TuneCore

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

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

• Digital music distribution
• Music publishing administration
• Independent artist services
• Royalty collection platform
• Music streaming aggregation

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Google Flow MusiccoreTechnology or Integration · 6 May 2026Partnership 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.
• ElevenLabscoreTechnology or Integration · 30 April 2026Music 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.
• UdiocoreTechnology or Integration · 30 April 2026Music 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.
• EarthPercentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Partnership 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 RightminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Partnership 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 CompaniesminorOthers · 18 March 2025Recognized by Fast Company as one of 10 most innovative companies in music for anti-fraud initiatives, alongside Merlin.
• Music Fights Fraud AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2023Founding 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.TechflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2023Groundbreaking 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.
• BeatportcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 April 2023Partnership 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 GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 13 January 2023Renewed 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.
• GroovercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2022Exclusive 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/TuneCore
• Facebookfacebook.com/tunecore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tunecore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TuneCore