DistroKid is one of the most popular music distribution services in the world, trusted by independent artists, AI music creators, and small labels alike. This guide walks you through everything from registration to your first release — step by step, with no prior experience required.
What You Will Learn
This guide covers the complete DistroKid onboarding process:
- How to register and set up your account
- Which plan to choose and why
- How to upload your first release
- Tips for metadata, cover art, and audio specs
- How to get paid and manage your earnings
What Is DistroKid?
DistroKid is a digital music distributor that delivers your music to over 150 streaming platforms and digital stores, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, and more.
Key features:
- Flat annual fee — no per-track or per-release charges on most plans
- 100% royalty passthrough — DistroKid keeps none of your earnings
- Fast delivery — most releases go live within 1–3 business days
- Automatic ISRC and UPC assignment
- Spotify for Artists verification support
- Optional add-ons (YouTube Content ID, store customization, etc.)
It is especially popular among AI music creators and indie artists due to its straightforward pricing and permissive stance on AI-generated content.
Plan Comparison
DistroKid offers several plans. Choose based on your release volume and whether you manage other artists.
| Plan | Annual Price | Artist Accounts | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musician | $24.99 | 1 | Unlimited releases, basic features |
| Musician Plus | $39.99 | 2 | Pre-release scheduling, Spotify pre-save |
| Label (2 artists) | $79.99 | 2 | Revenue splits, multi-artist management |
| Label (5 artists) | $119.99 | 5 | Same as above, more artists |
| Label (10 artists) | $199.99 | 10 | Suitable for growing labels |
| Label (20 artists) | $339.99 | 20 | Mid-size label management |
| Label (50 artists) | $799.99 | 50 | Large-scale operations |
Recommended plan by use case:
- Solo artist releasing under one name → Musician ($24.99)
- Solo artist with multiple project names → Musician Plus ($39.99)
- Small label or artist with collaborators → Label 2 ($79.99)
- Growing label with 3–5 artists → Label 5 ($119.99)
Important: The Label plans include a "Teams" feature that allows automatic revenue splitting between collaborators — essential for anyone managing other artists.
Registration: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Go to DistroKid
Visit DistroKid to get started. The sign-up page is straightforward.
Step 2: Enter Your Email and Create a Password
Use a primary email address you check regularly — this is where DistroKid will send release confirmations and payment notifications.
Step 3: Choose Your Plan
Select the plan that fits your situation. You can upgrade later, so starting with Musician ($24.99) is fine if you're unsure.
Step 4: Enter Payment Information
DistroKid accepts major credit and debit cards. There are no hidden fees — you pay the annual subscription and that's it.
Step 5: Set Up Your Artist Profile
After registration, you'll be prompted to enter your artist name. This is what will appear on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other platforms.
Choosing your artist name:
- Use the name you plan to use consistently across all platforms
- Avoid special characters that might cause display issues
- If an artist with the same name exists on Spotify, consider a variation to avoid confusion
Step 6: Connect Your Bank Account or PayPal
To receive royalty payments, you must connect a payment method. DistroKid supports:
- Direct bank transfer (ACH) — For US-based accounts
- PayPal — Available internationally
- Payoneer — An alternative for non-PayPal regions
Set this up before your first release goes live so you don't miss any payments.
Uploading Your First Release
Once your account is set up, you're ready to upload.
Step 1: Click "Upload Music"
From your DistroKid dashboard, click the prominent "Upload Music" button.
Step 2: Choose Release Type
Select:
- Single — 1 track
- EP — 2–6 tracks
- Album — 7+ tracks
Step 3: Fill In Track Information
Required fields:
- Artist name — Should match what you set during account setup
- Song title — Use the actual title; no keyword stuffing
- Genre — Choose the most accurate genre from the dropdown
- Release date — Set a specific date; Friday releases are recommended
- Country/region — Select where you are based
Optional but recommended:
- Explicit content flag — Mark if the track contains explicit lyrics
- Language — Set to "Instrumental" for tracks with no vocals
- BPM — Useful for editorial curation
Step 4: Upload Your Audio File
Audio requirements:
- Format: WAV (preferred) or MP3
- For WAV: 16-bit minimum, 44.1kHz sample rate
- File must not be corrupted or truncated
DistroKid will scan the file during upload and alert you to any quality issues.
Step 5: Upload Your Cover Art
Cover art requirements:
- Minimum size: 3000 × 3000 pixels
- Format: JPG or PNG
- Must not contain: URLs, pricing information, social media handles, or excessive text
- Should be unique to this release (not reused from another release on a different artist)
Step 6: Select Distribution Platforms
By default, DistroKid distributes to all major platforms. You can deselect platforms if needed (e.g., if you want to release exclusively on Spotify initially).
Major platforms included:
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- Amazon Music
- YouTube Music
- TikTok / CapCut
- Deezer
- Tidal
- Pandora
- iHeartRadio
- And 140+ more
Step 7: Configure Optional Add-Ons
Available add-ons (paid separately):
- YouTube Content ID ($14.99/year) — Earn revenue when others use your music on YouTube
- Shazam + iPhone Siri (included) — Enabled by default
- Spotify pre-save campaign — Available on Musician Plus and above
- Leave a Legacy ($29.99 one-time) — Keeps your music online even if you stop your subscription
- Daily Streams Notification (free) — Email alerts for daily stream counts
For most artists, YouTube Content ID is the most worthwhile add-on.
Step 8: Review and Submit
Double-check all information before submitting. Once live, some fields (like artist name and track title) are difficult or impossible to change.
After submission, you'll receive a confirmation email. Your release will typically be live on Spotify within 1–3 business days.
Setting Up Revenue Splits (Label and Team Use)
If you're sharing revenue with collaborators, producers, or artists, DistroKid's Teams feature handles this automatically.
How to set up a revenue split:
- During the upload process, click "Teams" under the earnings section
- Enter the email addresses of each collaborator
- Set the percentage split for each person (must total 100%)
- Each collaborator must accept the invitation and connect their own payment account
Once live, DistroKid automatically routes each payment to the correct accounts without any manual intervention.
Getting Verified on Spotify for Artists
After your first release is live on Spotify, claim your Spotify for Artists profile.
Steps to get verified:
- Go to artists.spotify.com
- Search for your artist name
- Click "Claim" or "Get Access"
- Choose verification via DistroKid (fastest method)
- Follow the prompts to verify
Verification typically takes 1–3 business days. Once verified, you can:
- View real-time stream data
- Customize your Spotify profile
- Pitch new tracks to editorial playlists
- Add Canvas videos to your tracks
Managing and Tracking Releases
Viewing Stats and Earnings
Your DistroKid dashboard shows:
- Stats — Stream counts by track, platform, and date range
- Earnings — Revenue breakdown by platform and payment period
- Upcoming payments — Schedule of when you'll be paid
DistroKid pays out royalties approximately every 30 days once a minimum threshold is met ($1 for bank transfer, no minimum for PayPal).
Editing or Updating a Release
After a release is live, limited edits are possible:
- Cover art — Can be updated
- Store selection — Can add or remove platforms
- Metadata — Most fields cannot be changed after release
For significant errors (wrong artist name, incorrect title), the safest approach is to take the release down and resubmit with corrected information.
Removing a Release
To take down a release:
- Go to the release in your dashboard
- Select "Remove from stores"
- Confirm removal
Takedowns typically process within a few days. Note that removing a release does not delete your ISRCs — you can reuse them if you resubmit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I change my artist name after registering?
You can change the artist name associated with future releases, but changing it on existing live releases requires updating each release individually — which may not be possible on all platforms.
Q2. How long does it take to get paid?
DistroKid collects royalties from platforms and distributes them on a rolling basis. Most artists see their first payment within 1–3 months of their release going live, depending on the platform's payment schedule.
Q3. Is DistroKid suitable for AI music?
Yes. DistroKid does not have a blanket policy against AI-generated music. As long as you have commercial rights from your AI tool (paid plan) and follow Spotify's content guidelines, AI music is accepted.
Q4. What happens to my music if I don't renew my subscription?
By default, your music is removed from stores if you don't renew. To prevent this, purchase the "Leave a Legacy" add-on ($29.99 one-time per artist), which keeps your music live permanently regardless of your subscription status.
Q5. Can I use DistroKid for multiple artist names?
Yes — Musician Plus and above allow multiple artist names. The Label plans are designed for managing entirely separate artists, with per-artist stats and revenue splits.
Summary
DistroKid is the most accessible, cost-effective distributor for independent artists and AI music creators. With $24.99/year and a few hours of setup, your music can be live on Spotify, Apple Music, and 150+ other platforms.
Getting started checklist:
- Sign up at DistroKid
- Choose your plan (Musician for solo; Label for multi-artist)
- Connect your payment account (PayPal or bank)
- Prepare WAV audio + 3000×3000 cover art
- Upload your first release with complete metadata
- Set a Friday release date
- Claim your Spotify for Artists profile after your first track goes live
Start with one release, learn the system, and build from there. The infrastructure to reach hundreds of millions of listeners worldwide is now within anyone's reach.
This article is based on information as of January 2026. DistroKid's plans, features, and pricing are subject to change — always check the latest information at distrokid.com before subscribing.