Item: TuneCore Terms of Service
Rating: 40
Author: Terms.Law Editorial Team

⚠ Key Concerns

TuneCore's per-release annual fees ($9.99/single, $29.99/album) compound quickly as your catalog grows. An artist with 20 singles and 5 albums pays nearly $350/year just to keep music available. If you don't renew, releases are taken down from stores.

Score Breakdown by Category

How TuneCore's terms rate across my evaluation categories.

💰 Payment & Fee Transparency (30%) 42/100

Why this score: TuneCore keeps 100% of royalties but charges annual fees per release: $9.99/single, $29.99/album. These fees recur every year. The "Unlimited" plan ($14.99/month) changes the model but still requires ongoing payment. Royalty payments have 2-3 month delays.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 48/100 (flat annual) | CD Baby: 50/100 (one-time + commission) | Amuse: 42/100 (free tier limits) | Category avg: 45/100

⚖ Dispute Resolution (20%) 38/100

Why this score: Support response times can be slow, often taking 5-7 business days. Content ID disputes and royalty discrepancies are common complaints in user reviews. Mandatory arbitration clause with class action waiver limits legal recourse.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 42/100 (email only) | CD Baby: 52/100 (phone support) | Amuse: 35/100 (minimal support) | Category avg: 42/100

🔒 Contract & IP Rights (20%) 48/100

Why this score: Artists retain full ownership of masters and compositions - TuneCore is non-exclusive. However, the platform requires license to distribute, promote, and collect royalties on your behalf. Publishing administration service takes 15% of publishing royalties if enrolled.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 50/100 (similar model) | CD Baby: 45/100 (sync licensing terms) | Amuse: 40/100 (label discovery) | Category avg: 46/100

👁 Account & Termination Rights (15%) 35/100

Why this score: Music is removed if annual renewal fees aren't paid - each release requires separate renewal. TuneCore can terminate accounts for ToS violations. The per-release model means managing many renewal dates, increasing risk of accidental lapse.

Industry comparison: DistroKid: 38/100 (subscription lapse) | CD Baby: 55/100 (permanent placement) | Amuse: 40/100 (tier restrictions) | Category avg: 42/100

👥 Non-Compete & Exclusivity (15%) 45/100

Why this score: TuneCore is non-exclusive - you can use multiple distributors for different releases. However, the same release cannot be distributed through multiple services simultaneously. Switching distributors means takedown and re-upload with potential loss of streaming history.

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

Compare With Other Platforms

⚠ Key Clauses to Watch

These provisions in TuneCore's terms create the most risk for artists.

Per-Release Annual Fees Add Up

High Risk

Unlike flat-rate distributors, TuneCore charges $9.99/year per single and $29.99/year per album. A catalog of 30 songs across singles and albums can cost $200-400/year just to maintain.

"Annual distribution fees are charged per release. Singles: $9.99/year. Albums: $29.99/year." TuneCore Pricing

Royalty Payment Delays (90+ Days)

High Risk

Streaming services report and pay royalties 2-3 months after streams occur. TuneCore then processes these payments, adding additional delay. You may wait 3-4 months to receive money from streams.

"Royalty payments are processed after we receive reports and payments from stores, which typically takes 2-3 months after the sales period." TuneCore Payment Terms

Music Removed if Renewal Missed

High Risk

Each release has its own renewal date. If you miss a renewal, that specific release is removed from stores. Managing multiple renewal dates increases risk of accidental catalog gaps.

"If your annual renewal fee is not paid, your release will be taken down from stores within 30 days of the renewal date." TuneCore Terms of Service

Publishing Admin Takes 15%

High Risk

TuneCore's publishing administration service collects mechanical and performance royalties but takes a 15% cut. While optional, artists may not realize they're signing up for an additional fee on a different revenue stream.

"TuneCore Publishing Administration collects publishing royalties on your behalf for a 15% administrative fee." TuneCore Publishing Terms

Content ID Complications

Medium Risk

YouTube Content ID through TuneCore can flag your own uploads as infringing. Resolving these disputes requires navigating both TuneCore and YouTube systems, causing delays in monetization.

"Content ID registration may result in claims on videos using your music, including your own uploads on other channels." TuneCore Content ID FAQ

Complex Pricing Tiers

Medium Risk

TuneCore offers multiple pricing models (per-release, unlimited monthly, annual plans) with different feature sets. Understanding which plan fits your needs requires careful comparison of fine print.

"Choose from our flexible pricing options: per-release, Unlimited monthly ($14.99/mo), or Unlimited annual ($149.99/yr)." TuneCore Pricing Page

Analysis

"TuneCore's per-release pricing model is a relic from the CD era that doesn't scale well in the streaming age. While '100% of royalties' sounds great, the annual fees per release create ongoing liability that grows with your catalog.

The math is simple but often overlooked: if you release 10 singles a year for 5 years, you're paying nearly $500/year just to keep that music available. Meanwhile, DistroKid charges $22.99/year for unlimited uploads. The 'Unlimited' plan attempts to address this, but at $14.99/month ($180/year), it's still not competitive.

My recommendation: TuneCore may make sense for artists with small catalogs who value the established brand and publishing administration services. For prolific artists, the per-release model creates unsustainable costs. Consider CD Baby for permanent placement of catalog releases, and use flat-rate distributors for new releases."

TuneCore Terms of Service Review

⚠ Key Concerns

Score Breakdown by Category

Compare With Other Platforms

⚠ TuneCore Issues?

⚠ Key Clauses to Watch

Per-Release Annual Fees Add Up

Royalty Payment Delays (90+ Days)

Music Removed if Renewal Missed

Publishing Admin Takes 15%

Content ID Complications

Complex Pricing Tiers

Analysis

Need Help With TuneCore?

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TuneCore Terms of Service Review

⚠ Key Concerns

Score Breakdown by Category

Compare With Other Platforms

⚠ TuneCore Issues?

Related Resources

⚠ Key Clauses to Watch

Per-Release Annual Fees Add Up

Royalty Payment Delays (90+ Days)

Music Removed if Renewal Missed

Publishing Admin Takes 15%

Content ID Complications

Complex Pricing Tiers

Analysis

Need Help With TuneCore?

Schedule a Consultation