TuneCore
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
TuneCore firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TuneCore
- Legal name
- TuneCore, Inc.
- Website
- https://tunecore.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TuneCore industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Music Distribution
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Micro-Licensing & Direct Licensing Platforms (UGC, SMB venues, online uses) (MPAIAKAJ)
Keywords
Where TuneCore is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices18 records
Markets served
TuneCore business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Distribution Subscription Fees: Annual subscription fees for music distribution services with tiered plans ranging from free (social platforms only) to professional plans at $54.99/year. Artists retain 100% of their royalties.
- Publishing Administration: One-time $75 set-up fee plus 20% commission on publishing royalties collected. Services include licensing, registration, worldwide royalty collections, and placement opportunities.
- Additional Services: Revenue from Beatport add-on ($7.99/month billed annually), Splits Collaborator add-on ($7.99/year), Cover Art tool, and other artist services.
- Social Platforms and YouTube Content ID: Additional revenue streams through social platform uploads and YouTube Content ID programs, allowing artists to monetize content on social media platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free distribution to social platforms only |
| Subscription | Annual | Unlimited releases for indie artists |
| Subscription | Annual | Enhanced features for growing artists |
| Subscription | Annual | Professional tier for serious artists |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Publishing administration with competitive commission |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
TuneCore product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TuneCore operates a digital music distribution platform that enables independent artists, songwriters, labels, and managers to release music to 150+ streaming platforms and digital stores (including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Tidal, Tencent, and Beatport) while retaining 100% ownership and revenue. The company charges flat annual subscription fees for distribution and extends this core with publishing administration, artist development via its Accelerator program, royalty advances (Direct Advance), AI mastering, and collaborative royalty splitting (Splits).
Product overview
TuneCore is a multi-product platform for independent music distribution and artist development, owned by Paris-based Believe. The core offering is TuneCore Music Distribution, which distributes music to 150+ digital stores (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, TikTok, Beatport, Tencent, and more) while artists retain 100% ownership. This core is extended by three key add-on modules: TuneCore Music Publishing Administration for composition royalties; TuneCore Accelerator, an artist development platform using proprietary catalog optimization to generate 50 billion streams since 2023; and TuneCore Direct Advance (powered by RoyFi) providing royalty-based advances. Additional services include Splits (collaborative royalty splitting), Social Platforms (direct upload to TikTok/YouTube Shorts/Facebook/Instagram), TuneCore Mastering (AI-powered audio mastering, June 2024), an Advanced Trends & Analytics Dashboard (February 2025), YouTube Content ID, and the Grimes Elf.Tech AI collaboration pilot. Pricing is structured through TuneCore Unlimited with four tiers from free (social platforms only) to Professional at $54.99/year. The platform is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY with global operations across 5 continents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TuneCore Accelerator: Artist development platform launched in 2023 that helps independent artists grow through catalog optimization, fan discovery, and promotional tools. Generated 50 billion streams since launch.
- TuneCore Direct Advance
Products and services
- TuneCore Music Distribution Core digital music distribution service enabling artists, labels, and managers to release music to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Tidal, Tencent, Beatport, and 150+ digital stores while retaining 100% ownership and revenue for a flat annual subscription fee.
- TuneCore Music Publishing Administration Publishing administration service for songwriters that administers compositions through licensing, registration, worldwide royalty collection, and placement opportunities in film, TV, commercials, and video games, while songwriters retain 100% of copyrights. Charged as a one-time $75 setup fee plus 20% commission on collected royalties.
- TuneCore Accelerator Artist development platform that uses proprietary catalog optimization technology to elevate selected tracks for greater audience reach. Generated 50 billion cumulative streams since launch and has 515,000 artists enrolled, with 24 billion new streams in the trailing 12-month period (up 17% YoY).
- TuneCore Direct Advance (powered by RoyFi)
Quantifiable outcome
- Artists have earned over $5 billion through TuneCore since 2006
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use TuneCore
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TuneCore technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration22 records
AI capability9 records
Feature4 records
TuneCore partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Google Flow MusiccorePartnership with Google Flow Music (formerly ProducerAI) to offer AI-powered music creation tools powered by Google's Lyria 3 Pro model. Tools assist with lyrics, melodies, genres, and instrument creation while Google retains no ownership of content. Selected artists meet weekly with Google's product team for feedback.
- ElevenLabscoreMusic licensing agreement with ElevenLabs, expanding Believe's Responsible AI Principles framework to include legitimate AI partners. ElevenLabs reached $3B+ valuation on voice and audio AI strength.
- UdiocoreMusic licensing agreement with Udio, expanding AI partnership framework. Udio raised approximately $70M and settled with Universal Music Group in October 2025 to launch joint platform in 2026.
- EarthPercentminorPartnership with EarthPercent and Sounds Right to enable independent artists to donate streaming revenue for global nature protection efforts. Initiative announced at International Music Summit in Ibiza, supporting ecosystem restoration and community-led conservation.
- Sounds RightminorPartnership enabling independent artists to donate streaming revenue for global nature protection. Part of TuneCore's environmental sustainability initiatives under Shaping Music for Good program.
- Fast Company Most Innovative CompaniesminorRecognized by Fast Company as one of 10 most innovative companies in music for anti-fraud initiatives, alongside Merlin.
- Music Fights Fraud AlliancecoreFounding member of industry-wide anti-fraud alliance including CD Baby, Downtown, DistroKid, UnitedMasters, Symphonic, EMPIRE, Vydia, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Neutral alliance coordinated through National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance.
- CreateSafe / Grimes Elf.TechflagshipGroundbreaking pilot allowing TuneCore artists to distribute AI collaborations created through Grimes' Elf.Tech AI. Artists can transform vocals into Grimes AI voiceprint with 50% royalty split. First mover in responsible AI music collaboration space.
- BeatportcorePartnership with world's largest electronic music streaming and download platform for DJs. TuneCore artists can distribute to Beatport for $7.99/month add-on, gaining access to DJ charts, editorial features, and professional electronic music community.
- Sentric Music GroupcoreRenewed and expanded partnership with UK-based publishing administrator. TuneCore utilizes Sentric's technology and global collection network. Over 80% of publishing revenue collected since 2018 partnership. 2022 marked 10th consecutive year of 20%+ YoY growth in gross publishing revenue.
- GroovercoreExclusive partnership giving TuneCore artists VIP access to Groover's platform of industry insiders, playlist curators, and radio stations. Artists receive guaranteed feedback on music and exclusive discount on Groover campaigns.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TuneCore competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DistroKid: DistroKid is TuneCore's closest direct competitor, offering flat-fee unlimited music distribution to 150+ stores with 100% royalty retention. Both target independent/self-releasing artists with subscription pricing, and TuneCore's website directly compares itself against DistroKid on features and pricing.
- CD Baby: CD Baby is a pioneering independent music distribution service (founded 1998) with comparable offering: distribution to 150+ digital stores plus publishing administration. TuneCore explicitly compares against CD Baby on its website, and both sit on the Music Fights Fraud Alliance alongside DistroKid.
- UnitedMasters: UnitedMasters is a venture-backed independent music distribution platform that distributes to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok and more, offering artists distribution plus marketing tools and brand partnership opportunities. It is a Music Fights Fraud Alliance co-founding peer and competes for the same indie artist cohort, particularly in the US.
- AWAL (Sony Music): AWAL is a recorded music distribution and services company acquired by Sony Music, serving independent artists and labels with distribution plus marketing and playlist pitching. Competes with TuneCore at the upper end of the indie artist segment with label-backed distribution infrastructure.
- Amuse: Amuse is a Sweden-based mobile-first music distribution platform offering free and paid tiers to independent artists, with direct DSP integrations and emerging label services. Targets the same DIY artist cohort as TuneCore with a tech-forward, mobile-led go-to-market approach.
- Stem (HitCo): Stem is a distribution and royalty splits platform that distributes music to streaming services while automating transparent royalty payments to collaborators. Highly comparable to TuneCore's Splits offering and targets similar indie artist and label clients.
- Ditto Music: Ditto Music is an independent music distribution company founded in Liverpool, UK, offering distribution to 150+ stores with annual subscription pricing. Directly competes with TuneCore in the UK and European markets with comparable pricing and store coverage.
- Symphonic Distribution: Symphonic Distribution is an independent music distribution and label services company distributing to major DSPs with a focus on emerging markets and Latin music. Co-founding member of the Music Fights Fraud Alliance with TuneCore and a direct distribution competitor in the indie/label services space.
Broad incumbents
- Believe (Parent): Believe is TuneCore's publicly-traded parent company (EURONEXT: BLV), operating a broader portfolio of distribution, label services, and owned labels (Nuclear Blast, Naïve, Groove Attack) across 50+ countries with $1.05B revenue in 2024. Not a peer in the traditional sense but the strategic acquirer/operator providing proprietary catalog optimization technology.
Emerging players
- Empire Distribution: Empire is an independent San Francisco-based distribution company and record label that combines distribution with label services for hip-hop and urban artists. Co-founding member of the Music Fights Fraud Alliance and competes with TuneCore for label services and artist distribution, particularly in hip-hop.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TuneCore social profiles
Digital presenceTuneCore financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TuneCore leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
TuneCore funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TuneCore M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TuneCore
What does TuneCore do?
TuneCore operates a digital music distribution platform that enables independent artists, songwriters, labels, and managers to release music to 150+ streaming platforms and digital stores (including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Tidal, Tencent, and Beatport) while retaining 100% ownership and revenue. The company charges flat annual subscription fees for distribution and extends this core with publishing administration, artist development via its Accelerator program, royalty advances (Direct Advance), AI mastering, and collaborative royalty splitting (Splits).
Is TuneCore a public or private company?
TuneCore is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was TuneCore founded?
TuneCore was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is TuneCore based?
TuneCore is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does TuneCore make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Distribution Subscription Fees are the primary driver. The others are publishing Administration, additional Services and social Platforms and YouTube Content ID.
Who are TuneCore's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DistroKid, CD Baby, UnitedMasters, AWAL (Sony Music), Amuse, Stem (HitCo), Ditto Music and Symphonic Distribution. Believe (Parent) is listed as a broad incumbent. Empire Distribution is listed as an emerging player.
Does TuneCore have an API?
No public API is recorded for TuneCore.
What industry is TuneCore in?
TuneCore's product category is Digital Music Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAC, Music & Audio Streaming Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAIAKAJ, Micro-Licensing & Direct Licensing Platforms (UGC, SMB venues, online uses). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 7370.