Choose around your release needs
The best music distribution service for a first single may not be the best fit for a business managing several labels. Start with the work you need to do: release your own recordings, manage a label catalogue or offer distribution to other clients.
Write down the stores and territories you need, the number of labels you manage and the support you expect. Use that brief to compare music distribution platforms on the same basis. A large store count or a low headline price does not answer every operational question.
Confirm platforms and the delivery process
If Spotify is central to your release, check that delivery to Spotify is included and understand who handles review and corrections. Spotify explains that artists work with distributors to deliver music; its distributor guidance is a useful starting point.
For Indian releases, also ask about any other platform important to your listeners, such as JioSaavn, Apple Music or YouTube Music. Confirm availability for your recording and intended territories. Do not read “all platforms” as a guarantee of every store or service.
Ask how to provide an existing artist profile link and what to do if the release appears on the wrong artist page. Keep your release title and identifiers available when contacting support.
Compare fees, revenue share and the full term
Put each quote on the same time basis. Record the upfront fee, the period it covers, whether GST is included, the revenue share and any separate services you need. Confirm the renewal terms rather than assuming the introductory price continues.
KME Professional costs ₹4,500 for three years including GST, with an 80% revenue share. Basic has no subscription fee for selected applicants and a 75% share. Enterprise uses a custom quote and lists a 90% share. These are KME’s options, not a claim about another provider’s pricing.
Ask how the share is calculated and when earnings become available. KME’s monthly payout condition is an available balance above ₹3,000; a revenue-share percentage alone does not describe the payout schedule.
Check catalogue access and support
For a label, compare label allowances separately from artist and release limits. For a distributor or multi-label business, describe the catalogue structure and ask the provider to confirm access and responsibilities.
KME lists one label on Basic, 10 on Professional and 50 on Enterprise. Enterprise includes a white-label solution, branding and a domain; choosing Distributor on the application does not automatically activate those services.
Check which support channels your plan includes and what information a support request needs. Ask how release corrections, artist-page issues, payment questions and catalogue moves are handled. Confirm service commitments in your quote instead of assuming a response time.
Separate delivery, promotion and Content ID
Music distribution makes an approved recording available through supported services. It does not by itself guarantee listeners, playlist placement or a particular amount of royalties. Ask exactly what any promotion or pitching service includes.
Content ID is also separate from standard delivery. A plan can include a review for eligible recordings without guaranteeing acceptance. YouTube requires exclusive rights for reference material, so disclose non-exclusive beats, samples and other licensed material before requesting Content ID.
Build time for account review, corrections and platform processing into your release schedule. A claim about fast distribution is not enough to establish a dependable date for your particular recording.
Use a final decision checklist
Before choosing a distributor, get clear answers to these questions and keep them with your release plan:
- Are the stores and territories I need supported for this catalogue?
- What are the full fee, term, revenue share and renewal conditions?
- Does the account cover my label count and business model?
- What is the payout threshold, and what affects reporting availability?
- Which services need separate approval, including Content ID?
- Who handles corrections and support, and through which channels?
- What happens if I leave, request takedowns or move the catalogue?
At KME, takedowns are free, but notice and processing periods apply. Use the service terms and ask about anything your plan or quote leaves unclear. Apply when the scope fits your catalogue; submitting an application begins a review rather than an immediate purchase.