RouteNote

RouteNote distributes music releases to digital stores chosen by artists and labels. It reviews uploaded music and sends approved releases to selected partner platforms; the company says its network includes more than 50 services, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud, and Deezer. Users can select stores, pricing tiers, and the countries where music will be available. Releases can also be uploaded to RouteNote’s YouTube Content ID system for monetization when audio is used in videos. The Free plan has no upfront distribution fee and lets users keep 85% of net revenue. Premium pricing is charged once by release size: $10 for a single, $20 for an EP, $30 for an album, or $45 for an extended album. Premium releases also incur a $9.99 annual renewal fee per release starting the following year. RouteNote says approved releases are delivered to chosen stores within 24 hours, excluding weekends; stores commonly take up to 14 days to make them live, while some may take up to 28 days. The mobile app lets users view earnings and statistics, browse their discography, and contact support; the iOS app also supports uploads. RouteNote offers 24/7 email and ticket support.

RouteNote offers free distribution with a revenue share or paid Premium releases with annual renewal fees. Artists should account for the approval and store publishing timelines when planning a release.

RouteNote suits artists and labels seeking distribution to digital stores with control over territories and store selection. Its mobile app may help users monitor earnings and releases, and iOS users can upload music through the app.

RouteNote distributes music for independent artists and labels that want to choose stores, territories and pricing tiers. Its free option avoids an upfront distribution fee; Premium trades that revenue share for 100% of streaming and download revenue, but adds an annual fee for each release.

Overview

RouteNote reviews uploaded releases before sending approved music to partner stores selected by the artist or label. Its network spans more than 50 platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud and Deezer. Store and country controls make it a practical fit for artists who want to direct where a release is available rather than accept a single default distribution footprint.

Approval and store publication are distinct steps. RouteNote says approved releases are delivered within 24 hours, excluding weekends, but most stores take up to 14 days to publish them and some can take as long as 28. That makes RouteNote less suited to a release plan that depends on a guaranteed immediate storefront date.

Existing releases can be sent to newly added partner stores at no extra cost; users can opt out by contacting support. RouteNote also says it uses email one-time passcodes to verify sensitive account changes, a useful safeguard for accounts managing release and revenue decisions.

Key features

Release control and revenue

Artists and labels can select stores, pricing tiers and countries, and account holders can split release revenue. Free-plan splits are calculated after RouteNote's 15% share, so collaborators share what remains rather than the gross royalties. Monthly payouts and publishing administration add useful infrastructure for artists managing more than one release.

YouTube monetization

RouteNote says releases can be uploaded to its YouTube Content ID system so their audio can be monetized when it appears in videos. This is relevant to rights holders seeking that use of their music, but it does not change the approval and distribution timetable for store releases.

Mobile access and support

The app lets users check earnings and statistics, browse their discography and contact support; the iOS app also supports release uploads. That makes routine account monitoring possible on mobile, while upload capability is specifically stated for iOS. RouteNote says it offers 24/7 email and ticket support.

Pricing

RouteNote offers a free route and per-release Premium pricing. The free plan costs nothing and has no upfront distribution fee; artists keep 85% of net revenue. It is the sensible starting point for artists who prefer to avoid paying before release and accept RouteNote's 15% share.

Premium releases keep 100% of streaming and download revenue, but cost $10, paid once for a single (1 track), $20, paid once for an EP (2–6 tracks), $30, paid once for an album (7–18 tracks), or $45, paid once for an extended album (19+ tracks). Each Premium release carries a $9.99 a year renewal fee starting the following year. Premium therefore suits releases expected to earn enough for keeping the full streaming and download revenue to justify both the initial charge and continuing per-release renewals. Artists with a growing catalogue should account for those recurring fees across every release.

Premium also includes fast track moderation, no lock-in, 90 days of Trends data and fan location insights. The free plan gives up those Premium benefits as well as the full-revenue share, but keeps access to RouteNote's services. An All Access option has custom pricing.

Platforms

RouteNote is available on Android, iOS and the web. The mobile apps support earnings and statistics checks, discography browsing and support contact; iOS additionally supports uploading releases.

Who it's for

RouteNote is best for independent artists and labels who want control over destination stores and territories, a no-upfront-cost distribution option, or a choice to pay per release for full streaming and download revenue. It is a weaker fit for artists who need a firm, near-immediate release date or do not want annual renewal charges accumulating across Premium releases.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free distribution has no upfront fee, which lowers the barrier to releasing music.
• Store, pricing-tier and territory selection gives artists control over release availability.
• Premium retains all streaming and download revenue and includes fast track moderation and audience insights.
• More than 50 partner platforms, YouTube Content ID and monthly payouts support a broad distribution and royalty workflow.

Cons

• The free plan retains 15% of net revenue, reducing the share available to artists and collaborators.
• Premium renews annually at $9.99 per release, so catalogue costs can compound.
• Store publication can take up to 28 days after approval, complicating tight release schedules.
• Only the iOS app is stated to support release uploads; Android is limited to the other listed account functions.

Alternatives

For artists deciding among distribution and music-related services, Music Distribution Platforms is the relevant comparison list. Stock Music Libraries is a better starting point for readers seeking library music rather than distribution for their own releases.

Soundstripe may suit creators looking for royalty-free music and curated playlists, including a free Twitch extension. Epidemic Sound is an option for individual creators seeking a plan covering one monetized channel per platform. Musicbed is another option for readers comparing music services. Audiio offers a freemium alternative, including a Creator plan at $14.99 a month for one channel and personal web and social use with monetization. YouTube is a free alternative for readers seeking a video platform rather than a music distributor. Uppbeat offers a free tier with three downloads for individual use on a user's own channels. Bensound has free selected music with attribution required, while TuneTank offers three monthly downloads on its free plan.

Verdict

RouteNote is a strong choice for artists and labels who value release controls and want to choose between no upfront cost and full streaming and download revenue. Choose Free to limit initial expense; choose Premium when keeping the revenue share is worth the per-release charge and annual renewal. Look elsewhere if a predictable, rapid store launch or freedom from recurring per-release fees matters more.