Is TuneCore Legit?
In the modern-day music industry, emerging artists no longer depend on being signed to a label in order to release their own music. Digital distributors have made it easy for bedroom artists to get their music out into the world via music streaming services, and one of the companies behind this is TuneCore.
With so many companies offering distribution alongside other services, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start. Well, we’ve got you covered!
In this article, we will look at what TuneCore is, what services and features they provide, pricing and whether it is worth investing your money into. Let’s get started!
What Is TuneCore?
Founded in 2005, TuneCore.com provides independent artists with the ability to sell their music globally through online music services. The platform offers artists the chance to get their music onto stores such as TuneCore Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Google Play, Tidal, and YouTube sound recording (among many others). However, TuneCore also offers music publishing administration, artist services, promotion and social media services, meaning they are more than just a distributor.
The company’s aim is to ‘empower you with the services and knowledge you need to find your fans and grow your audience’, and that’s exactly what they do! So, let’s take a look at some of the platform’s stand-out features that benefit artists.
TuneCore Features
With various platforms offering distribution, it can be hard to know which platform to choose. However, one of the things that really makes TuneCore stand out is its additional services, features and benefits. So, what are some of the highlights of being a member of TuneCore?
Aspire Program
This is a feature that is individual to TuneCore. The company has partnered with Believe to develop a program designed to take artists’ careers to the next level. Once you start distributing your music with TuneCore, you are in with a chance of getting signed into their Aspire program. This includes digital marketing and promotion support, dedicated project managers and industry pros and greater opportunities for exposure.
Sync & Master Licensing
TuneCore’s team works globally to pitch artists’ music for placements in film, TV, commercials, and video games. If you’ve dreamed of hearing your music pop up on the TV, this is a great opportunity. The world of sync can be tricky for artists to get involved in, which is why this is a great feature. For this service, TuneCore will take a 20% cut of any commission that you make.
Fast Payment
You earn money any time someone streams or downloads your tracks on the streaming sites to that your music has been distributed to. The great news is that TuneCore puts 100% of that money directly into your account on the site, and never takes a commission. You can withdraw this money, instead of waiting for payments at certain times of the year – meaning fast, easy payment!
Promotion
If you need help with the process from creation to promotion, this platform has also got you covered. At the creation stage, artists can get fan feedback on tracks and receive personalised mastering from industry professionals. After getting your music ready to sell, including any physical copies, TuneCore can help point you in the right direction to promote your music – including help with website creation, lyric videos and more.
Social
TuneCore Social is your all-in-one solution for social media management. This provides you with the power of multiple apps all in one place to simplify social media marketing for artists. There are both Starter and Pro options, with Starter including posting and scheduling to Facebook and Twitter, and photo editing tools. Pro offers the above, with the addition of premium photo editing add-ons, such as stickers, filters and text. Both plans include ready-made hashtag sets to gain more followers and help with planning and scheduling.
How To Upload Music To TuneCore
The process of uploading to TuneCore is pretty straightforward.
After creating a TuneCore account, simply utilise your TuneCore login and access the site. Once you have your TuneCore log in then, upload your music and artwork, enter the details of your release, select which stores you want to distribute to and boom! There are 150+ digital music stores globally to choose from – so it is safe to say they have everything covered.
When preparing your tracks for upload, different stores have different requirements. Your music needs to be of the highest quality possible so that listeners get to hear the best of what you have to offer. In order to upload your tracks to TuneCore, they must be:
- 16-bit (sample size)
- 44.1 kHz (sample rate)
- 1411 kbps (bit rate) stereo WAV files
…is now a good time to mention that Мusic Gateway offers a free WAV converter?
TuneCore Pricing
TuneCore is a little more expensive than some of its competitors, however, the service that they provide truly is top quality. Artists can sign up for free but are then required to pay a subscription fee before accessing the services. TuneCore offers 3 other artist services or you can pay by release:
Pros & Cons Of Using TuneCore
Pros
– TuneCore distributes your music to over 150 digital music stores and streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
– As an artists, you can keep 100% of your music royalties.
– You can track your sales and earnings through TuneCore’s analytics dashboard.
– TuneCore offers additional services like music publishing administration and YouTube monetization.
– You can use TuneCore to distribute not just music, but also ringtones, music videos, and more.
Cons
– TuneCore charges an annual fee per album or single you distribute.
– TuneCore takes a percentage of your earnings from music publishing administration and YouTube monetization services.
– Some users have reported issues with customer support and account management.
– There are other music distribution services that offer similar features and may be more cost-effective for certain artists.
Comparisons With Competitors
Мusic Gateway vs TuneCore
We may be biased, and although we here at Мusic Gateway offer similar services to TuneCore, we believe we still have the best deal.
As stated above, TuneCore charges per song – our music distribution is free for the first 5 tracks for Free Tier users, with releases on a rising scale for the Pro And Pro Unlimited Subscriptions.
Also, their incredible music distribution service gets your music onto all major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Music Gateway also helps you master your music for free with the Mastering Tool to make sure that you sound the best you can before your release. With a free account, you get 2 free songs to start with and you get more based on your plan.
What makes distribution by Мusic Gateway so great?
- You can distribute some of your music for FREE!
- Keep 100% of your royalties!
- Get free mastering to ensure your track sounds the best it can before distributing it!
- Distribute your music to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and over 300 more DSPs!
- Instant set up, upload your music and go!
All of this and more allows you to successfully distribute your music through Мusic Gateway with no recurring annual fees.
Also, if you have songs released through other distributors, you may want to think about moving them to Music Gateway. Most other distributors will take a cut of your streaming and sales royalties. So, move your entire catalogue to Music Gateway and start receiving 100% of your revenue.
It’s simple to transfer a song and they ensure that all your listens, downloads and stats remain. It really is a no-brainer!
In addition, they offer exclusive sync licensing opportunities and free sync representation. As well as free press, blog and promotional services. Hopefully, you’ll love what they can do for your career and will want to use some of these other amazing services!
CD Baby Vs TuneCore
Wondering about other services that are similar to TuneCore? Another company offering distribution is CD Baby – so let’s get the TuneCore Vs CD Baby debate underway!
In terms of what the platforms offer, the services are pretty equal. Both offer distribution, publishing rights administration and sync licensing (including cover song licensing). However, TuneCore does offer specific social media help and has programs such as Aspire, which are unique. CD Baby, on the other hand, offers manufacturing and duplication services to create and duplicate physical copies of your music, which TuneCore does not. So, the services are fairly balanced, although a little varying.
In terms of pricing, CD Baby is cheaper. CD Baby’s prices are $29 per album and $9.95 per single. You can also upgrade a single from ‘Standard’ to ‘Pro’ for $20, and for $40 for an album. For TuneCore, it is $9.99 for a single, and for an album, it is $29.99. So, as both standard packages go (without upgrades), the distribution price is similar.
However, TuneCore also charges an annual fee of $9.99 (single) and $29.99 (album), which racks up the price to be a lot higher. CD Baby does not charge an annual fee, meaning that you just pay per release. CD Baby does, however, take a 15% commission, whereas Tunecore doesn’t take any royalties. Therefore, it becomes a debate as to whether artists would prefer to pay more overall, but reap all of their rewards, or pay less but have a cut taken each time they release music.
TuneCore Vs DistroKid
DistroKid vs TuneCore – what’s the difference?
In regards to services, DistroKid is a lot more basic than TuneCore. The platform simply offers distribution, and is simplistic, to the point and… a lot cheaper. DistroKid charges an annual price of $19.99 for unlimited tracks. They also offer multiple plans if you want more benefits, including a service for labels. There is the Musician plan ($19.99 per year), Musician Plus ($35.99 per year) and Label ($79.99 per year). The big difference here is that artists don’t have to pay every time they release a track, it is all covered under an annual payment.
Commission-wise, neither platform takes a percentage of artist royalties, so they are equal in this respect. Tunecore offers a lot more features, such as sync licensing. For those requiring more extensive features for a little more cash, Tunecore may be the best choice.
Is TuneCore Worth It?
So, is TuneCore legit? Is it worth it?
Out of all of the distribution services available, TuneCore does have one of the widest ranges of services. Artists can get almost everything they need from TuneCore, albeit at a slightly higher price than some of its competitors. Also, the reputation of the company within the industry and with users is great, with customers rating it 4.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
If you are purely looking for distribution, the price may be a little steep, and perhaps DistroKid may be the best alternative. For similar features and benefits with a slightly lower price tag, CD Baby is a great alternative, also. However, if you are looking for various services, fast payment, additional benefits and a reliable distributor with a great reputation, TuneCore distribution will be a great fit for you and your music! Head to Tunecore’s website and try it out for yourself to see if it’s the right choice for you.
Musicians should use TuneCore because it provides a platform for independent artists to distribute their music to major streaming services and digital stores, collect royalties, and keep 100% of their earnings. TuneCore also offers additional services such as music publishing administration, YouTube monetization, and sync licensing opportunities.
Our Final Thoughts
Digital distribution is a great way for artists to get their music out into the world, to those who will love it. Digital distribution allows musicians to reach a wider audience and generate revenue through various streaming and download platforms. It also provides a cost-effective and efficient way to distribute music without the need for physical copies or traditional distribution channels.
If you want your music on platforms such as YouTube Music & Amazon Music then this is the way to go. There are many factors to consider, and artists should do their research and make sure that their distributor offers everything that they need.
It is an important part of the journey, as you have put in so much hard work. Treat the release part of the process with as much care as you did the creation. Find the right distributor for you and your music and enjoy! But most importantly, don’t forget us here at Мusic Gateway!
TuneCore customer support or TuneCore contact details click here.
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