
All You Need to Know About TuneCore: A Comprehensive Guide
17 May, 2024
Are you a musician looking to get your music out to the world? Then you must have come across TuneCore, one of the most popular digital music distribution services around. If you're new to TuneCore or you're considering using it, you're in the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about TuneCore and how it can help take your music career to the next level.
Understanding TuneCore: A Comprehensive Guide
TuneCore is a digital music distribution service that helps independent artists and labels distribute their music to some of the world's biggest music stores and streaming platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and more. TuneCore was founded in 2005 and has helped launch the careers of some of the world's biggest musicians, including Chance The Rapper, Nine Inch Nails, and more.
When you sign up for TuneCore, you get access to a range of tools and services that can help make your music stand out and reach more people. In the next few sections, we'll take a look at some of TuneCore's top features and how they can help you take your career to the next level.
Feature 1: Global Music Distribution
One of the most significant benefits of using TuneCore is that it provides global music distribution to some of the world's biggest music stores and streaming platforms. This means that your music can be heard by people all around the world, regardless of where you are based. TuneCore has partnerships with over 150 digital music stores and streaming platforms, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and more.
By using TuneCore, you can get your music on these platforms quickly and easily, without having to go through a record label or music distributor. This can save you time and money, and give you more control over your music. You can also track your sales and earnings from each platform through TuneCore's dashboard, which provides real-time data and insights into your audience and revenue streams.
Feature 2: Music Publishing Administration
Another great feature of TuneCore is its music publishing administration service. This service helps you collect royalties from your music, including mechanical royalties, performance royalties, and sync licenses. TuneCore can also help you register your songs with music rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, which can help you earn even more money from your music.
With TuneCore's music publishing administration service, you can also get access to sync licensing opportunities, which can help you get your music placed in TV shows, movies, commercials, and more. This can be a great way to get exposure for your music and earn additional income.
Feature 3: Music Promotion and Marketing
TuneCore also offers a range of music promotion and marketing services to help you get more exposure for your music. These services include playlist pitching, social media promotion, and press release distribution. TuneCore can also help you create professional-looking album artwork and music videos to help your music stand out.
By using TuneCore's music promotion and marketing services, you can reach more people and build your fan base. This can help you get more gigs, sell more merchandise, and ultimately make more money from your music.
Conclusion
In conclusion, TuneCore is a comprehensive digital music distribution service that offers a range of tools and services to help independent artists and labels succeed in the music industry. With TuneCore, you can get your music on some of the world's biggest music stores and streaming platforms, collect royalties from your music, and promote and market your music to a wider audience. If you're an independent musician or label looking to take your career to the next level, TuneCore is definitely worth considering.
Exploring TuneCore's Top Features
The Aspire Program: Taking Your Music Career to the Next Level
The Aspire program is one of TuneCore's most unique features. It's a program designed to help artists take their career to the next level by offering them personalized artist development resources. The Aspire program is tailored to each artist's specific needs and includes services such as graphic design, video production, marketing, and more. The Aspire program is a great option for artists who are serious about taking their career to the next level and need some extra support.
Sync & Master Licensing: Protecting Your Music and Maximizing Your Earnings
When you sign up for TuneCore, your music is protected by sync and master licensing, which means that you're covered if your music is used in movies, TV shows, commercials, and other media. TuneCore will also make sure that you get paid every time your music is used, so you never miss out on any potential earnings.
Fast Payment: Getting Paid Quickly and Easily
One of the biggest challenges that musicians face is getting paid quickly and easily. TuneCore offers fast and easy payment options, so you can get paid as soon as your music starts generating revenue. TuneCore also offers a range of payment options, including PayPal, ACH transfer, and more.
Promotion: Reaching a Wider Audience with TuneCore's Marketing Tools
Marketing and promotion are essential to getting your music out to a wider audience. TuneCore offers a range of marketing tools and services that can help you promote your music and reach more people. These include social media promotion, email marketing, advertising, and more. With TuneCore, you can create a tailored marketing plan that will help you reach your music career goals.
Social: Connecting with Fans and Building Your Brand on Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for musicians, and TuneCore makes it easy to connect with your fans and build your brand on social media. TuneCore offers social media distribution services that can help you post your music and promote your brand across all of your social media channels.
Uploading Your Music to TuneCore: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you understand some of the top features of TuneCore, let's take a look at how to upload your music to the platform. The process is straightforward and involves a few simple steps.
- Sign up for an account on TuneCore's website.
- Choose the stores and platforms where you want your music to be distributed.
- Upload your music files and add important information such as the title, artist name, and album artwork.
- Pay the distribution fee (which depends on the number of tracks and services you want to use).
- Submit your music for review.
Once your music is approved, TuneCore will distribute it to the stores and platforms you've selected, and you'll start to earn revenue.
TuneCore Pricing: Understanding Your Options
Now that you know how to upload your music to TuneCore let's take a look at the pricing options. TuneCore offers different pricing plans depending on your needs and the number of tracks you're looking to distribute. Here's a breakdown of TuneCore's pricing options:
- Singles (one-time fee per release): $9.99 per year
- Albums (one-time fee per release): $29.99 per year
- Subscription (monthly fee for unlimited uploads): $19.99 per month
It's important to note that TuneCore takes a percentage of your earnings (usually around 20%) to cover their services. Keep this in mind when planning your music career budget.
TuneCore vs Competitors: Which Is the Best Choice for You?
CD Baby vs TuneCore: A Head-to-Head Comparison
CD Baby is one of TuneCore's biggest competitors. Both platforms offer similar services and features, but there are a few key differences to keep in mind. CD Baby is known for its artist-friendly customer service and marketing services, while TuneCore is known for its fast payments and global reach. It's important to weigh the options and compare the pricing plans to see which platform is the right choice for you.
TuneCore vs DistroKid: Which Distribution Service Reigns Supreme?
DistroKid is another popular music distribution service that you'll likely come across when researching your options. One of the biggest differences between TuneCore and DistroKid is the pricing plans. DistroKid offers a single pricing plan with an annual fee of $19.99, while TuneCore has a range of pricing plans depending on your needs. However, TuneCore offers a range of unique features such as sync and master licensing and the Aspire program that are not available on DistroKid. Consider your music career goals and priorities to determine which platform is right for you.
Releese vs TuneCore: Which Platform Offers More Value?
Releese is a newer player in the music distribution game but is quickly gaining traction. Releese offers a more affordable pricing plan than TuneCore, but it's important to weigh the differences in features and services to determine which platform offers more value for your money. Consider your music career goals and priorities to make the best decision for you.
Is TuneCore Worth the Investment? Our Honest Review
After considering all of TuneCore's features, pricing options, and competitors, you might be wondering if it's worth the investment. Our honest review is that TuneCore is a great option for independent artists, especially those looking to take their career to the next level. TuneCore offers a range of unique features such as the Aspire program and sync and master licensing that can help you stand out and get paid for your music. The pricing options are reasonable, and the payment process is fast and easy. Overall, we highly recommend TuneCore to any independent artist looking to distribute their music and grow their career.
Final Thoughts: Making the Most of TuneCore's Services
Now that you know everything there is to know about TuneCore, it's time to take action and make the most of the platform's services. Remember to tailor your marketing and promotion plan, take advantage of the Aspire program, protect your music with sync and master licensing, and get paid quickly and easily with TuneCore. By using TuneCore, you'll be well on your way to building a successful career as an independent musician.

Maxence is the CEO and founder of Releese Innovations, a leading music tech company based in Canada