UnitedMasters
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
UnitedMasters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UnitedMasters
- Legal name
- UnitedMasters, Inc.
- Website
- https://unitedmasters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UnitedMasters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Distribution Platform
- NAICS
- Music Publishers (512230), Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (51223), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sync Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms (MPAIALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sync Clearance & Rights Management (One-Stop, Negotiation, Documentation) (MPAIALAF), Brand Partnerships & Music Placement Services (Non-Exclusive Brand Deals) (MPAIALAM), Creator Music/SFX Asset Libraries & Licensing Platforms (MPACABAM)
Keywords
Where UnitedMasters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UnitedMasters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Annual Artist Subscriptions: Artists pay annual membership fees for distribution and platform access. Three tiers: DEBUT+ at $19.99/year (basic distribution to 50+ services), SELECT at $59.99/year (full distribution to 150+ services plus brand/sync deals, Blueprint AI, and marketing tools), and PARTNER (invite-only with bespoke terms). Artists retain 100% of streaming royalties with no commission taken on music distribution.
- Royalty Advances: UnitedMasters offers advances to artists with existing streaming revenue, providing upfront cash based on projected future royalties. The borrowed funds are repaid through redirected streaming income.
- Brand Sync Licensing: Brands, agencies, and content creators license music from the UnitedMasters catalog of independent artists for use in advertising, film, TV, video games, and social media. Revenue flows to artists through the platform, with UnitedMasters facilitating the transaction.
- Mastering Services: Optional paid mastering service at $4.99 per track for artists on DEBUT+ and SELECT plans. SELECT members receive 2 free mastered tracks upon signup.
- YouTube Content ID (Premium): YouTube Content ID Monetization add-on at $4.99 per release for DEBUT+ artists, with artists retaining 80% of Content ID royalties.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free social distribution tier for basic music release to social platforms without paid subscription. |
| Subscription | Annual | Entry-level paid plan for emerging artists at $19.99/year — unlimited music distribution to 50+ music services with full royalty retention. |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium plan at $59.99/year for serious independent artists seeking brand partnerships, sync licensing deals, and advanced marketing tools. |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Invitation-only elite tier for established artists requiring hands-on artist services, bespoke royalty terms, and dedicated relationship management. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
UnitedMasters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UnitedMasters operates a tiered digital music distribution platform that delivers independent artist music to 150+ streaming and social services while letting artists retain 100% of masters and streaming royalties. Paid subscriptions (DEBUT+, SELECT, invite-only PARTNER) unlock brand partnerships, sync licensing, AI-powered artist development, daily royalty payouts, and promotional tools. A separate UnitedMasters Sync enterprise platform licenses catalog music from 2M+ artists to global brands and agencies for advertising, film, TV, and video games.
Product overview
UnitedMasters operates as a multi-tiered independent music distribution platform offering three subscription plans (DEBUT+ at $19.99/year, SELECT at $59.99/year, and invite-only PARTNER), a dedicated sync licensing platform (UnitedMasters Sync), enterprise solutions, and mobile applications. The core platform distributes music to 150+ streaming and social services while enabling artists to retain full ownership of masters. SELECT and PARTNER tiers unlock brand partnership opportunities, exclusive sync licensing deals, AI-powered artist development (Blueprint AI), daily royalty payments (Real-Time Royalties), and promotional tools including MasterLinks and ArtistPages. UnitedMasters Sync connects brands and agencies with independent artists for commercial licensing, custom compositions, and cover song recordings. The ecosystem also includes distribution services for labels and comprehensive rights management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DEBUT+ Entry-level annual subscription plan ($19.99/year) for independent artists that distributes unlimited releases to 50+ music services including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and Instagram while letting artists retain 100% of streaming royalties. Includes advanced streaming analytics, scheduled release dates, Split Pay collaborator payouts, mastering access, and optional YouTube Content ID monetization.
- SELECT Premium annual subscription plan ($59.99/year) for independent artists that builds on DEBUT+ with distribution to 150+ platforms, two free mastered tracks at signup, exclusive brand and sync licensing deals with brands like ESPN, NBA, Bose, and Crown Royal, Blueprint AI artist development, Blueprint Live access, editorial playlist pitching, dedicated artist relations support, personalized marketing strategy, UM Exclusives perks, Spotify Discovery Mode enrollment, and MasterLinks/ArtistPages tools.
- PARTNER Invitation-only elite subscription tier for established artists offering dedicated artist relations support, personalized marketing campaigns, custom distribution strategies, editorial playlist pitching, brand and sync pitching, funding advances, and individually negotiated royalty splits alongside all SELECT features.
- Free Social Distribution Free tier that distributes music to social platforms including TikTok and Instagram without an annual fee and without access to brand/sync deals, Blueprint AI, or advanced analytics.
- UnitedMasters Sync Brand and music licensing platform connecting brands and agencies with a pre-cleared catalog of 2 million+ independent artists for sync placements in advertisements, TV, films, video games, and social media content, with subscription plans, custom music production, cover song recordings, and blanket licensing options.
- UnitedMasters Sync Enterprise Enterprise-level music licensing solution for large brands with multi-user accounts, dedicated account managers, AI-powered music discovery using natural language prompts and reference tracks, blanket licensing across all media in perpetuity, and content audit and compliance management.
- UnitedMasters Sync Licensing Services Suite of music licensing services including single-song licenses, subscription plans, custom music production, cover song recordings, and rights and clearances for any song globally, sold to brand and agency clients.
- UnitedMasters for Labels Distribution and services platform specifically designed for independent record labels to manage their artist rosters and catalog releases through the UnitedMasters distribution infrastructure.
- UnitedMasters Mobile App iOS and Android mobile applications enabling independent artists to manage releases, apply for brand deals, track analytics, and handle payouts from any device.
Quantifiable outcome
- BigXThaPlug achieved 1.5 billion global streams, 15M Spotify monthly listeners, and sync placements with ESPN (XFL anthem), Dallas Cowboys, and Warner Bros.
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use UnitedMasters
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
UnitedMasters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
UnitedMasters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- Vocana (Streaming Aggregator)minorUnitedMasters is listed as one of the music aggregators powering Vocana's independent artist streaming platform, which launched public beta in August 2025 with a user-centric payment model. This positions UnitedMasters as a content provider to Vocana's platform.
- Sarz 1789 imprintmajorIn 2023, UnitedMasters partnered with Sarz's 1789 imprint to empower African artists and expand their reach abroad. The partnership provides a bridge connecting emerging African artists with global aspirations through marketing support, playlist pitching, and platform resources. Steve Stoute called Sarz 'a true hitmaker with a remarkable ear for talent.' Sarz also founded Sarz Academy (2015) for next-generation talent development.
- Translation LLCcoreUnitedMasters is affiliated with Translation LLC, the independent creative agency founded by CEO Steve Stoute. Translation built groundbreaking artist-brand partnerships (Justin Timberlake/McDonald's, Jay Z/Budweiser's Made in America Festival). UnitedMasters works hand-in-hand with Translation's award-winning creative teams, leveraging cultural insights and brand relationships to forge artist-brand deals.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
UnitedMasters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Empire Distribution: Empire is an independent music label and distribution company with strong hip-hop and R&B artist roster. It is a direct competitor in independent music distribution and label services, though it operates more as a traditional indie label with distribution infrastructure.
- TuneCore: TuneCore (owned by Believe) is one of the original independent music distributors, distributing to 150+ stores globally. It is a direct competitor to UnitedMasters' core distribution offering, with comparable pricing tiers but without the integrated sync licensing marketplace that differentiates UnitedMasters.
- Stem Distribution: Stem (acquired by Spotify) is a distribution and label services platform targeting independent artists and labels, offering advances, royalty splits, and analytics. It is a direct competitor in the premium distribution-plus-services category overlapping with UnitedMasters' SELECT and PARTNER tiers.
- Downtown Music: Downtown Music is a music services platform offering distribution, publishing administration, and rights management to independent artists and labels. It is a direct peer in the broader independent music services ecosystem, competing for artists seeking rights administration in addition to distribution.
- DistroKid: DistroKid is the largest pure-play independent music distributor, offering unlimited releases to 150+ stores at a flat annual fee. It directly competes with UnitedMasters' DEBUT+ and SELECT subscription tiers on distribution economics, though it lacks UnitedMasters' integrated brand sync marketplace and AI artist development.
- Songtradr: Songtradr is a B2B music licensing platform connecting brands, agencies, and content creators with independent music for sync use. It is a direct competitor to UnitedMasters Sync on the brand-facing side of the business, offering a comparable marketplace and AI-driven search.
- CD Baby: CD Baby is a long-established independent music distributor offering both distribution and sync licensing services to indie artists. It is a direct peer across both the core distribution product and the brand sync marketplace, though at a different price point and scale than UnitedMasters.
- Musicbed: Musicbed is a sync licensing platform connecting filmmakers, brands, and content creators with independent music for commercial use. It is a direct competitor on the brand sync side of UnitedMasters' business, with an overlapping but more film-focused catalog and similar AI-discovery features.
- AWAL: AWAL (Artists Without A Label), owned by Sony Music, provides premium distribution and label services to independent artists at scale. It is a direct peer in the higher-end distribution-plus-services tier, offering advances and marketing support similar to UnitedMasters' SELECT and PARTNER plans, though with stronger major-label backing.
Emerging players
- Artlist: Artlist is a subscription-based music and SFX licensing platform for video creators, brands, and agencies. While more creator-focused than enterprise-brand-focused, it overlaps with UnitedMasters Sync on the commercial-use music licensing category and competes for a portion of brand music budgets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UnitedMasters social profiles
Digital presenceUnitedMasters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UnitedMasters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
UnitedMasters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UnitedMasters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UnitedMasters
What does UnitedMasters do?
UnitedMasters operates a tiered digital music distribution platform that delivers independent artist music to 150+ streaming and social services while letting artists retain 100% of masters and streaming royalties. Paid subscriptions (DEBUT+, SELECT, invite-only PARTNER) unlock brand partnerships, sync licensing, AI-powered artist development, daily royalty payouts, and promotional tools. A separate UnitedMasters Sync enterprise platform licenses catalog music from 2M+ artists to global brands and agencies for advertising, film, TV, and video games.
Is UnitedMasters a public or private company?
UnitedMasters is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was UnitedMasters founded?
UnitedMasters was founded in 2017. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is UnitedMasters based?
UnitedMasters is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does UnitedMasters make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Annual Artist Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are royalty Advances, brand Sync Licensing, mastering Services and youTube Content ID (Premium).
Who are UnitedMasters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Empire Distribution, TuneCore, Stem Distribution, Downtown Music, DistroKid, Songtradr, CD Baby, Musicbed and AWAL. Artlist is listed as an emerging player.
Does UnitedMasters have an API?
No public API is recorded for UnitedMasters.
What industry is UnitedMasters in?
UnitedMasters's product category is Music Distribution Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIALAG, Sync Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAIALAF, Sync Clearance & Rights Management (One-Stop, Negotiation, Documentation). Its NAICS code is 512230 and its SIC code is 7822.