What does music distribution cost in India?
There is no single price for music distribution in India. Compare the subscription fee, the period it covers, the revenue share and the services your catalogue needs. At KME Network, the current options are:
- Basic: no subscription fee, a 75% revenue share and one custom label. Available to selected applicants after review.
- Professional: ₹4,500 for three years, including GST, with an 80% revenue share and up to 10 custom labels.
- Enterprise: a custom quote, a 90% revenue share and up to 50 custom labels, with custom branding, a domain and a white-label distribution solution.
All three plans list unlimited artists and releases. Your account and releases remain subject to review. Use the pricing page for the full feature comparison and confirm your applicable terms before purchasing.
Free and paid: compare fees and revenue share
A plan with no subscription fee can still retain a share of revenue. KME Basic has a 75% revenue share. A paid plan can also use a revenue share: Professional combines its three-year fee with an 80% share. Check both figures when comparing offers.
Spotify explains that distributors deliver music for a fee or commission. Spotify for Artists itself is free to join; access to that dashboard and the commercial terms of your distributor are separate.
For a fair comparison, write down the total fee over the same period, your share of revenue, label limits and the support included. A lower subscription fee alone does not tell you which arrangement fits your releases.
A simple royalty-share example
Suppose ₹10,000 is the revenue amount to which your agreement applies the plan percentage. The share calculation would be:
- Basic: ₹10,000 × 75% = ₹7,500.
- Professional: ₹10,000 × 80% = ₹8,000.
- Enterprise: ₹10,000 × 90% = ₹9,000.
This illustrates the percentage calculation only. It is not a forecast of streaming earnings or a final payout statement. Subscription fees are separate, and your agreement determines the revenue calculation and any applicable adjustments or deductions. Do not choose a paid plan on the percentage alone; compare the fee and services as well.
Check GST, the plan term and renewal
For Indian artists and businesses, check whether the quoted price includes GST before comparing totals. KME Professional is ₹4,500 for the full three-year term, including GST.
Dividing ₹4,500 by three gives ₹1,500 per year for comparison purposes. This is an annual equivalent, not a separate annual payment option; the advertised plan remains ₹4,500 for three years.
Confirm the renewal price and what happens to your catalogue when the term ends before starting. For Enterprise, ask for a quote that specifies the total price, tax treatment, term, setup and included services.
Budget for preparing and promoting the release
Keep the distribution budget separate from the work needed to finish and promote your recording. List any recording, mixing, mastering, artwork, permissions and promotional work your release needs, then check which costs are covered by your own arrangements.
Read the included services rather than assuming every release service comes with a subscription. At KME, Content ID applies to eligible recordings; channel requests and caller tunes also depend on the relevant plan and platform requirements. Confirm optional work and its price before agreeing to it.
Understand payouts and the cost of leaving
Your revenue share and the date money becomes available are separate considerations. KME accepts client payment requests once per calendar month from ₹3,000 available wallet balance, with an approved bank account and subject to review. Exactly ₹3,000 meets the minimum when that amount is available in your wallet. Availability depends on when platforms report and pay earnings.
KME does not charge for takedowns on any plan, including bulk requests and removal of your entire catalogue. Processing and notice periods still apply, so include those timelines when planning a move. Full-catalogue removal requires at least three months of advance notice.
Choose around your catalogue and account needs
An account type describes how you work; a plan sets the price, revenue share and services. Selecting Multi-label or Distributor on the application does not automatically activate an Enterprise plan or a white-label service.
- For one artist or label, check whether Basic meets your needs and whether your application qualifies. Free access is subject to selection.
- For several labels, compare Professional’s 10-label allowance with the number you manage and the support you need.
- For a distribution business needing its own branding or domain, discuss Enterprise’s scope and quote with the team. Its published allowance is 50 labels.
Include your catalogue size, label count and intended services in your application. The team can then discuss an appropriate setup rather than choosing only on the headline price.
Questions to settle before you pay
Use this checklist when discussing a distribution plan:
- What is the total fee, does it include GST, and how long does the term last?
- What revenue does the plan percentage apply to, and are any other deductions specified?
- How many labels and artists can the account manage, and which services need separate approval?
- What are the payout threshold, reporting process and available support channels?
- What are the renewal terms, and what happens if you do not renew?
- What are the takedown fees and notice periods if you decide to move your catalogue?
Applying to KME sends your details for review. It does not automatically create an account or purchase a plan. Review the service terms and clarify the answers that affect your budget before proceeding.