

helps streaming platforms recognise the new delivery as the same recording.

No distributor can absolutely guarantee that every platform will preserve every statistic or playlist placement.

You can read the current process in iMusician's switching distributors guide.

Switching From iMusician to DistroKid

DistroKid also recommends a short overlap when transferring an existing release to its service.

Its current guidance is:

1. Upload your releases to DistroKid.

2. The next day, ask your previous distributor to remove those releases.

DistroKid warns that the release may temporarily appear twice while the old delivery is removed.

To give services the best chance of preserving play counts and playlist placements, DistroKid recommends using the same metadata, ISRCs and audio files.

It also makes clear that preservation cannot be guaranteed because the final matching process is controlled by the streaming services.

See DistroKid's official switching guide.

iMusician Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Choice between pay-per-release and annual subscriptions

• Unlimited releases available through AMPLIFY

• Music remains online indefinitely

• 200+ destination platforms

• Specialist electronic and classical distribution

• 0% standard sales commission on Rockstar and AMPLIFY

• YouTube Content ID included with several plans

• Options suitable for solo artists and larger labels

Things to Consider

• Starter takes a 10% commission on standard revenue

• Social-media and YouTube Content ID revenue is subject to a 20% commission

• Features vary substantially between plans

• Some additional services can incur extra costs

• Frequent releases on pay-per-release plans may cost more than choosing a subscription

DistroKid Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Unlimited uploads on every standard subscription

• UK pricing starts at £19.99 per year

• 0% commission on standard streaming and store earnings

• Automated royalty splits

• HyperFollow and other promotional tools

• Subscription levels for solo artists and labels

• Optional Leave a Legacy for catalogue retention

Things to Consider

• An annual membership is normally required to keep music distributed

• Leave a Legacy is purchased separately for individual releases

• Some features are paid Album Extras

• YouTube Content ID requires the Social Media Pack

• Up to 30% US withholding tax can apply to some non-US users depending on tax residency and treaty eligibility

• More advanced release-date and analytics controls require higher subscription tiers

iMusician vs DistroKid: Which Suits Different Artists?

The most useful way to compare the platforms is by release pattern and requirements rather than trying to identify one universally superior distributor.

If You Release Only Occasionally

iMusician's pay-per-release plans may appeal because you do not need to maintain an annual distribution subscription simply to keep previously distributed music available.

If You Release Frequently

Both DistroKid and iMusician AMPLIFY offer unlimited releases.

Compare the annual price and included features rather than assuming DistroKid is the only unlimited-upload option.

If Keeping Music Online After Cancellation Matters

iMusician includes indefinite release availability in its distribution model.

DistroKid normally requires an active subscription, although Leave a Legacy can be added to individual releases.

If You Run a Small Label

Compare:

• Number of supported main artists

• Royalty splits

• Analytics

• Label functionality

• Support

• Specialist DSP access

DistroKid Ultimate and iMusician AMPLIFY+ or AMPLIFY Pro are the more relevant plans to investigate.

If You Release Electronic Music

iMusician's explicit distribution to specialist services such as Beatport and Traxsource may be important.

Check the exact services your audience uses before deciding.

If You Want a Low-Cost Unlimited Entry Plan

DistroKid's UK Musician subscription currently starts at £19.99 per year and includes unlimited uploads for one artist or band.

That makes its basic proposition straightforward for prolific solo artists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is iMusician Better Than DistroKid?

Neither distributor is automatically better for every artist.

iMusician offers pay-per-release and unlimited annual options, and distributed releases can remain online after a subscription ends.

DistroKid uses an annual subscription model with unlimited uploads and currently starts at £19.99 per year in the UK.

The more suitable choice depends on release frequency, number of artists, specialist-store requirements and the additional features you need.

Is iMusician Pay Per Release?

Yes, but that is no longer its only pricing model.

Starter and Rockstar are pay-per-release options.

AMPLIFY, AMPLIFY+ and AMPLIFY Pro are annual subscriptions with unlimited releases.

Does DistroKid Have Unlimited Uploads?

Yes.

DistroKid currently includes unlimited song uploads across Musician, Musician Plus and Ultimate.

Does iMusician Have Unlimited Uploads?

Yes.

Its AMPLIFY subscription plans include unlimited releases.

Does iMusician Keep 100% of Royalties?

It depends on the plan and revenue source.

Starter takes a 10% commission on standard sales revenue.

Rockstar and AMPLIFY plans take 0% commission on standard distribution revenue.

iMusician takes 20% of YouTube Content ID and supported social-media monetisation revenue.

Does DistroKid Take a Percentage of Royalties?

DistroKid says it takes 0% of standard store and streaming earnings.

Its optional Social Media Pack is treated separately, with earnings paid to the artist minus 20%.

Taxes and withdrawal charges can also apply.

Does DistroKid Withhold 30% From International Artists?

Not necessarily.

DistroKid says up to 30% may be withheld from earnings for non-US tax residents.

Applicable tax treaties can reduce or eliminate that rate for qualifying users.

Does DistroKid Remove Music If You Stop Paying?

Yes, under its standard subscription model.

DistroKid says music is removed if the subscription is not renewed.

Releases with the optional Leave a Legacy extra can remain available after cancellation or a lapsed membership payment.

Does iMusician Remove Music When You Cancel?

iMusician says releases already distributed through its service remain online indefinitely even if an AMPLIFY subscription later ends.

Which Has More Stores, iMusician or DistroKid?

iMusician currently advertises distribution to 200+ platforms.

DistroKid advertises 150+ stores and services.

The practical difference depends on whether the additional specialist destinations matter to your music.

Does DistroKid Include YouTube Content ID?

Content ID is available through DistroKid's optional Social Media Pack, rather than being included automatically with its standard membership.

Does iMusician Include YouTube Content ID?

It depends on the plan.

Starter offers Content ID separately, while Rockstar and the AMPLIFY plans include it.

Conclusion

The iMusician vs DistroKid comparison has changed considerably as iMusician has expanded beyond its traditional pay-per-release model.

DistroKid still uses its familiar annual subscription structure, currently starting at £19.99 per year in the UK, with unlimited uploads included across its standard plans.

iMusician now gives artists two routes:

Starter or Rockstar for individual releases

or:

AMPLIFY subscriptions for unlimited annual distribution.

One of the most important differences is catalogue retention.

iMusician says releases remain online indefinitely once distributed, even if an AMPLIFY subscription later ends.

DistroKid normally requires the annual membership to remain active, although Leave a Legacy can be purchased for individual releases that an artist wants to remain online after cancelling.

Royalty claims also need to be read carefully.

DistroKid and iMusician's eligible plans both offer 0% distributor commission on standard streaming and store earnings, but Content ID and social-media monetisation have separate commission structures.

International artists should also assess DistroKid's US withholding rules according to their actual tax residency rather than assuming that every artist outside the United States automatically loses 30%.

For an artist releasing frequently who wants a straightforward unlimited-upload subscription, DistroKid provides a simple model.

For someone who wants the choice between paying release by release and subscribing annually — particularly where permanent catalogue availability, specialist electronic stores or classical distribution matter — iMusician offers a distinctly different approach.

The most useful comparison is therefore not simply which service has the lower headline price, but which pricing structure, catalogue policy, store network and feature set best matches how you expect to release music over the next several years.