In 2025, the music industry continues to evolve, with artists seeking more control, better revenue streams, and innovative ways to distribute their music. While giants like spotify, apple music, and amazon music dominate the market, several underrated platforms offer unique benefits that independent musicians shouldn’t ignore.
One such rising star is soundmade, a promising music distribution service that’s gaining traction for its artist-friendly approach. But it’s not the only one—let’s dive into some lesser-known platforms that deserve your attention this year.
1. Soundmade – a game-changer for independent artists
soundmade is quickly making waves in the music distribution space with its upcoming app launch, designed to simplify music distribution while maximizing artist earnings.
Why soundmade stands out:
- Higher royalty payouts – unlike major platforms that take a significant cut, soundmade offers better revenue splits.
- Direct-to-fan tools – enhanced engagement features help artists build stronger fan connections.
- Transparent analytics – real-time data to track streams, downloads, and earnings.
- Upcoming app – a mobile-friendly solution for musicians to manage releases on the go.
With its user-first approach, Soundmade is positioning itself as a strong alternative to traditional distributors.
Learn more: Soundmade official website
2. Amuse – free distribution with pro options
Amuse offers free music distribution to major platforms, making it ideal for emerging artists. Their “boost” paid plan unlocks faster releases and additional features.
Key benefits:
- 100% royalty ownership – artists keep all their earnings.
- Fast-track releases – paid users get quicker delivery to stores.
- Artist analytics dashboard – track performance across platforms.
3. Distrokid – affordable & unlimited uploads
A favorite among indie musicians, Distrokid allows unlimited uploads for a flat annual fee.
Why artists love it:
- Keep 100% of royalties – no revenue share.
- Hyperspeed releases – get music live in hours, not weeks.
- YouTube money – automatically claim revenue from youtube content id.
4. Tunecore – global reach with publishing services
Tunecore has been a long-standing player, offering global distribution and publishing administration.
Standout features:
- Wide platform coverage – distribute to 150+ stores.
- No revenue share – artists earn 100% from sales.
- Publishing royalties – collect songwriter earnings worldwide.
5. Routenote – free & premium options
Routenote offers free distribution (with a 15% revenue share) or a paid plan (keeping 100% royalties).
Why it’s worth considering:
- Flexible pricing – choose between free or premium.
- Fast delivery – quick uploads to major dsps.
- Detailed reporting – monitor streams and earnings.
Final thoughts: why explore alternatives to Spotify?
While Spotify remains a streaming giant, diversifying your distribution can lead to higher earnings, better fan engagement, and more control over your music. Emerging platforms like soundmade are proving that artists don’t need to rely solely on the big players.
Key takeaways:
🎶 Soundmade is a rising star with an upcoming app and artist-first features.
💰 Amuse & Routenote offer free distribution options.
🚀 Distrokid & Tunecore provide unlimited uploads and publishing services.
By leveraging these platforms, independent musicians can maximize reach, revenue, and creative freedom in 2025 and beyond.
