This is where the differences between distributors become financially significant. Content ID revenue can be substantial for artists whose music is widely used in YouTube videos — and the percentage your distributor takes from that revenue compounds over time in the same way as streaming commission.
- Horus Music — 100% of YouTube Content ID revenue returned to artists, with no additional fee. The most favourable Content ID arrangement of any distributor in this series. Note that Horus Music explicitly states AI-generated content is not eligible for Content ID.
- Ditto Music — YouTube Content ID included in Pro and Label plans ($59/year and above) with no revenue share taken. 100% of Content ID earnings go to the artist. Not included in the Starter plan.
- RouteNote — YouTube Content ID included on both free and paid tiers. Free tier: 85% to artist, 15% to RouteNote. Premium tier: 100% to artist. AI-generated content may not be eligible for Content ID on RouteNote.
- Symphonic — YouTube Content ID included with a 30% UGC revenue share on the Starter plan ($19.99/year). Symphonic retains 30% of all UGC platform earnings including YouTube Content ID, TikTok, and Meta — the highest UGC revenue share of any distributor in this series.
- CD Baby — YouTube Content ID included in base pricing. CD Baby takes a 9% commission on all digital revenue including Content ID earnings, plus the per-release fee.
- TuneCore — YouTube Content ID included on all paid plans with 100% revenue return to artists.
- DistroKid — YouTube Content ID is NOT included in the base subscription. It is an add-on at $4.95 per single or $14.95 per album per year, plus a permanent 20% revenue share on all Content ID earnings. Both the annual fee and the 20% commission compound as your catalogue grows.
- LANDR — YouTube Content ID included in Pro and Studio plans with a 20% revenue share. Not included in Distribution Basic. AI-generated content is excluded from Content ID on LANDR.
- Amuse — YouTube Content ID available to Amuse Members by request. AI-generated content is excluded from Content ID on Amuse.
- AWAL — YouTube Content ID included as part of AWAL’s rights management services. Commission structure is individually negotiated as part of the overall AWAL deal.
The DistroKid comparison is worth specific attention. At $4.95 per single per year plus 20% revenue share, an artist with 20 singles on DistroKid pays $99 per year in Content ID fees alone — before the 20% revenue share begins. For a catalogue that generates $500 per month in Content ID revenue, DistroKid takes $1,200 per year in commission plus the annual fees. Horus Music, Ditto Pro, and TuneCore take nothing from the same revenue.
For artists generating significant YouTube Content ID income, the choice of distributor for Content ID can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars per year.
