✅ Best in Category

CD Baby scores highest in the music distribution category due to its permanent distribution model. Pay once ($9.95/single, $29/album), and your music stays in stores indefinitely. The 9% commission means you keep 91% of royalties - no subscription fees eating into earnings when you're not releasing new music.

Score Breakdown by Category

How CD Baby's terms rate across my evaluation categories.

💰 Payment & Fee Transparency (30%) 50/100

Why this score: CD Baby charges one-time fees ($9.95/single, $29/album) for permanent distribution, plus a 9% commission on streaming royalties. This hybrid model provides predictability - you know what you'll earn per stream. Payment threshold is $10 minimum withdrawal.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 48/100 (100% royalties, annual fee) | TuneCore: 42/100 (100% royalties, per-release annual) | Amuse: 42/100 (free tier limits) | Category avg: 45/100

⚖ Dispute Resolution (20%) 52/100

Why this score: CD Baby offers phone support in addition to email, which is rare among distributors. Response times are generally better than competitors. However, mandatory arbitration clause still applies. Content ID disputes are handled through their support team.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 42/100 (email only, slow) | TuneCore: 38/100 (slow support) | Amuse: 35/100 (minimal support) | Category avg: 42/100

🔒 Contract & IP Rights (20%) 45/100

Why this score: Artists retain full ownership of masters. CD Baby is non-exclusive. However, their sync licensing program takes an additional cut (up to 40%) if your music is placed in TV/film/ads. The Pro Publishing service also takes a percentage of publishing royalties if enrolled.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 50/100 (no sync cut) | TuneCore: 48/100 (15% publishing admin) | Amuse: 40/100 (label discovery terms) | Category avg: 46/100

👁 Account & Termination Rights (15%) 55/100

Why this score: Music stays in stores permanently - no subscription to maintain. This is CD Baby's key differentiator. You can request takedowns anytime. Account termination for ToS violations still possible, but the permanence model reduces risk of accidental catalog loss.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 38/100 (subscription required) | TuneCore: 35/100 (annual renewal per release) | Amuse: 40/100 (tier dependent) | Category avg: 42/100

👥 Non-Compete & Exclusivity (15%) 48/100

Why this score: CD Baby is non-exclusive - you can use other distributors for different releases. Same release cannot be distributed through multiple services. The permanence model makes switching less necessary, but if you do switch, standard takedown/re-upload process applies.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 48/100 (non-exclusive) | TuneCore: 45/100 (non-exclusive) | Amuse: 42/100 (label deal implications) | Category avg: 46/100

Compare With Other Platforms

⚠ Key Clauses to Watch

These provisions in CD Baby's terms require attention, though risks are generally lower than competitors.

9% Commission on Royalties

Medium Risk

While the one-time fee is attractive, CD Baby takes 9% of streaming royalties permanently. For high-streaming artists, this adds up over time. Compare: $1,000 in royalties yields $910 (CD Baby) vs $1,000 (DistroKid with annual fee).

"CD Baby retains 9% of digital streaming royalties as our service fee. You receive 91% of all royalties collected." CD Baby Distribution Agreement

Sync Licensing Commission (Up to 40%)

Medium Risk

CD Baby's sync licensing program places music in TV, film, and ads, but takes up to 40% of sync fees. While this is opt-in, the default enrollment and high commission can surprise artists who land placements.

"For sync licensing placements, CD Baby receives a commission of up to 40% of the licensing fee." CD Baby Sync Licensing Terms

Slower Store Delivery Times

Medium Risk

CD Baby typically takes longer to deliver releases to stores compared to competitors. While most releases go live within 1-2 weeks, this can be problematic for time-sensitive releases like holiday music or tie-ins.

"Releases are typically live in stores within 2-4 weeks. Some stores may take longer." CD Baby Release Timeline

Pro Publishing Takes 15%

Medium Risk

CD Baby Pro collects publishing royalties (mechanical, performance, etc.) but takes 15% of these royalties. Combined with the 9% distribution commission, total platform take can exceed what subscription-model competitors charge.

"CD Baby Pro collects worldwide publishing royalties for a 15% administrative fee." CD Baby Pro Terms

Content ID Complications

Medium Risk

Like other distributors, CD Baby's YouTube Content ID registration can flag your own uploads. The dispute resolution process requires working with CD Baby support, which adds time to monetization.

"YouTube Content ID registration may result in claims on your own channel. Contact support for whitelisting." CD Baby Content ID FAQ

Royalty Payment Delays

Medium Risk

Like all distributors, CD Baby receives royalty reports 2-3 months after streams occur. Combined with their processing time, you may wait 3-4 months to receive payment. Minimum withdrawal is $10.

"Royalties are paid monthly, approximately 2-3 months after the month in which sales occur." CD Baby Payment Schedule

Analysis

"CD Baby's permanent distribution model is genuinely artist-friendly. The one-time fee means your music stays available even during years when you're not actively releasing - no subscription anxiety, no risk of catalog disappearance.

The 9% commission is the trade-off. For artists earning less than ~$250/year in royalties, CD Baby costs less than DistroKid's annual fee. For high-volume streamers, the math shifts. An artist earning $10,000/year in royalties pays $900 to CD Baby vs $23 to DistroKid.

My recommendation: CD Baby is ideal for catalog releases you want up permanently without ongoing maintenance. Use it for back catalog, albums you're proud of, and releases with long-term potential. For experimental releases or high-volume output, consider pairing with a flat-rate distributor. The permanent placement offers genuine peace of mind that subscription models can't match."

CD Baby Terms of Service Review

✅ Best in Category

Score Breakdown by Category

Compare With Other Platforms

⚠ CD Baby Issues?

⚠ Key Clauses to Watch

9% Commission on Royalties

Sync Licensing Commission (Up to 40%)

Slower Store Delivery Times

Pro Publishing Takes 15%

Content ID Complications

Royalty Payment Delays

Analysis

Need Help With CD Baby?

Schedule a Consultation

CD Baby Terms of Service Review

✅ Best in Category

Score Breakdown by Category

Compare With Other Platforms

⚠ CD Baby Issues?

Related Resources

⚠ Key Clauses to Watch

9% Commission on Royalties

Sync Licensing Commission (Up to 40%)

Slower Store Delivery Times

Pro Publishing Takes 15%

Content ID Complications

Royalty Payment Delays

Analysis

Need Help With CD Baby?

Schedule a Consultation