CD Baby
CD Baby is a Portland-based digital music distribution platform founded in 1998, enabling independent musicians to release music to 150+ streaming and download platforms worldwide for one-time fees, with optional add-ons for royalty collection and sync licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What CD Baby does
CD Baby, legally Audio and Video Labs, Inc., is a digital music distribution aggregator founded in 1998 by Derek Sivers and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company enables independent musicians to release music to 150+ streaming, download, and social platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL, Shazam, Tencent, NetEase, Boomplay, Anghami, KKBox, and others) for a one-time fee of $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album, with no subscription requirement. CD Baby inspects and encodes audio differently for each DSP partner and operates preferred or flagship status with Spotify, Apple, and YouTube, generating real-time analytics including daily Spotify trending reports and YouTube Content ID monetization across user-generated content.
The business model rests on three monetization layers: one-time distribution fees at release, an ongoing 9% commission on streaming and download revenue (artists retain 91%), and premium add-ons — most notably CDB Boost at $39.99 per release, which unlocks Mechanical Licensing Collective registration, SoundExchange digital performance royalties, and sync licensing opportunities. The free CD Baby Stages tier program (Essentials, Plus, Label Services) escalates benefits such as playlist pitching, expedited DSP delivery, and editorial pitching for qualifying artists, while physical CD and vinyl manufacturing runs on a low-minimum, fast-turnaround e-commerce model. Marketing and promotion tools — Show.co, HearNow, SymphonyOS, Laylo, Groover, Internet Radio Airplay, and the Found.ee Managed Ads Program — are bundled or offered through referral partnerships.
CD Baby was acquired by Downtown Music Holdings in 2020, and Universal Music Group's $775 million acquisition of Downtown — greenlit by regulators in early 2026 — brought CD Baby under Virgin Music Group alongside FUGA and Songtrust. The company reports paying over $1 billion to independent artists across its 25+ year history and serves more than 2 million creators globally, with a wholly self-serve, PLG distribution motion: artists sign up at cdbaby.com, pay per release, and access the platform through members.cdbaby.com with no sales-team involvement.
CD Baby firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CD Baby
- Legal name
- Audio and Video Labs, Inc.
- Website
- https://cdbaby.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- CD Baby is a Portland-based digital music distribution platform founded in 1998, enabling independent musicians to release music to 150+ streaming and download platforms worldwide for one-time fees, with optional add-ons for royalty collection and sync licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CD Baby industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Music Distribution
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media (3346)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores (5735)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Demand Music Streaming (Interactive) (MPAIACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Download Stores & Digital Music Retail (Transactional) (MPAIACAM)
Keywords
Where CD Baby is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CD Baby business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital Distribution Fees: One-time setup fee per release. Artists pay $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album to distribute music globally across 150+ platforms. No annual subscription, no recurring fees to keep music online. This is the primary one-time revenue stream.
- Royalty Commission (9%): CD Baby retains 9% of digital distribution revenue generated from streaming and downloads, with artists keeping 91%. This creates an ongoing revenue share tied to artists' commercial success. The company only earns when artists earn.
- CDB Boost Premium Add-On: $39.99 per release add-on that unlocks mechanical royalty collection (MLC), SoundExchange digital performance royalties, sync licensing opportunities, and publishing administration services. Upsell to standard distribution.
- Physical CD and Vinyl Manufacturing: CD replication and vinyl pressing services with turnaround times as fast as 1–5 days. Artists order custom quantities (as low as 100 CDs, 100 vinyl LPs). Revenue from manufacturing orders.
- Music Promotion Tools (Third-Party Partnerships): CD Baby bundles or offers access to third-party promotion tools including SymphonyOS, Show.co (free), HearNow, Laylo, Groover, Internet Radio Airplay, and Found.ee Managed Ads Program. Some services are free; others (Laylo Pro, Groover campaigns, Found.ee ads) are paid directly by artists to third-party providers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Digital Distribution — $9.99 single / $14.99 album |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CDB Boost Add-On — $39.99 per release |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | CD Baby Stages — Free (qualification-based) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Physical Manufacturing — variable pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
CD Baby product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CD Baby is an online digital music distribution aggregator that enables independent musicians to release music to 150+ streaming, download, and social platforms worldwide for a one-time fee of $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album. The platform retains 9% of digital royalties collected (artists keep 91%) and offers add-on services including mechanical royalty collection via The MLC, digital performance royalties via SoundExchange, sync licensing pitching, and physical CD/vinyl manufacturing with low minimum orders.
Product overview
CD Baby is a music distribution and artist services platform offering a comprehensive suite of tools for independent musicians. The core offering is digital music distribution to 150+ platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube, Amazon, etc.) at $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album with no subscription fees. Above this base layer, CDB Boost ($39.99 add-on) unlocks mechanical royalty collection via The MLC, digital performance royalties via SoundExchange, and sync licensing for film/TV/games. The Stages program provides tiered artist progression from Essentials through Plus to Label Services with editorial pitching and expedited delivery. Physical distribution includes CD and vinyl manufacturing with low minimums. Marketing tools span Show.co (free pre-save campaigns), SymphonyOS (AI-powered social ads), HearNow (promo landing pages), Laylo (fan notifications), Groover (industry connections), and Internet Radio Airplay (guaranteed plays). The platform integrates with royalty collectors (SoundExchange, The MLC, ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN) and major streaming platforms to automate the full release-to-revenue workflow for independent artists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CDB Boost: Premium add-on service for music distribution that unlocks mechanical royalty collection, digital performance royalties via SoundExchange, sync licensing opportunities, and MLC registration.
- CD Baby Stages
Products and services
- CD Baby Digital Distribution Core music distribution service enabling independent artists to release music to 150+ streaming and download platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL, etc.) worldwide for a one-time fee of $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album with no annual subscription. Artists retain 91% of revenue; CD Baby retains 9% commission.
- CDB Boost Premium add-on ($39.99 per release) that unlocks mechanical royalty collection via The MLC, digital performance royalties via SoundExchange (for non-interactive streaming on Pandora, SiriusXM, and internet radio), and sync licensing opportunities for placement in film, TV, games, and advertising.
- CD Baby Stages Tiered artist services program offering three levels: Essentials (standard distribution), Plus (expedited DSP delivery, CD Baby playlist placement, Instagram/TikTok verification), and Label Services (editorial pitching, Pandora fast-track, Apple video delivery). Free for qualifying artists.
- CD Baby Disc Manufacturing Physical CD replication and vinyl pressing services with fast turnaround (1-5 days standard, 1-day rush available). Orders as low as 100 CDs or 100 vinyl LPs with packaging options including jewel cases, Digipaks, and Wallets. Full-color disc printing and mastering services from $49 per song.
- Show.co Wholly-owned free music marketing platform offering Spotify pre-save campaigns, Spotify follower growth tools, YouTube video premieres, email list building, and Spotify audio ad creation tools originally used by major labels Sony and Universal. Bundled free with CD Baby accounts.
- Internet Radio Airplay Guaranteed promotional radio airplay service providing 100 free plays in the first week, then 10 free plays weekly, with genre targeting to audiences similar to the artist's style.
- CD Baby Stages Selects Full-service artist development program offering select independent artists strategic career development support including priority distribution, targeted marketing campaigns, and release planning beyond the standard DIY distribution offering.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1 billion paid to independent artists since 1998
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CD Baby
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CD Baby technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration38 records
Feature7 records
CD Baby partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, minor and core.
- VocananotableCD Baby is a catalog partner for Vocana, an independent artist streaming platform that launched public beta in August 2025. Vocana uses a user-centric payment model directing every subscription dollar exclusively to the indie acts listeners actually stream. CD Baby's catalog of independent artists (millions of tracks) is distributed through Vocana's platform, giving CD Baby artists exposure on a new streaming model targeting the 99.8% of indie artists earning under $10,000 annually on Spotify.
- VocananotableCD Baby partnered with Vocana alongside DistroKid to supply the platform's independent artist catalog. Vocana's model — where a subscriber paying $8 who listens to four artists results in each receiving $2 directly — positions CD Baby artists for preferential royalty treatment compared to pooled royalty systems used by major DSPs.
- DistroKidnotableBoth CD Baby and DistroKid are catalog partners for Vocana. Their co-presence on the platform normalizes CD Baby as part of the independent distribution landscape alongside its primary competitor, while Vocana aggregates both distributors' catalogs for its user-centric streaming model.
- Symphonic DistributionminorSymphonic Distribution is also listed as a catalog partner for Vocana alongside CD Baby and DistroKid. CD Baby's relationship with Vocana positions it alongside Symphonic in the platform's aggregator partnerships.
- UnitedMastersminorUnitedMasters is listed as a Vocana catalog partner alongside CD Baby. UnitedMasters and CD Baby are both independent distribution platforms aggregated within the same streaming service.
- FUGAminorFUGA (Downtown Music Holdings' B2B technology subsidiary) is also a Vocana catalog partner. FUGA is a sister company within the Downtown Music Holdings portfolio — the same parent company that owns CD Baby — making this an intra-group catalog distribution relationship.
- Downtown Music HoldingsminorDowntown Music Holdings (CD Baby's parent company) is listed as a Vocana catalog partner. Downtown aggregates its owned and operated catalogs (including CD Baby's) for the Vocana partnership.
- SymphonyOSminorSymphonyOS (symphony.to/cdbaby) is a music promotion tool bundled into CD Baby's marketing offerings. CD Baby directs artists to SymphonyOS for AI-powered social media advertising, custom pre-save landing pages, and fan tracking dashboards. CD Baby earns referral traffic; SymphonyOS gains CD Baby's 2M+ artist customer base.
- Show.cominorShow.co is offered free to all CD Baby clients. It provides Spotify pre-save campaigns, Spotify follower growth, email list building, YouTube video premiere, and Spotify audio ads — tools originally used by major labels Sony and Universal. CD Baby provides distribution infrastructure; Show.co provides marketing tools; both benefit from the artist using both services.
- HearNowminorHearNow (hearnow.com) creates smart promotional landing pages for CD Baby releases, automatically populated with audio, artwork, and links to all streaming services. Available as an add-on or standalone for CD Baby artists. CD Baby directs artists to HearNow for fan-facing promotional pages.
- LaylominorLaylo (go.laylo.com/cdbaby) enables artists to notify fans via text, email, and DMs when releasing new music, with Spotify auto-follow and 1-click pre-saves. CD Baby offers a 20% discount on Laylo Pro (code CDBABY) for its artists. Referral/partnership for fan engagement.
- GrooverminorGroover (try.groover.co/cdbaby) connects independent artists with 2,000+ blogs, radios, playlist curators, and industry professionals for music promotion. CD Baby offers a 15% discount on Groover campaigns for CD Baby artists. Over 300,000 written articles and interactions have occurred through the platform. Referral/partnership for music promotion.
- Found.ee (Managed Ads Program)minorFound.ee runs CD Baby's Managed Ads Program, where their experts design and manage ad campaigns for CD Baby artists on Billboard, Pitchfork, Complex, and other music sites. Artists fill out a form; Found.ee handles strategy, creative, and optimization. CD Baby earns a referral margin; Found.ee accesses CD Baby's 2M+ artist base as customers.
- Easy Song LicensingminorCD Baby no longer licenses cover songs directly but refers artists to Easy Song Licensing for mechanical cover song licensing. CD Baby continues to pay mechanical royalties for tracks previously licensed through its own service. This is a recommended vendor referral for cover song clearance.
- The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC)coreCD Baby's CDB Boost automatically registers artists' musical works with The MLC to collect mechanical royalties generated by streaming in the United States. The MLC is a non-profit organization designated by Congress to collect and distribute mechanical royalties. This is a core component of the CDB Boost value proposition.
- SoundExchangecoreCD Baby's CDB Boost automatically registers sound recordings with SoundExchange, the largest neighboring rights organization in the world, to collect digital performance royalties from non-interactive streaming (Pandora, SiriusXM, internet radio) and satellite radio. SoundExchange is the primary collector of digital audio transmission royalties in the US.
- Apple (Preferred Content Provider)coreCD Baby is a 'preferred Apple content provider,' meaning music approved for distribution goes live on Apple Music and iTunes within days of final approval. CD Baby artists also receive expedited Apple Music for Artists verification. This preferred status ensures fast and prioritized access to one of the world's largest music streaming services.
- Spotify (Preferred Distributor)coreCD Baby is a 'preferred Spotify distributor,' allowing fast-track artist verification, priority access to Spotify's editorial playlist pitching tools, and efficient direct-to-platform delivery. Spotify recommends CD Baby as a top choice for independent artists.
- YouTube (Flagship Preferred Distributor)coreCD Baby is a 'flagship member of YouTube's Preferred Distributor Program.' YouTube recommends CD Baby as a top choice for artists. CD Baby distributes to YouTube Music, generates Art Tracks videos for all songs, and manages YouTube Content ID monetization for all distributed music — including detection and monetization of third-party user-generated content using an artist's music.
- Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME)notableCD Baby distributes music through Tencent Music Entertainment Group's apps (QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music, WeSing) to over 800 million users in China. This partnership provides CD Baby artists access to the world's largest music market through one of China's dominant streaming platforms.
- NetEase Cloud MusicnotableCD Baby distributes to NetEase Cloud Music, China's fastest-growing music service with 600+ million registered users, where over 50% of music listened to is international. CD Baby artists gain exposure to Chinese audiences through this partnership.
- BoomplaynotableCD Baby distributes to Boomplay, the biggest and fastest-growing music app in Africa with a catalog of 9+ million songs and videos. Boomplay's vision is to build the largest digital music ecosystem for artists in Africa, giving CD Baby artists direct access to African markets.
- AnghaminotableCD Baby distributes to Anghami, the leading music streaming platform in the Middle East and North Africa with 30+ million users (7 million monthly active). Artists gain discoverability across the MENA region through Anghami's free ad-supported and premium subscription tiers.
- KKBoxnotableCD Baby distributes to KKBox, Asia's leading music streaming service with 40+ million tracks and 10+ million users across Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia. Provides access to comprehensive Asia-Pop music library and regional audiences.
- SaavnminorCD Baby distributes to Saavn, the leading streaming music provider in India offering Bollywood, devotional, and regional Indian content plus 25+ million English and international tracks. Provides Indian market access.
- TIDALnotableCD Baby distributes to TIDAL, the artist-owned music streaming service offering high-fidelity lossless audio with 25+ million tracks and 75,000 HD music videos. Artist-owned model aligns with CD Baby's independent artist values.
- TrebelminorCD Baby distributes to Trebel, a music streaming platform with a unique legal licensed model for offline music and 13+ million monthly active users in the US, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Trebel targets users for whom subscription streaming is inaccessible, monetizing through ad engagement.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CD Baby competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CD Baby social profiles
Digital presenceCD Baby compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CD Baby financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CD Baby leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CD Baby subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
CD Baby funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CD Baby M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CD Baby
What does CD Baby do?
CD Baby is an online digital music distribution aggregator that enables independent musicians to release music to 150+ streaming, download, and social platforms worldwide for a one-time fee of $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album. The platform retains 9% of digital royalties collected (artists keep 91%) and offers add-on services including mechanical royalty collection via The MLC, digital performance royalties via SoundExchange, sync licensing pitching, and physical CD/vinyl manufacturing with low minimum orders.
Is CD Baby a public or private company?
CD Baby is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CD Baby founded?
CD Baby was founded in 1998. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is CD Baby based?
CD Baby is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does CD Baby make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Digital Distribution Fees are the primary driver. The others are royalty Commission (9%), CDB Boost Premium Add-On, physical CD and Vinyl Manufacturing and music Promotion Tools (Third-Party Partnerships).
Does CD Baby have an API?
No public API is recorded for CD Baby.
What industry is CD Baby in?
CD Baby's product category is Independent Music Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIACAA, On-Demand Music Streaming (Interactive), with a secondary code of MPAIACAM, Download Stores & Digital Music Retail (Transactional). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.