Compare
Notes vs UnitedMasters
UnitedMasters is built for distribution and brand tools. Choose Notes when you need publishing administration and collection, not only DSP delivery.
Best for Notes. Songwriters and recording musicians who must register works and collect both pools.
Best for UnitedMasters. Artists who want UnitedMasters marketing or a free distribution tier and already collect publishing elsewhere.
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What you pay
| Item | Notes | UnitedMasters |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, then $5 / month (musician). Companies from $100 / month. | Public lists: a free tier plus paid yearly plans. Confirm live UnitedMasters checkout. |
| Distribution royalty cut | None | Public free tier takes a share (commonly listed at 10%). Paid tiers list 100% of distribution royalties. |
| Publishing administration cut | None | Not the core UnitedMasters product. |
| What you buy | Distribution + publishing administration + collection | Distribution and brand / marketing tools |
Features
What each product does
| Feature | Notes | UnitedMasters |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver recordings to DSPs | Yes | Yes |
| Free distribution with no royalty share | Yes | No |
| Register compositions with PROs and The MLC | Yes | No |
| Two independent 100% pools per song | Yes | No |
| Flat fee, no royalty percentage | Yes | No |
Notes — strengths
- Musician free tier does not take a royalty share.
- Publishing administration is included.
- One account for recording and songwriting money.
Notes — limits
- Notes is not a brand-partnership marketplace.
- UnitedMasters paid yearly distribution can be cheaper than Notes if you only need stores.
UnitedMasters — strengths
- A free distribution start exists on the public product.
- Paid plans list 100% of distribution royalties.
- Brand and marketing tools are the differentiator.
UnitedMasters — limits
- The public free tier takes a share of distribution royalties.
- Publishing administration is not what UnitedMasters sells.
- You still need a publisher for songwriting royalties.
Recommendation
Who should use which
Use UnitedMasters if you want that distributor’s brand tools and already have a publisher. Use Notes if you want distribution and publishing administration without a royalty percentage.
Questions
UnitedMasters and Notes
- Does UnitedMasters take 10%?
- Public 2026 lists describe a free UnitedMasters tier that takes a share of distribution royalties, often 10%, and paid yearly plans that keep 100%. Confirm the live plan. Notes takes 0% on every plan.
- Is UnitedMasters a publishing administrator?
- UnitedMasters is a distributor. Notes is distribution plus publishing administration plus collection.
- Does Notes have a free musician tier?
- Yes. Musicians can start free, then $5 per month. Notes does not take a percentage of royalties on either step.
Public sources