Free vs flat-fee, at a glance
| Free distribution | Flat-fee distribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None | A fixed annual or per-release fee |
| Ongoing cost | A percentage of royalties, often 10-20%, forever | None, you keep 100% after the fee |
| Best when | Streams are low or unproven, zero financial risk matters most | You release often or your streams are already steady |
| Where it can cost more | A percentage of growing royalties can exceed a flat fee fast | Loses money if you barely release and barely stream |
How free distribution makes money
A free distributor charges nothing upfront and instead keeps a cut of everything you earn, forever, or until you leave. That is not a scam, it is a revenue-split model. The question is only whether the split costs you more than a flat fee would at your streaming volume.
When free is the right choice
- You are releasing your first songs and have no idea what they will earn.
- Your monthly streams are low, so a percentage of a small number is a small number.
- You want zero financial risk to get started.
For most new artists, starting free is completely sensible. Use our streaming royalty calculator to see roughly what your streams are worth first.
When a flat fee wins
Once a song earns consistently, a percentage cut adds up fast. Run the comparison: if 15% of your annual royalties is more than a flat-fee distributor's yearly price, switch. Frequent releasers almost always come out ahead on flat fee. The full model comparison is in the best music distributor for India.
The non-negotiables, free or paid
- Your rights stay yours. Free or paid, the distributor takes money, never ownership of your master or publishing.
- Clean exit. Check you can leave and keep your ISRCs so your streams carry over.
- India reach. Confirm delivery to JioSaavn and Gaana, and caller-tune support if that channel matters.