RouteNote
Cornwall distributor with a free plan that pays 85% and a Premium route that returns all streaming revenue
Quick Overview
| Company | RouteNote Limited |
|---|---|
| Category | Music Distribution Services |
| Headquarters | Truro, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2007 |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom (UK) |
| Data Location | Not stated on pages checked |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Free and Premium plans, 50+ partner platforms, copyright and monetisation, publishing, PUSH.fm promotion tools, RouteNote Create samples, Synchedin licensing |
| Pricing | Free plan with no upfront cost (85% of net revenue). Premium: single $10, EP $20, album $30, extended album $45, then $9.99 per year per release |
| Best For | Artists who want to start without paying and upgrade only the releases that earn |
| Replaces | DistroKid, TuneCore |
Detailed Review
RouteNote lets you run two payment models in one account and switch a release between them. The Free plan costs nothing upfront and RouteNote keeps 15% of net revenue, while Premium charges a fee per release and pays you everything.
The terms state RouteNote Limited is registered in England and Wales under number 07210563, with its registered office at Kernow House, Gas Hill, Truro, Cornwall. The about page dates the company to 2007.
Free versus Premium
The support article describes Free as costing $0 with no hidden charges, paying 85% of net revenue received. Upgrading a release to Premium returns 100% of streaming and download revenue.
Premium prices scale with track count, from $10 for a single to $45 for 19 or more tracks, and a $9.99 yearly renewal per release covers storage and administration.
Moving between plans
You can pick and choose per release and move between Free and Premium when you like. If you cancel a Premium renewal, the release returns to the Free plan, as the help article explains.
A custom All Access option exists for larger needs, quoted on request.
Services around distribution
The homepage lists partnerships with over 50 platforms. Other products include copyright and monetisation, publishing, PUSH.fm for marketing, RouteNote Create for royalty-free samples and Synchedin for licensing.
Payments are handled through PayPal or Stripe on Premium, according to the company blog.
Limitations to Consider
The Free plan gives up 15% of revenue, and Premium's yearly renewal fee per release adds up for large catalogues. The homepage cites 50+ platforms, which is fewer than the networks claimed by Amuse or iMusician. Prices appear in US dollars. The pricing page itself is not rendered without JavaScript, so figures come from the support hub.
Who Should Use RouteNote
Beginners who want to publish first and decide on paying later, and artists with a few high-earning releases that justify Premium.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free plan without upfront cost
- Premium returns 100% of revenue
- Switch plans per release
- Publishing and Content ID services
- UK company with a public register entry
Cons
- 15% share on Free
- Yearly renewal per Premium release
- 50+ platforms
- Prices in US dollars
Alternatives to RouteNote
Other European music distribution services worth comparing before you decide:
RecordJet
Switzerland · Lucerne distributor with one-time or yearly per-release fees
Record Union
Sweden · Stockholm distributor with team workspaces and royalty recoups
Amuse
Sweden · Stockholm subscription distributor with 120+ stores and royalty advances
EmuBands
United Kingdom · Glasgow distributor with pay-per-release or monthly Premium
See all European music distribution services or compare them directly against DistroKid on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Its support hub says the Free plan costs $0 upfront and pays 85% of net revenue received.
Upgrade the release to Premium, which charges a per-release fee and a $9.99 yearly renewal.
Yes, cancelling the Premium renewal moves it to the Free plan, according to the help article.