Yes, you will receive a paycheck from DistroKid, but it is not your full royalty. DistroKid only collects the Master/Sound Recording royalties. Without a publisher, you are missing out on Mechanical Royalties and the Publisher’s Share of Performance Royalties, which can account for 15% to 25% of your total earned income.
DistroKid is an incredible tool for getting your music onto Spotify and Apple Music. Their marketing promise is: “Keep 100% of your royalties.”
While that is technically true for the distribution side, it leads many artists to believe they don’t need a publisher. This is a costly mistake.
1. What DistroKid DOES Collect
When you use DistroKid, they act as the “pipe” between you and the streaming services. They collect:
- The Master Use Royalty: This is the money paid for the actual audio file you uploaded.
- Apple/iTunes Sales: 100% of the profit from a digital download.
- YouTube Content ID: (If you pay for the extra “Social Media Pack” add-on).
2. What DistroKid DOES NOT Collect
Because DistroKid is a Distributor, not a Publisher, they do not have the legal authority to claim “Composition” royalties. Unless you have a Publishing Administrator like Audiobulb, the following money stays in a “Black Box”:
- Mechanical Royalties: Every time your song is streamed on Spotify, a “Mechanical” fee is generated for the songwriter. DistroKid cannot touch this money. It goes to The MLC (in the US) and other societies worldwide.
- The Publisher’s Share (Performance): When your song is played on the radio or streamed, the royalty is split 50/50 between the “Writer” and the “Publisher.” Even if you are a member of ASCAP or BMI, they only send you the Writer’s half. The other half sits unclaimed until a publisher asks for it.
- International Publishing: If someone in the UK or Japan streams your song, your publisher needs to be registered with the local society there (like PRS or GEMA) to get that money. DistroKid does not do this.
Comparison: The DistroKid Gap
| Income Source | DistroKid Only | DistroKid + Audiobulb |
| Spotify/Apple Master Royalty | ✅ 100% Collected | ✅ 100% Collected |
| US Mechanical Royalties | ❌ NOT COLLECTED | ✅ Collected via The MLC |
| Publisher’s Share of Performance | ❌ NOT COLLECTED | ✅ Collected via PROs |
| International Songwriting Money | ❌ NOT COLLECTED | ✅ Collected via Sub-Publishers |
“But DistroKid has a ‘Publishing’ add-on now!”
You may have noticed a “DistroKid Publishing” option in your dashboard.
- The Catch: While it is a step in the right direction, it is often a basic service. Many artists find that dedicated Publishing Administrators (like Audiobulb) offer more personalized support, better international reach, and a more transparent breakdown of where your money is coming from.
- The Conflict: If you use a distributor’s “internal” publisher, you are “locking” your music into one system. Many professionals prefer to keep their Distribution and Publishing separate so they can switch distributors later without messing up their songwriting registrations.
FAQ: The DistroKid/Publisher Mix
If I join ASCAP/BMI, do I still need a publisher?
Yes. ASCAP and BMI primarily collect “Performance” royalties. They do not collect “Mechanical” royalties from Spotify. To get your mechanicals, you need a publisher to register you with The MLC and other mechanical societies.
Will Audiobulb take a cut of my DistroKid money?
No. Your distribution money (the Master share) stays 100% yours. Audiobulb only collects the “Songwriting” money that DistroKid wasn’t getting anyway. We add a new stream of income; we don’t take from your existing one.
If I’ve been using DistroKid for years, is my old money gone?
Not necessarily. Most societies hold “unclaimed” publishing money for 2–3 years. If you sign up for publishing administration now, we can often “back-claim” your old mechanical royalties that DistroKid left behind.
Summary
DistroKid gets your music to the world. A publisher gets your money from the world. Using DistroKid without a publisher is like working a job where you only collect your hourly wage but leave your tips and bonuses on the table.
Your Next Step: Don’t leave your songwriting money in the “Black Box.” Keep using DistroKid for your uploads, but link your catalog to Audiobulb to start collecting the 25% of your income that you’ve been missing.