When it comes to sharing music with the world, various companies offer music distribution services. One of the most popular distributors that many indie artists and labels take advantage of is TuneCore. Besides uploading your tracks on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, TuneCore offers other services that help artists grow in today’s market.

Back then, TuneCore didn’t offer any plan that included unlimited track uploads. For a long time, it was one of the biggest disadvantages of TuneCore against DistroKid, its biggest rival. However, TuneCore overhauled its plans and packages in 2023 to offer better services for independent artists.

TuneCore’s services expand over four different plans, with the lowest-tier one coming for free! However, if you’re planning to upload music on major streaming services and you want to take your career in music more seriously, you might want to opt for TuneCore’s paid plans. With no further ado, let’s break down TuneCore’s plans and determine which is better for you, depending on your goals and budget.

New Artist - Free

Musicians can take advantage of some of TuneCore’s services for free by choosing the “New Artist” plan. It allows artists to send unlimited tracks to be released on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook, and YouTube. In return, TuneCore takes a 20% cut in revenue from whatever you make on these platforms. Moreover, you’ll be able to create an Official Artist Channel on YouTube.

Some other perks that come with TuneCore’s New Artist plan are official sales reports and access to the TuneCore Rewards Master Class. Also, the customer service response time for users opting for this plan is five business days. Bear in mind that this plan does not cover streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.

Overall, I don’t suggest the New Artist plan for musicians who want to pursue music more seriously. However, it’s a great starting point for those who want to dip their toes in this business without spending money upfront.

Rising Artist - $19.99/year

For $19.99 a year, you can use TuneCore’s “Rising Artist” plan to upload unlimited music both on social media and streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. All of the royalty you’ll get from streaming platforms and digital stores will be transferred to you, but 20% of the revenue coming from social media outlets like YouTube and TikTok will still go to TuneCore.

Besides all the services available in the previous plan, you’ll be able to take advantage of a bunch of other features as well. You can schedule your releases and get a verified artist check on Spotify. Moreover, the customer service feedback time will be cut to three business days (instead of five) with the Rising Artist plan.

I highly recommend TuneCore’s Rising Artist as an option that packs a lot of value for the buck. It covers most of the essential tools and features you’ll need as an artist kicking off your music career.

Breakout Artist - $34.99/year

Next up, the “Breakout Artist” plan offers some extra features compared to the previous one that make it easier for musicians to get their music out there. For starters, you’ll get access to a cover art creator and premium artwork for your tracks. Furthermore, TuneCore offers more detailed reporting, called “Daily Trend Reports” for artists using this tier that can help build an audience more effectively.

Although the added features sound interesting, I wouldn’t recommend upgrading to this over the Rising Artist plan. Nothing essential is added to the formula, making it less valuable for the price you pay. Unless you really need that cover art creator and don’t want to spend money on a photographer or a cover art designer to do the job for you, I suggest sticking to the previous plan.

Professional - $49.99/year

Last but not least, the “Professional” plan is the highest tier offered by TuneCore and starts at $49.99. TuneCore targets this plan at labels and industry pros. Like previous plans, you’ll be able to upload unlimited tracks on streaming platforms and social media outlets. However, the Professional plan comes with distinctive features that professionals might find extremely valuable.

Users opting for the Professional plan will have access to exclusive partnership deals with platforms like Tidal and Twitch. Moreover, you’ll get promotional opportunities like Artist Portal, Brand Ambassador, and Store Awareness.

TuneCore gives members with the Professional plan access to Pro Panels and small group workshops with industry experts. Other features include the ability to customize the label name, use your own UPC, add a recording location for Apple Music and Spotify, and control which countries can access your release. For using additional artist names to distribute music, TuneCore charges $14.99 per each added artist.

Final Thoughts on TuneCore Plans and Pricing

TuneCore offers a wide range of plans for different budgets, starting from free and going all the way up to $49.99 per year. Although the Professional tier comes with the most features, I recommend this plan only if you’re in the industry as a label, or you really need the the additional services and features. Nonetheless, the Rising Artist plan stands as the most valuable plan offered by TuneCore.

If you’re interested in using services offered by TuneCore, click here to get 20% off on checkout.