Compare
Notes vs CD Baby
CD Baby is a pay-once distributor that keeps a share of distribution royalties. Choose Notes when you do not want a lasting royalty cut and you need publishing administration.
Best for Notes. Musicians who release often and want every collected dollar, plus PRO and MLC registration.
Best for CD Baby. Artists who release rarely and prefer a one-time upload fee over a subscription.
Start for FreePricing
What you pay
| Item | Notes | CD Baby |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, then $5 / month (musician). Companies from $100 / month. | Public 2026 lists: about $9.99 per single and a higher one-time album fee. Pro tiers cost more and add publishing. |
| Distribution royalty cut | None | Public Standard plan keeps a 9% share of digital distribution royalties. |
| Publishing administration cut | None | Publishing is a Pro add-on, not the Standard plan. |
| What you buy | Distribution + publishing administration + collection | Per-release distribution; Pro adds publishing |
Features
What each product does
| Feature | Notes | CD Baby |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver recordings to DSPs | Yes | Yes |
| Keep 100% of distribution royalties | Yes | No |
| Register compositions with PROs and The MLC | Yes | No |
| Two independent 100% pools per song | Yes | No |
| No yearly store renewal on the core product | No | Yes |
Notes — strengths
- No 9% distribution share.
- Publishing administration is in the subscription.
- Built for ongoing catalog collection, not one upload.
Notes — limits
- Notes is a subscription. If you stop paying, you are not on a one-time CD Baby-style store fee.
- A single rare release can cost less up front at CD Baby.
CD Baby — strengths
- One-time per-release fee. No yearly store plan on Standard.
- Releases stay live after that fee on the public Standard model.
- Pro tier exists for artists who want publishing with CD Baby.
CD Baby — limits
- Standard digital distribution keeps a 9% share for the life of the streams.
- Collaborator splits are weaker than a two-pool Notes contract.
- Publishing is not in the cheap Standard SKU.
Recommendation
Who should use which
CD Baby fits a rare one-off upload if you accept a 9% distribution share. Notes fits anyone who does not want that share and needs publishing administration.
Questions
CD Baby and Notes
- Does CD Baby take 9% forever?
- Public 2026 write-ups of CD Baby Standard say the distributor keeps 9% of digital distribution royalties after the one-time fee. Confirm the live CD Baby checkout before you buy. Notes takes 0%.
- Does Notes keep my music live if I cancel?
- Notes is a subscription for distribution and administration. CD Baby’s public Standard pitch is a one-time fee with stores staying live. Those are different products.
- Can Notes replace CD Baby Pro?
- CD Baby Pro adds publishing on top of distribution. Notes already includes publishing administration in the flat subscription, with no royalty percentage.
Public sources