Amuse Distribution Review 2025: Pricing, Features & Everything You Need to Know

Top Reason to Choose Amuse Distribution 

Keep your music in stores. Amuse allows artists to keep their music in stores even if they cancel their subscription by imposing a 25% revenue share; artists keep 75%.  This addresses the concern artists have about what will happen to their music if they can no longer afford to pay. Previously, Amuse's documentation alluded to the idea but didn't provide anything definitive. It is now clearly stated in their knowledge base https://support.amuse.io/en/articles/274147-how-royalties-work-without-a-subscription 

Top Features

Stream Check 

Stream Check is a feature that monitors streaming fraud for each release and provides notification if your releases are at risk of being removed. It's a heads-up feature that punts the responsibility of actions onto the artist, who may not be in a position to stop the activity. It's like being a victim of stolen identity and watching your credit report drop in real time. It won't do much for you beyond pushing your hairline back. 

Not subject to tax withholdings 

If you reside in a country without a US tax treaty, you're subject to a 30% tax withholding. Amuse operates outside of the US, so its artists avoid that. 

Mobile App 

Amuse provides artists with a mobile app to track royalties, streaming activity, upload new releases, and more. Artists can maintain their catalogs on the go. 

Team Members 

Artists can grant access to their account to analysts, managers, assistants, etc., without worrying about them being able to access sensitive information by limiting their permissions. For example, a manager can be allowed to upload releases but not fool around with payment options. 

Things to note

Stores

Amuse has a limited inventory of stores. If maximum reach is your focus, you may be dissatisfied with Amuse. Though they’ve done better over the years, they still pale in comparison to the number of stores offered by distributors like Tunecore, CD Baby, etc.

Transaction fees

Amuse doesn’t explicitly state that it caps transaction fees. Instead, it states the usual range of fees artists pay: $1 - $8, but up to $15.  When is the fee $1, under what circumstances could it be $8 or $15? Amuse doesn't specify. Without it being capped, it means you pay more if you earn more, and Amuse doesn’t clarify whether that is or isn’t the case.

Music Fights Fraud Member -🚩

Music Fights Fraud is an alliance of distributors and DSPs that have come together to form a database to ban artists that have been flagged for streaming fraud. The ban would extend to every distributor and platform in the network. Many artists are victims of streaming fraud. Scam companies feed them false promises and take their money. The methods of Music Fights Fraud add insult to injury by punishing the artist for being scammed. It exists to protect the interests of major record companies and not indie artists. No major label artist is likely to be flagged for streaming fraud, and no way they would be added to any database. Additionally, Music Fights Fraud members are adopting a new policy called KYA(Know Your Artist) that requires artists to upload their state IDs so bans can extend to their identity. Amuse has not adopted this policy, but may face pressure to do so as a member. 

The Rundown 

Model: 

Unlimited Distribution for an annual fee. 

Price: 

Boost: $19.99 | Pro: $59.99

Transaction Fees: 

$1 - $8: Unclear on when you pay what. 

Stores: 

Limited inventory 

Distribution to New Stores: 

Undisclosed

Artists: 

Unclear - Amuse Pro allows you to connect multiple artist accounts, but doesn't specify whether each account needs a separate subscription. Connecting accounts allows you to sign into multiple accounts using a single login. 

Split Pay: 

Include - No fee. 

Keeps Music Live: 

Music remains in stores under a 75%/25% Revenue split 

Exclusivity:

No exclusivity clauses in the terms, so you're free to do what you want with your releases. 

Customer Support:

Average at best. 

Content ID:

Boost: Keep 85% | Pro: Keep 100%

UPC Codes:

Included + You can bring your own

Check the Comparison Charts for the most updated and comprehensive information 

Assessment 

Amuse is a music distribution service that entered the market offering unlimited distribution for free. There were no fees attached: no upfront fee, no annual fee, no percentage of revenue, nothing. It claimed that it had a successful music label that provided the revenue to run its distribution service, which it used to identify talent it could sign and develop. Effectively, it was aimed at trying to capture artists before their true market value was realized, preventing the label from having to compete with other labels in bidding wars for talent. The goal of Amuse was never to be the best distribution service. The whole setup looked great, but was functionally basic. The royalty reports were basic, and they got you into a basic package of stores. You didn’t pick Amuse because it was the best; you picked Amuse because it was free. Now, Amuse is a more traditional music distribution service and aims to compete with companies like Tunecore, Distrokid, and CD Baby on the merit of its service, but it falls short in several key areas. 

There isn't anything about Amuse that stands out, so I can say, "If you want this feature, use Amuse." It offers the same service every other distributor offers, but gets you into fewer stores. I know it would like Advance payouts to be that thing, but advance payouts come with fees, so they're effectively another product artists have to pay for and not a beneficial feature. If I get an advance payment from my employer, they're paying me what I'll earn in advance. When it comes time to give me my paycheck, they keep it. I'm not charged a fee; being charged a fee is more in line with a loan because it's interest. You're being charged interest. That being said, Advanced payments aren't the thing.