Venice Music: DistroKid vs. TuneCore vs. CD Baby vs. Venice

In 2024, having a music distributor is non-negotiable for serious artists. Streaming dominates how music is consumed, and distributing to multiple digital streaming platforms (DSPs) is essential to create as many revenue streams as possible. Music Industry experts all agree that the question isn't whether to use a distributor—it's about which one to choose.

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Most artists gravitate towards large players and labels like DistroKid, but following the crowd isn’t always the smartest move. Are these platforms designed to support your career long-term? More importantly, which distributor aligns with your artist plan and goals, offers the best value, and truly helps independent artists grow?

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Let’s break down the options: DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and Venice Music.

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Music Distribution Essentials: What to Consider

For self-releasing artists, Music Distribution isn't just about uploading your tracks to social platforms, Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music. You need to think about how a platform supports your career holistically as a rising artist. Features like earnings transparency, support, and added costs make a big difference in how far your own music business can go.

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As you evaluate your options, you should ask key questions:

• Which distributor offers the most features without hidden fees?
• Who provides the best overall value?
• Which platform offers promotional tools to boost your visibility and growth?

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To help you navigate this whole world, we’ve compared the four major distributors: Tunecore, Distrokid, CDBaby and Venice so you can make an informed decision.

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Venice vs. DistroKid

Features and Flexibility

Venice and DistroKid both distribute music to all major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, Venice goes further with additional features that support your long-term career.

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Venice offers:

• Unlimited releases with no hidden fees
• Spotify Discovery Mode and YouTube Content ID at no extra cost
• Concierge-level artist support
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DistroKid, in contrast, charges $22.99/year for its basic tier, but this low price doesn’t tell the full story. While it offers unlimited song uploads, customizable release dates, and basic royalty splits, add ons like Content ID or video distribution come with steep fees. DistroKid is notorious for nickel-and-diming musicians—tacking on fees for features that Venice includes in its membership, which can result in paying well over $600 annually when you add up the extras.

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For artists serious about maximizing growth, Venice allows you to upload your music and provides a comprehensive set of tools without the hidden costs.

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Learn more about how the difference between Venice and DistroKid here.

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Venice vs. TuneCore

Pricing and Earnings

TuneCore has long been a solid choice for independent artists, with a focus on transparent pricing. However, it operates on a pay-per-release model. Releasing an album on TuneCore costs $29.99 for the first three releases per year and $49.99 annually for subsequent years. While TuneCore doesn’t take a cut of your royalties, these fees can add up, especially for artists releasing multiple projects.
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In contrast, Venice’s Pro Membership costs $499/year (or $50/month), offering unlimited distribution for both audio and video content and personalized support. Unlike TuneCore’s per-release fees, Venice ensures that artists are not penalized for being prolific, offering consistent pricing regardless of how much music you release.
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When you factor in the free access to tools like YouTube Content ID, Venice offers superior value for artists looking to keep more of their earnings.

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Learn more about how the difference between Venice and Tunecore here.

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Venice vs. CD Baby

Monetization and Revenue Streams

CD Baby has been a reliable platform for independent musicians, particularly for its ability to monetize tracks through downloads and publishing royalties. However, CD Baby works on a commission-based model, taking a 9% cut of your revenue in exchange for music distribution. You also pay a one-time fee of $29 per album or $9.95 per single upload, but that’s before any additional features like Content ID.

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Venice, by contrast, does not take any percentage of your revenue from YouTube. With Venice, all your earnings from the streaming services, digital sales and video distribution are yours. While CD Baby offers solid services, Venice’s no-commission approach and included features give independent artists more control over their profits.

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Learn more about how the difference between Venice and CD Baby here.

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YouTube Content ID: Comparing Costs

Another important revenue stream for independent artists is YouTube Content ID. YouTube's system ensures that if your music is used in videos, you get a share of the ad revenue.

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DistroKid charges $4.95 per track, per year for YouTube Content ID, while also taking 20% of your earnings. CD Baby takes a commission as well, and TuneCore charges a one-time fee for Content ID. Venice offers Content ID as part of the Pro Membership at no additional cost—unlimited tracks, zero revenue share. This makes a big difference for indie artists, with extensive catalogs looking to monetize all their music without giving up a cut.

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Video Distribution: Who’s Maximizing Your Visual Presence?

Music videos are essential in today’s digital music publishing landscape. Venice includes unlimited video distribution to platforms like Vevo, Tidal, and Apple Music, without additional fees. This includes getting your own paid Vevo channel and the ability to distribute concert videos, further amplifying your reach.

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DistroKid’s DistroVid, on the other hand, charges $99/year for video distribution, making Venice’s all-inclusive approach a better deal for artists looking to sell and capitalize on visuals.

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Guidance and Community: Venice’s Artist-First Approach

Beyond features, distribution is about support and access to resources that help you grow. Venice offers personalized guidance from industry experts including managers like Troy Carter, producers like Rodney Jerkins, alongside a vibrant artist community. This company's focus goes beyond basic customer service—it’s about empowering artists with strategies for long-term success in their careers while maintaining control of their art.

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DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby all offer basic customer support, but none provide the level of expert consultation and artist community that Venice has built into its platform.

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The Final Verdict: Which Distributor is Better?

When you break it down, Venice offers more features, better support, more performance and clearer value for serious a independent artist. While DistroKid and TuneCore present affordable entry points, their upcharges and limitations can cost you more in the long run. CD Baby’s commission-based model also eats into your profits.

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Venice stands out for providing access to comprehensive services—unlimited distribution, YouTube Content ID, video distribution—at one consistent price, ensuring you, the rising artist, can reach out to fans, collect your revenue and royalties without worrying about hidden fees.

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As a musician, choosing the right distributor isn’t just about the bottom line today—it’s about building a sustainable career for your music business. Venice offers the tools and support to help you do just that. Sign up here and start distributing your music today.