Best Free Music Distributor for Independent Artists

TL;DR (Quick Answwer):
The best free music distributor depends on your goals. If you’re only looking for fast uploads to Spotify, platforms like RouteNote or DistroKid may suffice. But if you want long-term royalty payouts, sync licensing access, and admin help with metadata and publishing, Melody Rights offers a free plan that covers more ground, and works alongside your current distributor, not against it.

You’ve got the track, it’s fire, you’re proud, you’re ready.

But here’s the part nobody warns you about.

Kobalt estimates that over $1 billion in publishing royalties go uncollected every year.

Quick Answer: What’s the Best Free Music Distributor?

The best free distributor depends on what you want.

If your goal is reach, speed, and visibility, look for:

• Clean royalty splits (at least 80 percent to you)
  
• Access to sync, not just streaming
  
• No hidden fees or fine print
  
• Admin support for royalties and metadata
  

Already using DistroKid or TuneCore? That’s fine. You can still use Melody Rights alongside them. They don’t clash, they cover different parts of your income.

How Music Distribution Actually Works

Music distribution is the bridge between your track and someone blasting it through headphones on a bad day.

Here’s what usually happens:

• You upload your song and artwork
  
• It gets sent to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more
  
• People stream it, and you earn royalties
  

But that’s just the surface.

If your track’s metadata isn’t clean…
If it’s not registered with the right codes…
If the songwriter info is missing…

You’re leaving money on the table.
And that money doesn’t wait around, it disappears.

Most distributors don’t warn you about that part.

Why This Matters If You’re Independent

If you’re unsigned, distribution isn’t just a delivery tool- it’s your engine.

But only if it does more than toss your track on Spotify.

You need:

• Control over your rights
  
• Reach across platforms and countries
  
• A real shot at sync deals
  
• Proper registration, so no royalties go missing
  

The wrong distributor?

They’ll lock you into contracts, take a cut, or ignore the publishing side altogether.

The right one helps you build something real, on your terms.

What Happens When You Miss the Admin Side

This happens more than you think.

An artist (let’s call them Riley), drops a single through DistroKid. It takes off. Over 100,000 streams.

But Riley never registers the track with a PRO. Didn’t sort the ISRCs. Didn’t even know mechanical royalties were a thing.

That money? It goes unclaimed.
Sometimes, someone else gets it by default.

Melody Rights exists to close that gap. So you keep what’s yours.

“I figured DistroKid had it all sorted. But turns out, my publishing royalties were just sitting there unclaimed.”
– Common story we hear from indie artists starting out

What to Look for in a Free Music Distributor

Plenty of platforms promise free distribution. Some deliver. Some hide fees or skim off the back end. Others just don’t go far enough.

With so many music distribution companies out there, it’s hard to know who’s helping and who’s skimming.

Here’s what actually matters when you’re deciding where to upload.

1. Royalties: What Do You Keep?

Not every “free” deal means what it says. Some platforms take a quiet cut. Others delay payouts or hide fees in the fine print.

Here’s what to check:

• Clear royalty splits, at least 80 percent to you
  
• Regular payouts, not quarterly surprises
  
• No hidden charges for access or withdrawals
  

Melody Rights Plans:

• Free: 10 uploads, keep 80 percent
  
• Pay-as-you-go: $3 per track, keep 80 percent
  
• Unlimited: $9/month, upload as much as you want, keep 100 percent

2. Reach: Where Can Your Music Go?

A good distributor goes beyond Spotify.

You want reach across streaming giants, niche scenes, and places where real listeners discover new sounds.

Look for:

• Major services like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon
  
• Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
  
• Global stores across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and beyond
  

The more places your music lands, the more chances it has to connect.

3. Sync and Extra Revenue

Streaming is just one lane. The right distributor opens doors to placements that actually pay.

Check for:

• Sync access for film, TV, trailers, and ads
  
• YouTube Content ID to monetize your music
  
• Distribution to gaming platforms and music libraries
  

Melody Rights is built for this kind of reach. You don’t have to leave your current distributor; just start claiming what’s yours.

4. Admin Help: Metadata, Registration, Royalties

This is where most money slips through the cracks.

If your metadata’s a mess or your track isn’t registered right, your royalties get stuck or vanish.

You need:

• Accurate metadata for titles, credits, and splits
  
• Support for ISRCs, PROs, and publishing registration
  
• Tools that track mechanicals, performance, and neighboring rights
  

Melody Rights handles this from day one- or fills the gaps other platforms leave behind.

5. Simplicity

You shouldn’t need a degree to upload a track.

Look for a platform that’s built for working artists, not just label teams.

It should give you:

• A clean dashboard with tools that actually make sense
  
• Mobile-friendly access
  
• Easy ways to manage splits and credits
  
• Reports that tell you what you’re earning, without a decoder ring
  

Melody Rights was built with this in mind. Plain English, real support, no smoke and mirrors.

How Does Melody Rights Compare?

If you’ve been Googling “best free music distributor,” you’ve probably come across RouteNote, DistroKid, or FreshTunes. Most blog posts list them side-by-side like it’s a shopping cart. But here’s the part they skip:

Most of those platforms stop at streaming. Melody Rights doesn’t.

Let’s break it down.

• RouteNote gives you unlimited uploads for free, but takes 15% of your royalties on that plan. No sync. No admin help.
  
• DistroKid is fast and simple, but costs $22.99/year, and you still have to sort your own rights and royalties.
  
• Unchained Music lets you keep 100%, but doesn’t cover sync or metadata support.
  
• Melody Rights gives you:
  
  • A free plan to test the waters (10 uploads, 80% royalties)
    
  • Full admin support for PROs, metadata, ISRCs, and royalty types
    
  • Sync-first distribution that works alongside DistroKid, TuneCore, and others
    
  • Paid options that unlock 100% earnings, no weird terms

Most major music distribution companies stop at streaming. Melody Rights doesn’t.

This isn’t just about getting your track on Spotify.

It’s about setting your music up for the long run. Royalties you don’t have to chase, sync deals you can actually land, and control you won’t find on most “free” platforms.

Disclaimer: These prices were accurate at the time of this post being published.

So, What’s the Best Free Music Distributor for You?

It depends on what you need.

If all you want is fast uploads to Spotify, RouteNote or DistroKid might get the job done.

But if you care about long-term revenue, sync licensing, and making sure your royalties don’t get lost, Melody Rights covers more ground. And does it without forcing you to switch.

Quick Comparison: Free Music Distributors

Most posts stop here. But getting on Spotify isn’t the finish line, it’s the start. Melody Rights picks up where others leave off.

You Don’t Have to Switch to Use Melody Rights

Already on DistroKid, CD Baby, or RouteNote? No problem.

Melody Rights works alongside your current distributor.

Think of it as filling in the royalty gaps they leave behind, not replacing them.

How Melody Rights Helps You Distribute Smarter

Already using DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby? Cool, you’ve got streaming covered.

But streaming isn’t the full picture.

Melody Rights picks up where those platforms stop: handling the royalties, rights, and revenue you’re likely missing.

Here’s how.

Get Paid Properly

Melody Rights registers your music for all the major royalty types: publishing, performance, mechanical, and neighboring.

If your track’s making money, we make sure it reaches you.

No chasing invoices. No cryptic statements. Just a clean dashboard, real-time tracking, and direct payouts.

Plans built to match your pace:

• Free: Upload up to 10 tracks, keep 80 percent
  
• Pay-as-you-go: $3 per upload, keep 80 percent
  
• Unlimited: $9/month, upload as much as you want, keep 100 percent

Reach Further

Spotify is only the start.

Melody Rights gets your music into sync libraries, gaming platforms, stock music channels, and emerging global marketplaces.

Your track could land in a Netflix scene, a YouTube intro, or a game soundtrack. – Not just another playlist.

Already using a distributor? That’s fine. Melody Rights works alongside what you’ve got. You stay in control, and we cover what the others miss.

Stay in Control

You put in the work. You deserve to know where your music lives, how it’s being used, and what it’s earning.

Melody Rights helps you manage:

• Clean metadata and proper song credits
  
• ISRC codes and PRO registration
  
• Royalty splits and admin tools for collaborations
  

If your music gets played in public (in shops, venues, or events), you could be owed even more through organisations like PPL and PRS.

Melody Rights also supports artists working with music distribution companies in the UK, including integration with PRS and PPL.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The world of music distribution has changed. Independent artists now have real power to share their work globally and keep more of what they earn.

There are more music distribution companies than ever, but not all of them are built with artists in mind. Some focus on streaming. Others call themselves “free music distributors” but take hidden cuts or leave royalties on the table.

The best free music distributor for you depends on your goals. If you only care about getting on Spotify fast, that’s cool. You’ve got options.

But if you want more (like sync placements, publishing income, and support with the admin side) Melody Rights was built for that. And yes, it works even if you already use DistroKid or another platform.

Your music deserves more than just streams. It deserves to be heard, placed, and paid.

Sign up for Melody Rights and start distributing smarter, without the tradeoffs.

Going fully DIY?

Our guide to Distributing Music Without a Distributor shows how to upload directly, avoid admin pitfalls, and keep 100% ownership.