You made a song. Now what? Getting your music on Spotify, Apple Music, and JioSaavn is not as complicated as it sounds — but picking the wrong distributor can cost you money and royalties.

A few years ago, getting your song on streaming platforms meant knowing someone at a label. That changed. Today, any independent artist can upload a track from their bedroom and have it live on 150+ platforms within 24–72 hours. That is what music distribution services do.

But the market is crowded now. There are free ones, paid ones, ones that take a cut of your royalties, and ones that let you keep everything. If you are just starting out — or even if you have been releasing music for a while — it helps to understand what you are actually signing up for.

What does a music distribution service actually do?

In simple terms, it takes your audio files and delivers them to digital streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, and so on. It also collects the royalties those streams generate and sends them to you.

Without a distributor, you cannot get your music on these platforms on your own. They do not accept direct submissions from artists. The distributor is the middleman that makes it possible.

Best music distribution services in India

India has a mix of global and local distributors. Here are the ones that actually work well for Indian artists.

India-friendly

Deliver My Tune

Built specifically for Indian artists. Distributes to JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk, and all major global platforms. Keeps 100% royalties on paid plans.

India-friendly

Believe Distribution

French company with a strong India presence. Works with labels and serious independent artists. Not really a self-serve option for beginners.

Global

DistroKid

Flat annual fee, unlimited releases, 100% royalties. Very popular. USD pricing can be a pain but it is one of the fastest distributors out there.

Free music distribution services — are they worth it?

Yes and no. Free plans almost always come with a catch. Either they take a percentage of your royalties (RouteNote takes 15%, some others take more), or they limit how many releases you can put out, or they are slow with payouts.

If you are just testing things out and releasing your first track, a free plan makes sense. But once you start getting real streams, you should move to a paid plan and keep your royalties. That 15% adds up quickly.

A note on royalties: Always check whether the distributor is taking a revenue share or charging a flat fee. For serious artists, flat fee + 100% royalties is almost always the better deal in the long run.

What about Indian platforms specifically?

This is where a lot of global distributors fall short. Platforms like JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk Music, and Hungama are massive in India — JioSaavn alone has over 100 million users. But not every distributor sends your music there.

Before you sign up, check their platform list. DistroKid, TuneCore, and Deliver My Tune all cover the major Indian DSPs. Some smaller distributors skip them entirely.

If you are an Indian artist making Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, or any regional language music, covering Indian pla

tforms is not optional. It is where a huge chunk of your audience lives.

Things to check before choosing

Do not just pick the first one you see. Here is what actually matters:

Royalty split: Do you keep 100% or do they take a cut? Some free tiers take 15–20%.

Platform coverage: Do they distribute to Indian platforms like JioSaavn, Gaana, and Wynk?

Release speed: Most distributors take 24–72 hours. Some can take a week. If you have a release deadline, this matters.

Payout schedule: Monthly? Quarterly? What is the minimum payout threshold? Some hold your money until you hit ₹1000 or $10.

ISRC and UPC codes: Every track and album needs these. Most distributors give them for free. Make sure yours does.

Takedown policy: If you want to remove your music later, can you do it easily? Some distributors make this harder than it should be.

So which one should you pick?

If you are in India and just starting out — try Deliver My Tune or RouteNote's free plan. They both cover Indian platforms, which most international artists do not need but you definitely do.

If you are serious about releasing music regularly and want the fastest delivery with 100% royalties, DistroKid's annual plan is worth the USD pricing. It is the most widely used distributor among independent artists globally for a reason.

And if budget is a concern right now, start free. Get your music out. Build an audience. Then upgrade when the royalties make the paid plan an easy decision.

The tool you use matters less than actually putting music out. Pick one, learn it, and keep releasing.

The bottom line

Music distribution is not complicated. You make music, a distributor puts it on platforms, and you collect royalties. That is the whole thing.

The only real decisions are: do you want to pay a flat fee and keep 100% of royalties, or start free and give up a small percentage? And do the platforms covered include the Indian ones your audience actually uses?

For most Indian artists, Deliver My Tune or DistroKid will cover everything you need. If budget is a concern right now, start with RouteNote's free plan — just remember they take 15% until you upgrade.

Stop waiting for the perfect setup. Pick a distributor, upload your track, and get it out there. You can always switch later. The music matters more than the tool you used to distribute it.

Common questions

What is music distribution service?

A music distribution service takes your recorded tracks and delivers them to digital streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, JioSaavn, and Gaana. It also collects streaming royalties on your behalf and transfers them to you. Without one, you cannot get your music on these platforms directly.

Which is the best music distibution services in India?

For Indian artists, Deliver My Tune is one of the most suitable options because it covers local platforms like JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk, and Hungama along with all major global platforms. DistroKid and TuneCore are strong global choices too, and both distribute to Indian DSPs. The best one depends on your budget and how often you release music.