Amuse has emerged as one of the leading music distribution platforms for independent artists seeking to release their music across global streaming platforms. This comprehensive guide examines everything artists need to know about Amuse’s services, pricing, features, and position in the competitive music distribution landscape.
What is Amuse music distribution?
Amuseio AB, doing business as Amuse, is a global music company offering digital music distribution, funding and artist services to artists and managements, enabling them to stay independent while growing their careers. The company was founded as a modern alternative to major record labels in 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden by entrepreneurs Diego Farias, Andreas Ahlenius, Christian Wilsson, Guy Parry, and Jimmy Brodd.
Amuse empowers independent artists, teams and labels around the world. Distribute unlimited music to all major stores, keep 100% of your royalties, and access essential artist services. The platform serves as a bridge between independent musicians and major streaming services, making professional music distribution accessible to artists at every level.
How does Amuse work?
Amuse operates as a digital music distribution service that uploads artists’ music to streaming platforms and digital stores worldwide. Distribute your music to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok & many more, from any of your devices. Amuse offers easy-to-use tools for artists, teams & labels. Release music in 24 hours or less, access in-depth analytics and keep 100% of your earnings.
The platform uses proprietary technology to streamline the distribution process, allowing artists to maintain complete ownership of their music while accessing professional distribution networks. Unlike traditional record labels, Amuse enables artists to retain full control over their creative and business decisions.
What are Amuse’s current pricing plans?
Amuse has undergone significant changes to its pricing structure in recent years. Music distributors Amuse have removed their free offering for artists, requiring them to pay to release their music with them. All this means that artists will now be required to pay a minimum of $23.99 a year for Amuse’s distribution services.
The current pricing structure includes:
- Artist level: $1.99 per month ($23.99 billed annually)
- Release unlimited music and get paid, for 1 artist
- Release unlimited music for 1 artist
- ASAP release in 24 hours
- Daily streaming insights
- Automated advances
- Artist Plus level: $3.33 per month ($39.99 billed annually)
- Extras to grow your fanbase and reach, for 2 artists
- Everything In Artist
- Up to 2 artists
- Fanbase management
- Distribute Hi-Res audio
- Professional level: $5.00 per month ($59.99 billed annually)
- Priority support and maxed features, for 3+ artists
- Everything In Artist Plus
- More artists: 3 to Unlimited
- Custom label name
- Priority support (24 hrs)
What Platforms Does Amuse Distribute Music To?
Amuse as a music distributor reaches over 50 platforms worldwide, ensuring your music is available everywhere your fans might discover it, from major platforms to regional services and emerging social media music features. The primary platforms include:
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- Amazon Music
- TikTok
- YouTube Music
- Tidal
- Deezer
- Regional streaming services across different markets
This extensive reach ensures artists can connect with audiences globally while accessing both mainstream and emerging platforms where music discovery increasingly happens.
What Features Does Amuse Offer?
Amuse provides several key features designed to support independent artists:
- Unlimited Distribution: Artists can release unlimited tracks and albums across all supported platforms without additional per-release fees.
- 100% Royalty Retention: Keep 100% of your royalties and rights – Artists maintain complete ownership of their earnings and intellectual property.
- Analytics and Insights: The platform provides detailed analytics to help artists understand their audience and track performance across different platforms.
- Fast Release Times: Release music in 24 hours or less for paid plans, though free tier historically had longer processing times.
- Multi-Device Access: Artists can manage their releases and access services from any device through Amuse’s web platform and mobile applications.
- Additional Services: Beyond distribution, Amuse offers funding opportunities, promotional tools, and artist development services for qualifying artists.
How Does Amuse Compare to Competitors?
Amuse boasts that they are in the top 5 DIY distributors globally in terms of volume of releases, working with hundreds of thousands of artists. When compared to other major distributors like DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby, Amuse positions itself as a cost-effective option with comprehensive features. Key competitive advantages include:
- Lower annual costs compared to some premium competitors
- Extensive platform reach including social media integration
- Complete royalty retention
- European-based company offering global services
However, some competitors may offer faster release times, more advanced promotional tools, or different pricing structures that better suit specific artist needs.
Is Amuse Free to Use?
No, Amuse is no longer free to use 🙁 The previously free “Amuse Start” accounts have now become “”dormant””, meaning that users can’t release new music through them without upgrading to one of their paid tiers. This change occurred in 2024, marking a significant shift from their previous free distribution model.
Previously, Amuse Music was a music distributor that distributed music for free. They seek to find new, creative, up-and-coming artists to sign to their label with a licensing deal, but this business model has evolved to focus on paid subscription services.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Amuse?
Advantages:
- Competitive annual pricing starting at $23.99
- Comprehensive platform coverage including social media
- Complete ownership retention
- User-friendly interface and mobile app
- European-based company with global reach
- We are among one of the cheapest plans compared to all of our competitors
Disadvantages:
- No longer offers free distribution
- The free tier has longer processing times for new releases (2-4 weeks), which can be challenging when planning coordinated release campaigns (though this applies to historical free accounts)
- Limited advanced promotional tools compared to some premium competitors
- Customer service experiences vary based on user reviews
How Long Does It Take to Release Music Through Amuse?
Release times vary depending on the plan and platform requirements. Release music in 24 hours or less is possible with paid plans, representing one of Amuse’s competitive advantages. However, actual release times can depend on:
- Platform-specific requirements and review processes
- Quality of submitted materials and metadata
- Seasonal submission volumes
- Technical issues or content review needs
Artists planning time-sensitive releases should account for potential delays and consider upgrading to paid tiers for faster processing.
Who Should Use Amuse Music Distribution?
Amuse is particularly well-suited for:
- Independent Artists: Musicians seeking affordable, comprehensive distribution without label involvement
- Emerging Artists: Those needing cost-effective access to major streaming platforms
- International Artists: Musicians targeting global markets through extensive platform coverage
- Budget-Conscious Musicians: Artists prioritizing cost-effectiveness over premium features
- Mobile-First Users: Musicians who prefer managing releases through mobile applications
- The platform works best for artists who prioritize ownership retention, cost-effectiveness, and broad platform reach over advanced promotional tools or premium support services.
How Does Amuse Handle Royalties and Payments?
Keep 100% of your royalties and rights represents Amuse’s core value proposition. The company operates on a subscription model rather than taking percentage cuts from artist earnings, meaning musicians retain all streaming royalties and sales revenue.
Payment processing typically follows standard industry timelines:
- Monthly royalty reporting from streaming platforms
- Payment processing through Amuse’s system
- Direct payments to artist accounts
- Transparent reporting on earnings across platforms
This approach contrasts with traditional label deals where artists typically share significant percentages of their earnings with distributors or labels.
What Are Users Saying About Amuse?
Over the past few years, Amuse has established itself as one of the most popular music distribution services for DIY artists. User feedback of over 3,800 customers with an average grade of 4.2 out of 5, generally highlights the platform’s accessibility and cost-effectiveness, though experiences vary.
Common positive feedback includes:
- Affordable pricing compared to competitors
- Comprehensive platform coverage
- User-friendly interface
- Complete ownership retention
Areas for improvement mentioned by users include:
- Customer service response times
- Advanced promotional features
- Technical issues with mobile applications
- Limited customization options
Customer support experiences with Amuse vary among users. Response times and support quality can vary, with some users reporting delayed responses during peak periods. The platform offers support through:
- Email-based customer service
- Help documentation and FAQs
- Mobile app support features
- Priority support for higher-tier plans
Future of Amuse Music Distribution
In 2024, Giorgio D’Ambrosio was appointed interim CEO of the company, indicating ongoing leadership changes and potential strategic shifts. The company continues evolving its service offerings and pricing models to remain competitive in the rapidly changing music distribution landscape.
Built for labels and teams.
Full distribution & promotion package for multiple artist profiles, plus business-friendly features and priority support suggests Amuse is expanding services beyond individual artists to serve labels and music industry professionals. The platform’s focus on technology-driven solutions and global accessibility positions it well for continued growth as independent music distribution becomes increasingly important for artists worldwide.
Conclusion
Amuse Music Distribution offers a compelling option for independent artists seeking comprehensive, affordable music distribution services. While the platform has moved away from free distribution, its competitive pricing, extensive platform coverage, and complete ownership retention make it attractive for budget-conscious musicians.
The service works particularly well for emerging artists and international musicians who need broad platform access without complex contractual arrangements. However, artists requiring advanced promotional tools or premium support services might find better value with higher-tier competitors.
Success with Amuse depends largely on artist needs, budget constraints, and expectations for additional services beyond basic distribution. The platform’s continued evolution suggests ongoing improvements to address user feedback and remain competitive in the dynamic music distribution market.
