&TillyRouteNote has been around since 2007, covering 95% of the music distribution market. They work with more than 1.2 million artists and have distributed over 6.8 million tracks. They are an experienced and trustworthy service to consider using for your distribution needs.
We really enjoy the straightforwardness of their uploading process. The steps are laid out in clear and easy to follow way, the layout is neat, and you can easily pick the platforms you want (and don’t want) your release distributed to.
If you'd still feel lost, there’s a comprehensive guide to uploading on RouteNote’s YouTube channel and in their FAQs, which is a great help for artists just starting out with distribution.
A free distribution option
A significant highlight, especially for those on a budget, is that if your act consists of only one primary artist you can use RouteNote completely for free. If that’s you, RouteNote will indefinitely distribute your song for 15% of the release's royalties.
RouteNote Free doesn't limit the number of primary artists you can distribute, nor the number of tracks, features, or stores. This is incredibly unique for a free distribution option.
Mobile app
Another feature that sets RouteNote apart for us is their ever-evolving app, available on both Apple and Android. The app does everything you’d expect, and it does it well – you can contact support if needed, and view your earnings and statistics. For Premium users (which we discuss in more detail below), the in-app analytics can be really handy.
RouteNote is currently working on an option to create and upload releases within the app, so you have something truly unique in the distribution world to look forward to.
RouteNote Premium
Another unique feature is that you can pick a Premium plan per release. If it’s a song with multiple primary artists (each artist equally credited as a main performer) or you want to keep 100% of the royalties, you pay $10 for a single, $20 for an EP and $30 for an album. There is, however, a yearly renewal fee of $9.99 for each Premium release.
There’s also a feature for labels seeking customized service, via RouteNote’s All Access plan (which has custom pricing).
Royalty splits
Yes, you can manage royalty splits on RouteNote. The setup is not automated, though – your collaborators need to create their own (free) account on RouteNote. Then, you submit a form (screenshot example below) requesting splits for that particular release or your entire catalog. Once reviewed and approved, the funds become available in the relevant accounts.
Our verdict
If we should sum it up, RouteNote stands out for its user-friendly approach, with one of the most comprehensive free-tier options on the market. To that, you get a lot of flexibility. We'd recommend it as a trustworthy distribution platform with a versatile offer for most, particularly for new artists and/or artists with a limited budget who still want it all.
