Think CD Baby is your option for distribution? Think again.
With iMusician, you only pay once to keep your music online forever on the widest range of streaming and download shops worldwide.
Choosing your digital music distributor is a crucial step in your music-making journey, often influencing your potential growth and determining the legacy you leave behind. At iMusician, we hope to be your ultimate-one-stop-360 music business partner, centering everything we do around you and your needs as an independent musician. This page gives you an easy-to-read, informative breakdown of the differences between CD Baby and iMusician — covering the most important subjects independent artists need to think about.
How is iMusician better than CD Baby?
Your Music Online Forever
Commission
9%
0% to 10%
Price per Single
$9.95
$9
Price per Album
$29
$20
Electronic Music Distribution on Beatport
Electronic Music Distribution on Traxsource
No Withholding Tax
YouTube Content ID
30% commission on your YouTube ad revenue
From 0% to 10% commission on your YouTube ad revenue
Personal Support via Community
Languages Available
English, Spanish, Portuguese
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Free Submissions to iMusician Playlists
Your Music Online Forever
Commission
9%
Price per Single
$9.95
Price per Album
$29
Electronic Music Distribution on Beatport
Electronic Music Distribution on Traxsource
No Withholding Tax
YouTube Content ID
30% commission on your YouTube ad revenue
Personal Support via Community
Languages Available
English, Spanish, Portuguese
Free Submissions to iMusician Playlists
Your Music Online Forever
Commission
0% to 10%
Price per Single
$9
Price per Album
$20
Electronic Music Distribution on Beatport
Electronic Music Distribution on Traxsource
No Withholding Tax
YouTube Content ID
From 0% to 10% commission on your YouTube ad revenue
Personal Support via Community
Languages Available
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Free Submissions to iMusician Playlists
What are iMusician benefits compared to CD Baby?
iMusician is the Swiss music business partner you can trust
Unlike most music distributors like CD Baby, we don’t charge any hidden fees, like withholding taxes. If a music distribution company charges withholding tax, it means that they keep 30% of your music revenue, if you’re not a US citizen or you don’t fill in loads of forms. As a Swiss company, we simply don’t do that.
Our main goal is to always remain transparent and make sure that your tracks are released right the first time, without any bad surprises coming later.
Widest range of shops and genres worldwide including classical and electronic music
At iMusician, we believe that the genre of music you make should showcase your strengths not cause you trouble. Afterall, what really matters is that you get your music out in the world and heard. We’re proud to distribute every possible genre, including electronic and classical music.
Speaking of electronic music, we also cover the largest selection of electronic music shops, including Traxsource, Beatport or Juno Download. This way we make sure you’re able to maximize your reach to your audience wherever they listen to music, without compromising on your choice of music genres or your artistic vision. CD Baby doesn’t distribute your music on Beatport or Traxsource.
Personal support at its best
We are aware that talking about all things ‘music business’ can be complicated and daunting. We understand that it’s much easier to communicate about these things in your mother language, and in your own words.
That’s why we have an excellent Artist and Label Relations team that is here to provide you with the best service in the distribution industry — in six different languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. You can ask us anything and we’ll be more than happy to guide you.
FAQs
No, CD Baby keeps 30% of the ad-revenue from YouTube videos and you only keep 70%. With iMusician, you keep up to 100% of your revenue depending on your subscription plan.
Yes, if your country of tax residency is not in the United States, CD Baby will take 30% of your earnings as withholding tax. iMusician, as a Swiss company, does not charge it.
This is simple.
Keep your ISRC codes and UPC barcodes of your releases distributed via CD Baby
Request the takedown of your releases on CD Baby
Create your releases on iMusician and be sure to insert the same UPC and ISRCs codes where it is required so you will keep the same count of streams, downloads, playlists, etc
Explore For Free
Join our community of half a million independent artists and labels who trust iMusician to sell and monetize their music online.
Truly Unlimited.
Your music stays online forever. No yearly or monthly fee to keep your tracks in stores.
Your Music is Safe With Us.
We're Swiss! That means no withholding tax, and no minimum payouts. You own 100% of your music copyrights.
Discover Your Potential.
Use the power of data to find out where your listeners are with our Music Analytics tool.
Break Through the Noise.
Artist Hub helps you grow your fans, get more streams and reach your goals as an artist.
Stay Free, Stay Flexible.
Switch your subscription to our free plan anytime, for as long as you need to.
Reach Fans All Over The World.
Sell and monetize your music on the widest range of shops all over the world such as Spotify, Deezer, Beatport, Amazon, Traxsource & more.
Get Playlisted.
Playlists are crucial for a successful career. Get your tracks on our lists, and increase your chances for editorial playlists.