Top Fastest Music Distribution Services for Indie Artists
Below we break down some of the fastest music distribution services available, from popular subscription-based distributors to free platforms. Each of these has a reputation (and marketing) for quick turnaround. Let’s see how they stack up:
DistroKid – Unlimited Releases at Lightning Speed
DistroKid has built its brand around being one of the fastest music distributors in the industry. This subscription-based service (starting around $22.99/year for one artist) offers unlimited song and album uploads. DistroKid’s standout feature is its speed: the company claims to get your music into stores “10–20× faster than any other distributor.” In practice, many users report songs appearing on major platforms like Spotify within just 24 hours of uploading. This rapid turnaround, combined with ease of use, makes DistroKid a favorite for many independent artists.
Features & Pricing: With DistroKid’s flat annual fee, you can upload music to all platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon, TikTok, and over 150 more) as much as you want. You keep 100% of your royalties. The platform is very straightforward: you fill in your song info, upload your audio and cover art, and DistroKid handles the rest. They also offer extras like automatic royalty splitting for collaborators, lyrics syncing, and optional paid add-ons (for example, YouTube Content ID or Shazam inclusion). Be aware: those add-ons can add up in cost, but they’re optional.
Speed: DistroKid’s typical delivery time is 1–7 days for most releases, but often it’s on the shorter end of that range (reddit.com)
. Users frequently see their songs go live on Spotify and iTunes within a day or two, especially if you choose “Release as soon as possible” instead of setting a future date. DistroKid prides itself on this quick delivery – it’s a major selling point. They even advertise that some releases have gone live in a matter of hours after upload (charlescleyn.com).
Pros:
Fast distribution – one of the quickest in the market (often 24-72 hours or less for many stores).
Unlimited uploads for a flat yearly price – great for prolific artists.
Wide store coverage and useful features (Splits, HyperFollow pre-saves, etc.).
Simple interface with a quick upload process.
Cons:
No true free tier (you must pay the annual fee, though it’s reasonably low).
Some advanced features (like leaving content up if you cancel your subscription) require higher plans. Also cover song licensing costs extra.
Customer support can sometimes be a bit slow if you encounter issues, despite fast distribution times.
Ideal for: Artists who release music frequently and want it live as soon as possible. If you’re willing to pay a modest yearly fee for speed and convenience, DistroKid is often the top choice.
TuneCore – Fast and Reliable (Now with Free Tier)
TuneCore is one of the older distribution companies and is known for reliability and comprehensive services. Historically, TuneCore charged per release (and was a bit slower on delivery), but it has evolved. Now TuneCore offers annual plans (starting at ~$14.99/year for unlimited singles) and even a free plan that lets you distribute to a few social platforms. For full platform distribution (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.), you’ll need a paid plan, but TuneCore’s turnaround times are quite fast and on par with top competitors.
Features & Pricing: TuneCore’s free tier (called TuneCore Social) allows uploads to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram – useful for promotion, but not enough if you want to release music on all platforms. Their paid plans come in tiers (Rising Artist, Breakout Artist, etc.), offering unlimited distribution to streaming services and varying extras. Pricing ranges from about $15 to $50 per year depending on features. TuneCore includes detailed sales analytics, and options for music publishing administration and sync licensing (for extra fees). They’ve also partnered with services for social media promotion and offer customer support for technical issues.
Speed: TuneCore has significantly improved its speed in recent years. They often quote an upload time of 1–3 days (24–72 hours) for most major stores. For example, TuneCore’s support site notes roughly “Spotify: 2-5 business days, Apple Music: 1-2 days” for releases to go live. In practice, TuneCore might not always be quite as lightning-fast as DistroKid, but it’s not far behind. Many artists see their songs up within a couple of days on key platforms, which is why TuneCore is listed among the fastest options. The company recommends setting your release date at least one week out just in case, but if you choose the earliest possible date, it usually hits stores very quickly.
Pros:
Fast distribution (often within a few days for most services).
Established, trusted company with a strong track record in the industry.
Offers a free tier (for social platforms) and flexible plans; you can choose a plan that fits your release frequency.
Good platform analytics and optional services like publishing admin for those who need them.
Cons:
The main fast music distribution to Spotify/Apple requires a paid plan; the free plan is limited (social media/music library platforms only).
Annual cost can add up if you want the higher-tier features (though basic unlimited release plan is reasonably priced).
While fast, TuneCore might still suggest longer lead times for safety (e.g. they advise 2-3 weeks lead for optimal planning), so truly last-minute releases are not their primary focus.
Ideal for: Indie artists who want a balance of speed and professionalism. If you’re willing to pay per year for unlimited releases and want a reputable distributor that gets your music out in ~1-3 days, TuneCore is a solid choice. It’s especially good if you also value detailed reports and perhaps plan to use their publishing or sync services.
Ditto Music – Fast Unlimited Distribution (with Express Option)
Ditto Music is another unlimited distribution service (subscription around $19.99/year for one artist) that many DIY artists use. It’s similar in model to DistroKid – you pay a flat fee and keep 100% royalties. Ditto supports distribution to all major streaming platforms and has marketing tools like pre-save links. When it comes to speed, Ditto can be fast, but user experiences vary. By default, Ditto’s release time might range a few days to a week. They also offer a paid “Express Release” option to accelerate the process.
Features & Pricing: For about $20/year (solo artist plan), you get unlimited releases to all major stores, free ISRC/UPC codes, and access to Ditto’s online dashboard for tracking your streams and earnings. They also have higher-tier plans for labels or multiple artists. Ditto doesn’t charge extra per song or take a cut of royalties, which is good for artists on a budget who release often. One notable feature Ditto lacks is built-in cover song licensing – it focuses on original music distribution (you’d have to handle cover licenses separately). They have a 30-day free trial so you can test the service.
Speed: Ditto’s normal distribution speed is decent, with many releases going live in about 2–7 days. However, Ditto themselves advise artists to allow at least 2 weeks lead time for releases to ensure everything hits on time, similar to other distributors. If you’re in a hurry, Ditto offers an Express Release service (for an additional fee, reportedly around $40 per release) which can get your music live in about 3-5 business days. This is helpful if you need a quicker turnaround on a specific release. That said, some users have reported that if any issue arises (metadata error, artwork problem), even the Express release can be delayed into the 2-week+ range. So while Ditto can be fast, it may not be as consistently lightning-fast as DistroKid.
Pros:
Unlimited releases with 0% commission for a flat yearly price – good value.
Generally speedy distribution (a few days to a week) and an option to pay for faster delivery on urgent releases.
Offers useful features like royalty splits and custom release dates/label name.
30-day trial lets you try it without commitment.
Cons:
No free tier; upfront payment required (though trial available).
Express Release costs extra, which can negate some savings if you frequently need rush releases.
Some artists have noted customer support or approvals can be slow if something goes wrong, causing delays.
Ditto had some bad press years ago about support, though they have improved since.
Ideal for: Artists who like DistroKid’s model but are open to alternatives. Ditto can work well if you plan your releases normally (giving it a week or more), and it gives you the safety net of an express option. It’s a fast music distributor in many cases, but you’ll want to double-check everything in your submission to avoid any hiccups.
Amuse – Free Distribution with Upgrades for Speed
Amuse is a unique player in that it began as a completely free music distribution service via a mobile app. With Amuse (on the free plan), you can upload your song and distribute it to all major platforms for free, keeping 100% of your royalties. The trade-off for the free model is slower release scheduling: Amuse’s free tier requires you to submit well in advance (they recommend about 4 weeks lead time). However, Amuse also offers paid plans (“Boost” and “Pro”) that allow much faster turnaround – even as quick as 10 days or less – for a monthly or annual fee.
Features & Pricing: On the free plan, Amuse lets you release 1 single per month (at no cost) through their smartphone app or website. It covers popular stores like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, etc. Free users have limited customer support and can’t set a specific release date far in the future – you basically submit and wait ~4 weeks for it to go live. Amuse Pro (approximately $59.99/year, or monthly billing available) and the mid-tier Boost plan offer more features: unlimited releases, faster distribution, the ability to set release dates, team member accounts, and priority support. Notably, with a paid plan Amuse unlocks “Release ASAP” mode, which can put your music live as soon as 48 hours on some platforms in ideal cases. Essentially, paying gets you speed and flexibility, while the core distribution function remains the same.
Speed:
Free Plan: Slowest of the lot – you must submit 4 weeks before desired release. In fact, Amuse free has an internal review and only releases songs on Fridays. If you upload a track without a future release date, it will typically take about 28 days to go live. So free Amuse is not for same-week releases; it’s more for artists who plan a month out but don’t want to spend money.
Amuse Boost: Faster – roughly 14 days lead time needed (you can schedule 2 weeks out).
Amuse Pro: Fastest – allows scheduling about 10 days out. With the “Release ASAP” feature on Pro, once you submit, Amuse will review your release quickly and send it to stores immediately. Some users have seen songs live in ~2-3 days with this, though Amuse officially says “as fast as 48 hours in some stores” with ASAP mode. Keep in mind, 48 hours is the optimistic case for certain platforms; a more typical Pro release might be under a week, which is still quite fast.
Pros:
Completely free option for distribution to all major platforms – great for zero-budget artists (if you can wait a bit).
Mobile app convenience – you can manage releases on your phone easily.
Paid tiers are reasonably priced and significantly cut down wait times, while still letting you keep 100% royalties.
User-friendly interface geared towards independent artists; plus additional perks on paid plans (team accounts, faster support, etc.).
Cons:
Free tier is slow for release speed (requiring about 4 weeks lead). Not suitable if you need to drop music urgently.
Even paid tiers have some minimum days required (you likely can’t truly do a 1-day turnaround; 2-10 days is more realistic).
Release slots on free plan are limited (1 track per month).
Does not support distribution of cover songs (no cover licensing feature).
Ideal for: Very budget-conscious artists or beginners who aren’t in a rush (free plan users), and those who want an easy mobile workflow. If you plan your releases in advance, Amuse free is a solid no-cost solution. For artists who like Amuse’s interface but need more speed, upgrading to Pro is one of the more affordable ways to get fast distribution without switching to another service. It basically gives you DistroKid-like quickness (within a few days) once you pay, all while using the same Amuse platform.
Soundrop – Niche Free Distributor (Good for Covers, Moderate Speed)
Soundrop is a free distribution service that is a bit different from the others on this list. Originally known for distributing cover songs (they handle the mechanical licensing for you), Soundrop charges no upfront fees to upload your music. Instead, they take a 15% cut of royalties you earn. For cover songs, they charge a one-time ~$9.99 per song to secure the proper licenses, but for original music, it’s completely free to release. Soundrop’s focus on ease of releasing cover versions has made it popular with YouTubers and cover artists, but you can distribute original music just as well. In terms of speed, Soundrop is not the very fastest out there; it has an internal review process that can take several business days. However, it’s still reasonably quick for a free service, often getting music to platforms within a week or two, which for $0 upfront is quite acceptable for many.
Features & Pricing: Soundrop’s platform is straightforward and no-frills. You upload your tracks via their web interface (they support WAV uploads and require some metadata like any distributor). There are no subscription fees and no per-release fees for original songs. For covers, you pay the licensing fee per track. They distribute to all the standard platforms (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube Music, Deezer, etc.), though currently Soundrop does not distribute to Beatport or some niche stores. You also cannot set a future release date on Soundrop – all releases go live as soon as processing is done. This is worth noting: if you wanted a coordinated release day, Soundrop isn’t ideal, but if you just want it out ASAP, that fits their approach. Soundrop provides basic sales stats and monthly royalty payments once you hit a minimum threshold.
Speed: Soundrop’s team manually reviews each release (to check audio quality, metadata, and for covers they wait for license clearance). According to their support, the content review takes about 5-7 business days on average. After that, once the music is delivered to stores, it usually takes another 1-3 days for it to appear on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. In total, new releases often go live roughly one week after submission (give or take a few days). Soundrop actually recommends artists select a release date at least a week or more out to be safe. Some users have experienced slower times (especially if you’re uploading a lot of songs or during busy periods, it might stretch to 2+ weeks). Cover songs might take longer than original songs because of licensing approvals – sometimes known covers can be cleared within 1-2 weeks, but less common ones might delay things further.
In short, Soundrop isn’t as fast as DistroKid or UnitedMasters in typical cases, but considering it costs nothing upfront, getting your song on Spotify in about a week or so is still a good deal for many.
Pros:
Truly free music distribution for original songs (no fees, just 15% revenue share).
Simplified process for releasing cover songs legally (they handle licensing) – a unique advantage over most distributors.
No yearly fees or subscriptions to worry about; your music stays up even if you don’t have a paid plan.
Interface is simple and functional.
Cons:
Not the fastest option if you need a song up within a few days; expect around 1-2 weeks for full rollout in many cases.
No option to schedule a specific release date (it’s always ASAP, which might actually appeal to some, but you have less control).
15% commission on royalties (so if keeping 100% is crucial and you’re earning significant streaming revenue, this is a trade-off for the “free” service).
Fewer bells and whistles in terms of promotional tools or analytics depth compared to some competitors.
Ideal for: Artists who want to distribute music for free and aren’t on a very tight time crunch. It’s especially great if you do a lot of cover songs and need an easy way to license and release them. If you’re okay with a bit of a wait (plan at least a week or more ahead) and giving up 15% of your revenue, Soundrop offers a reliable service without any upfront cost – a fair trade-off for many DIY musicians.
RouteNote – Free and Premium Plans (Flexible but Plan for Queue Time)
RouteNote is another platform offering free music distribution worldwide with an option to upgrade for faster service and higher royalties. With RouteNote’s free tier, you pay nothing upfront and keep 85% of your royalties (RouteNote takes a 15% cut, similar to Soundrop). They also have a Premium tier where you pay per release (approximately $10 for a single, $30 for an album) and keep 100% of royalties. One notable aspect of RouteNote is that the free tier has a slower approval process – because so many artists use it – while premium releases get priority in the queue. This means if speed is your priority, you might end up choosing the paid route. Still, even the free version will get your music on all major platforms without costing you a dime, making RouteNote popular among indie artists globally.
Features & Pricing: Signing up on RouteNote is free and gives you access to upload unlimited songs. You select either Free or Premium for each release (you can mix and match per release). They distribute to a wide network of stores, from the big ones (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Tidal, TikTok, etc.) to many regional stores in Asia and elsewhere. They provide basic reporting and allow you to switch a release from free to premium or vice versa later on, which is nice flexibility. RouteNote also offers some extras like YouTube Content ID (to monetize YouTube uses of your music) and social media monetization. Support is mainly via an online ticket system.
Speed: Here’s where the difference between Free and Premium shows. RouteNote Free has a reputation for being one of the slower services in terms of getting your music live. They manually moderate content, and as of a recent update, this can take roughly 1–2 weeks (9–12 business days) just for approval. Once approved, they send it to stores, which then take a few days more to make it live. So, for free releases, you might be looking at anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks total before your song appears on all platforms. Some artists have reported faster times and some slower, but it’s generally not meant for urgent next-day releases. RouteNote Premium, on the other hand, is faster because those releases skip the long free queue. Premium releases are often approved within a few days (some reports of ~72 hours for approval). After that, stores still need their 2-3 days, but overall you could see Premium releases live in about a week or less. RouteNote publicly states that once approved, a release can go live in as little as 48 hours on partner stores, though that’s usually for the fastest stores – some stores will still take longer.
In summary, RouteNote can be fast if you pay for Premium, but the free service is more on the slow side. It’s a trade-off between cost and speed.
Pros:
Free tier allows uploading music to all platforms free of charge, which is fantastic for artists with no budget.
Premium tier is still low-cost for what you get (especially if you have a release you expect to earn money from – paying a one-time fee to keep 100% royalties can be worth it).
Flexible model: you can start free, then switch to premium later if a song blows up (or vice versa).
Wide distribution network, including some platforms that other distributors might not cover.
You maintain control of your rights and can pull music or move it as needed (not locked in a contract).
Cons:
Free tier has slow distribution speed – you must be patient and plan ahead by a few weeks.
The website and interface are a bit dated compared to others, and the process can feel less streamlined.
Customer support response time can vary; paying users might get slightly better support.
Some advanced features are limited. For example, no built-in mastering or promo tools (you’d need external services).
Ideal for: Artists who want a no-cost distribution solution and are willing to exchange speed for savings. If you’re planning a release well in advance, RouteNote Free can serve you well. Meanwhile, if you sometimes need faster releases or have a track doing well, you can invest in Premium for that case. This flexibility makes RouteNote suitable for DIY artists who want options. Just remember: truly last-minute releases (within days) are not what RouteNote Free is designed for – consider Premium or another service in those scenarios.
UnitedMasters – Fast Distribution with a Mobile-First Approach
UnitedMasters is a newer distribution platform that has gained a lot of attention, particularly in the hip-hop and R&B communities, due to its high-profile backing and artist opportunities. UnitedMasters offers an app-based distribution experience and positions itself as more than just a distributor (they facilitate brand deals, sync placements, etc.). In terms of cost, they have a free tier and a subscription tier called SELECT. However, unlike Amuse, UnitedMasters’ free tier does not distribute to all major platforms by default – it’s mainly for social media (or was limited in scope). To get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, and the full range of stores, you effectively need to use the paid SELECT plan (which is about $5/month or $60/year). The benefit is that SELECT boasts fast turnaround times – as quick as 2 business days to go live.
Features & Pricing: On the free plan (often referred to as “UnitedMasters Debut”), artists keep 90% of their royalties while UnitedMasters takes a 10% cut. The free plan has limitations: initially, UnitedMasters only allowed free users to distribute to a subset of platforms (like YouTube Content ID and maybe SoundCloud or social platforms). They may have expanded it somewhat, but generally the full power comes with SELECT. With UnitedMasters SELECT, you pay the subscription and keep 100% royalties, plus get added perks like the ability to set release dates, access to more stores (Spotify, Apple, etc.), and faster release review. UnitedMasters’ app is quite user-friendly – you can upload tracks from your phone, even import from files or other apps, which is convenient. They also provide analytics, and one unique feature is their emphasis on connecting artists with brand opportunities (like NBA partnership deals or sync opportunities) if your music gains traction. This is an extra beyond distribution, but part of their ecosystem.
Speed: UnitedMasters promotes that with a SELECT membership, you can release music in as little as two business days. Their process involves a review of your submission, then delivery to stores. According to their support documentation, free users (Debut) get a review within 10 business days, whereas SELECT users get review within 2 business days. There are even higher tiers (for instance, some invite-only or partner tiers) with 1-day review. Once approved, the music goes out to stores and typically appears within another day or two on the major platforms. In real user experiences, many SELECT users do see their songs live roughly 2-4 days after uploading. Free users, on the other hand, often report it takes a couple of weeks to go live (since they have that slower review and cannot set a specific date). So, if we’re talking about fast music distribution, UnitedMasters really shines when you are a paying member. It’s essentially on par with DistroKid’s speed – sometimes faster, since they guarantee the internal review in 48 hours for SELECT. One thing to note: if you don’t pay, UnitedMasters will automatically schedule your release when it’s ready (you have no control over timing on the free tier), which could be unpredictable.
Pros:
Fast turnaround for SELECT paid users – often a few days total, with a clear 2-day internal review promise.
Mobile-centric design. Great for managing releases on the go; the app also provides notifications when your release is live.
Opportunities beyond distribution: UnitedMasters often runs campaigns to feature independent artists in commercials, games, or other media. Being on the platform could open doors, especially if your music gains popularity.
Keeps things simple: one plan, one price for unlimited releases (on SELECT), and no commissions taken on that plan. The free option can be a way to test the waters too.
You can upload WAV or FLAC, and they even have a built-in mastering option (paid) if you want to polish your track before release.
Cons:
The truly useful part (full distribution to all platforms) is not actually free – you’ll likely need to pay for SELECT to get on Spotify, etc. So the “free” aspect is limited compared to Amuse or RouteNote.
Costs $60/year which is higher than DistroKid for essentially similar distribution service (though UM would argue you get networking perks).
Some users have reported that the free tier had unpredictable release dates and sometimes delays up to a few weeks. So, free tier is not ideal if timing is crucial.
Currently, UnitedMasters doesn’t support certain kinds of content (for example, they might be strict about cover songs or require you to own all rights – always check their policies).
If you stop paying for SELECT, your future releases would drop to free tier limitations (though your released music stays up, since they don’t charge per release).
Ideal for: Artists who are very phone-oriented and interested in a modern distribution approach with industry connectivity. If you’re willing to pay the yearly fee, UnitedMasters can be one of the fastest music distributors, and it might particularly appeal if you make music in genres or scenes where UnitedMasters has a presence (they often highlight indie urban artists). It’s also a good option if you want to keep 100% royalties and get fast distribution without using a credit card for each release – just a flat subscription like DistroKid. However, pure free-seekers might find other truly free options better since UnitedMasters’ free offering is limited in scope.
Other Notably Fast Distributors (Honorable Mentions)
Beyond the services above, a couple of other platforms deserve a quick mention for speed:
Too Lost: A newer distributor, Too Lost advertises that they deliver releases the same day to 150+ stores and platforms (essentially aiming for near-instant distribution). Their model is subscription-based like DistroKid, with an affordable annual fee (around $19.99/year for one artist) and even a free tier for collaborators (royalty collection only). Too Lost does not take a cut of royalties on paid plans (you keep 100%). The catch is that there’s no completely free upload option for full distribution – you must subscribe to distribute. If speed is your absolute top priority, Too Lost’s claim of “music in stores within hours” is intriguing (and some users have found it quite fast), but since it’s a relatively new service, you’ll want to ensure it covers all the platforms you need and that you’re comfortable with a newer company.
LANDR: Known primarily for its AI mastering service, LANDR also offers music distribution. LANDR’s distribution isn’t free (plans start around $25/year for distribution), but they emphasize quick release times. They recommend 2 weeks lead for safety, yet if you choose no specific date, songs often go live in ~1-3 days. LANDR could be an option if you also value integrated mastering and one-stop-shop services. It’s fast, though not drastically different in speed from DistroKid or TuneCore in practice.
CD Baby (for perspective): CD Baby is one of the oldest distributors. It’s not known for speed – in fact, they have a slower, more manual process (often taking 1-2 weeks to approve and deliver, and they encourage several weeks lead time). We include it here mainly as a contrast: CD Baby focuses on thoroughness and one-time fees per release, but if you need fast or same-day distribution, CD Baby likely isn’t the best choice for that specific requirement.
Conclusion: Choosing the Fastest Distribution for Your Needs
For independent artists eager to release music on all platforms with minimal delay, there are now plenty of options. If you have a bit of budget, platforms like DistroKid, TuneCore, UnitedMasters (SELECT), or Too Lost will serve you very well with turnaround times often in the 1-3 day range for new music. They combine speed with a robust feature set, and are ideal if you frequently drop new tracks or want the flexibility to release on short notice. Among these, DistroKid is often touted as the fastest music distribution service in practice, with many artists seeing near-instant results, while UnitedMasters brings a mobile-first twist and industry opportunities.
If you need to upload music to all platforms free, you still have good choices like Amuse (Free), RouteNote (Free), and Soundrop. Just remember that with free services, you’ll typically sacrifice some speed. Amuse free requires about a month of lead time, RouteNote free around 2+ weeks, and Soundrop roughly a week or more. These are great for artists who plan ahead or are releasing back-catalog tracks without time pressure. And if urgency arises, many of these free options have a paid upgrade path (Amuse Pro, RouteNote Premium) so you’re not stuck if you do need something out faster.
In deciding, consider how frequently you release music and how spontaneous your release schedule is. For planned album rollouts with lots of marketing, a few weeks lead time is normal (even advantageous for pitching to playlists), in which case any distributor will do – you might prioritize cost or features instead. But for dropping music at a moment’s notice – say you want a song online by this weekend – a distributor known for fast or same-day distribution is crucial. In those scenarios, a paid service like DistroKid or a subscription to UnitedMasters or Too Lost can be worth its weight in gold.
Ultimately, the fastest music distributor for you is the one that balances speed, cost, and reliability in a way that fits your career. All the services discussed will get your songs out there; the differences are in how quickly and at what expense. By understanding those differences, you can confidently choose a platform that lets you share your music with the world instantly (or pretty close to it!). Now, get your tracks ready, pick a service, and happy distributing!