Overview

UnitedMasters distributes independent artists’ music and pairs releases with artist and audience tools. It is best suited to musicians who want broad distribution, unlimited releases on paid plans, and the option to pursue brand or sync work. Its strongest paid-plan advantage is keeping 100% of royalties; the free plan has a $20 cash-out minimum.

Key features

Distribution reaches more than 150 services, including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok and Instagram. DEBUT+ and SELECT allow unlimited releases, a useful fit for artists releasing regularly without per-release limits on those plans. Review takes up to five business days on DEBUT+ and two on SELECT, so SELECT is the better fit when a shorter review window matters.

DEBUT+ and SELECT artists retain 100% of royalties, and UnitedMasters says artists keep ownership of their master recording rights. The company describes its royalty model as mixed, so the plan and any add-ons still matter. MasterLinks, customizable ArtistPages, fan management tools and streaming analytics support release sharing and audience tracking. Split Pay lets artists share royalty earnings with collaborators.

SELECT artists can submit music for brand partnership and sync licensing opportunities, but submission does not guarantee selection. Real-Time Royalties is also limited to eligible SELECT artists averaging at least $20 per month in streaming royalties. Artists seeking these features should treat them as opportunities or conditional access, not assured income.

Publishing administration and YouTube Content ID are offered. YouTube Content ID monetization costs $4.99 per release, with 80% royalties retained. Mastering costs $4.99 per track and Mastering+ costs $5.99. UnitedMasters says it uses technical, physical and organizational measures to protect information, while acknowledging that no security measures are perfect.

Pricing

DEBUT — free: The free tier accepts and receives royalty splits, with cash-out after a $20 minimum. It provides a no-cost way to start, but the threshold means smaller royalty balances cannot be withdrawn immediately.
DEBUT+ — 19.99 USD per year, billed $19.99/year: Includes unlimited releases, 100% of royalties, distribution to 150+ services and review within five business days. It suits artists who want regular releases and full royalties without SELECT’s higher annual price or brand and sync submission access.
SELECT — 59.99 USD per year, billed $59.99/year: Includes unlimited releases, 100% of royalties, brand and sync opportunities and review within two business days. It is aimed at artists who value the faster review window and opportunity submissions; selection is not guaranteed, and Real-Time Royalties has eligibility requirements.
PARTNER — custom pricing, by invitation: Invite-only, with bespoke royalty splits, dedicated artist relations support and personalized marketing and distribution strategy. It is not an open alternative for artists choosing a standard self-serve plan.

The company lists monthly payouts and support at support@unitedmasters.com for service questions. SELECT adds priority support, while PARTNER includes personalized artist relations support.

Platforms

UnitedMasters is available on Android, iOS and web, giving artists mobile and browser access.

Who it's for

UnitedMasters suits independent artists across genres and career stages who want distribution across a large store network, royalty-splitting tools and artist-facing audience features. DEBUT+ is the practical paid starting point for unlimited releases and full royalties; SELECT is more compelling when faster review and the chance to submit for brand or sync work justify the extra cost. Artists who need guaranteed brand placements, or who cannot meet the free plan’s cash-out minimum, should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pros: DEBUT+ and SELECT combine unlimited releases with 100% royalty retention, while distribution spans more than 150 services.
Pros: Split Pay, MasterLinks, ArtistPages, fan management and analytics bring collaborator payments and audience tools alongside distribution.
Pros: SELECT offers a shorter review window and access to brand and sync submissions.
Cons: DEBUT requires a $20 minimum before cash-out, which can delay access to smaller balances.
Cons: Brand and sync submissions do not assure selection, and Real-Time Royalties is restricted by eligibility and a monthly streaming-royalty threshold.
Cons: YouTube Content ID monetization is a paid add-on and retains 80% royalties rather than the full royalties associated with DEBUT+ and SELECT.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, browse Music Distribution Platforms. RouteNote is another freemium option; its free distribution keeps 85% of net revenue and has no upfront distribution fee, making it worth considering if avoiding an annual plan matters more than retaining all royalties. FreshTunes is a freemium, web-based alternative with a free New artist plan for one artist and support up to 10 days. Indiefy offers a free web plan capped at one artist and one release per month, with an 85% royalty split and a $100 minimum payment; it may suit an artist whose release pace fits that cap. NotaDist has a free web plan for one artist with unlimited tracks and 80% royalties. ONErpm is a web-based freemium distributor with an Emerging plan that charges no registration, annual or upload fees and earns a percentage of revenue instead. Ditto Music is a paid alternative with a $19.00 USD per year Starter plan for one artist and unlimited releases across 150+ platforms. AudioSalad is a paid web and API option with custom pricing based on assets under management. Horus Music is a paid web alternative with songwriter publishing plans.

Verdict

Choose UnitedMasters if you are an independent artist who wants broad distribution, full royalty retention on a paid plan and useful tools for sharing releases and splitting earnings. SELECT is the stronger fit if its shorter review window and brand or sync submissions matter to your release strategy. Look elsewhere if you need guaranteed placements, want to avoid a paid plan while keeping all royalties, or cannot wait to reach DEBUT’s $20 cash-out minimum.

	CD Baby	UnitedMasters
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No
Paid from		$1.67/mo
Platforms	Web	Android, iOS, Web
Free plan	No	Yes
Release limit	per_release	unlimited
Royalty model	shared	mixed
Publishing administration	Yes	Yes
Store count	150 stores	150 stores
YouTube Content ID	Yes	Yes
Paid from		19.99 /yr
Payout schedule		monthly

CD Baby vs UnitedMasters

CD Baby

UnitedMasters