Artyfile Pay per release,
not per year.
There are three ways distributors charge: a yearly subscription, a one-time fee per release, or a share of your revenue. Here is how they compare — honestly, including where Artyfile is not the cheapest.
Can you distribute music without a subscription?
Yes. Several distributors charge a one-time fee per release instead of a yearly subscription — as of October 2026, CD Baby charges $9.99 per single and $14.99 per album, iMusician’s Starter plan €9 per release plus 10% commission, and Artyfile €9.90 per track or €39 per album plus 15% only on revenue it generates. In return for no yearly fee, these models take a commission. Subscription distributors take 0% but charge every year.
Updated: October 2026
The three pricing models
| Subscription | Pay per release | Commission only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay | A yearly fee for your account | A one-time fee per release | Nothing upfront |
| Commission | Usually 0% | Usually 9–15% | Usually a higher share |
| Uploads | Unlimited while subscribed | Pay for each release | Unlimited |
| If you stop paying | Depends on the provider — at DistroKid, releases are removed | Nothing to stop paying | Nothing to stop paying |
| Suits | Prolific artists, high streaming earners | Artists who release a few times a year and want a fixed, final cost | Hobby releases and testing the waters |
| Examples | DistroKid, TuneCore, iMusician AMPLIFY | CD Baby, iMusician Starter/Rockstar, Artyfile | Free tiers of several distributors |
None of these models is a scam and none is always best. The right one depends on how often you release and how much your music earns. A subscription is a flat rate for volume. A one-time fee is a fixed cost for a finished catalogue. Commission-only is the lowest risk upfront and the most expensive if a track takes off. More on that in free vs paid distribution.
Pay-per-release distributors compared
| Artyfile | CD Baby | iMusician Starter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | €9.90 per track | $9.99 | €9 per release (1–3 tracks) |
| Album | €39 for up to 10 tracks | $14.99 | €9 per release |
| Commission | 15% only on revenue Artyfile generates | 9% (you keep “over 90%”) | 10% |
| Yearly fee | None | None | None |
| Curation | A&R review by a person; no AI music | Open upload | Open upload |
| Own streaming app | Artyfile Stream, €0.03–€0.20 per stream | — | — |
| Fan Limited Editions | Optional | — | — |
Honest note: on fees and commission alone, Artyfile is not the cheapest one-time option. CD Baby’s $9.99 single is the same price bracket as our €9.90, its album price is lower than our €39, and its 9% commission is lower than our 15%. iMusician Starter costs €9 per release with 10% commission. Artyfile is for artists who want curation, the sync marketplace, Artyfile Stream payouts and optional Fan Limited Editions on top of distribution.
iMusician also offers Rockstar, a per-release plan with 0% commission, at a higher fee per release. Its AMPLIFY plans are yearly subscriptions from €29; iMusician states that your music stays online even if you cancel AMPLIFY.
How to choose: three questions
- 01
How many releases per year?
More than four or five releases a year usually favours a subscription. One to three favours a one-time fee.
- 02
What does a track earn?
With small streaming income, a commission costs you little and a yearly fee costs you a lot. With large streaming income, it is the other way round. Try the Spotify royalty calculator.
- 03
What happens in five years?
Ask every provider: if I stop paying or stop releasing, does my music stay online? Read the answer in their help center, not in the ad.
How Artyfile’s one-time model works
- ✓€9.90 per track or €39 for up to 10 tracks, once. No renewal, no upgrades, no other plans.
- ✓Applying is free. You pay only after a person in A&R has accepted your track.
- ✓100% of your master rights stay with you. Ownership is non-exclusive; only streaming distribution runs exclusively through Artyfile while a track is active.
- ✓15% only on revenue Artyfile generates — streaming, sync and Fan Limited Edition sales. You receive 85%. No other fees.
- ✓Your music stays online. There is no takedown for non-payment, because there is nothing left to pay.
Full numbers, including a 5-year comparison, are on the pricing page.
Distribution without subscription: common questions
Which music distributor has no yearly fee?
As of October 2026, CD Baby, iMusician (Starter and Rockstar) and Artyfile charge one-time fees per release with no yearly fee. Free distributors also have no yearly fee but take a share of your revenue.
Is a one-time fee better than a subscription?
It is better if you release a few times a year and want your music to stay online without ongoing costs. A subscription is better if you release a lot or earn a lot from streaming, because subscription distributors usually take 0% commission.
What is pay-per-release music distribution?
You pay once for each single or album you release. The release stays online without a yearly fee. In exchange, most pay-per-release distributors keep a commission — 9% at CD Baby, 10% at iMusician Starter, 15% at Artyfile (only on revenue it generates).
Does my music get taken down if I stop paying?
With a one-time fee there is nothing to stop paying. With subscriptions it depends: DistroKid removes releases that are not renewed unless you buy its Leave a Legacy extra; iMusician states that music stays online after cancelling AMPLIFY. Check your provider’s help center.
Is Artyfile the cheapest one-time distributor?
No. CD Baby is in the same price bracket for singles, cheaper for albums and has a lower commission (9% vs 15%). iMusician Starter costs €9 per release with 10% commission. Artyfile adds A&R curation, a sync marketplace, Artyfile Stream payouts and optional Fan Limited Editions.
What is the cheapest way to release one song?
A free, commission-only distributor costs nothing upfront. If you want no commission on a single song, a subscription for one year can be cheaper — but check what happens to the song when the subscription ends. See free vs paid distribution.
Keep reading
Pricing: €9.90 once
Every cost of releasing with Artyfile on one page, plus a 5-year comparison with subscription distributors.
DistroKid alternative
DistroKid’s plans, what happens when you stop paying, and when a one-time fee is the better deal.
Free vs paid distribution
Which distributors are still free, what the commission costs you over the years, and when a paid model is the better deal.
One fee. No renewal.
Send one track for free A&R review. If it is accepted, you pay €9.90 once and it stays online.