Free Music Distributors: What to Look For Before You Choose One
Looking for a free music distributor? Compare upfront fees, royalty share, platforms, payout methods and support. See how Infinity Minutes handles each one for African artists.
A music distributor is the company that delivers your songs to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok and other platforms and collects your royalties. Distributors make money in different ways, so "free" can mean different things. Here is what to check before you choose one.
1. Upfront and yearly fees
Some distributors charge a yearly subscription, others a fee for every single or album. A free distributor should let you release without paying anything upfront.
At Infinity Minutes: unlimited singles, EPs and albums, free to distribute. No yearly fee.
2. How much of your royalties you keep
Free distributors usually earn a share of your royalties instead of a fee. Check the exact percentage, and when it's taken.
At Infinity Minutes: you keep 85% of your royalties. We keep 15% when you withdraw.
3. Which platforms you reach
Make sure the distributor covers the platforms your fans actually use. In Africa that means Boomplay, Audiomack and TikTok as well as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.
At Infinity Minutes: 27 platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube Music, YouTube Content ID, TikTok, Boomplay, Audiomack, Deezer, TIDAL, Amazon Music, SoundCloud and Anghami. Select them all in one click.
4. How you get paid
A distributor is only useful if you can actually receive your money. Many international services pay only by PayPal or a foreign bank transfer.
At Infinity Minutes: withdraw to a bank account or MTN / Airtel mobile money. Minimum USD 50, USD 10 per withdrawal, 1 to 7 business days.
5. Who owns your music
You should keep full ownership of your recordings and songs. Read the agreement before you sign.
At Infinity Minutes: you keep ownership. You can end the agreement at any time, and we'll ask the platforms to take your music down.
6. Quality checks and support
Stores reject releases with wrong artwork, low-quality audio or missing credits. A distributor that reviews your release first saves you weeks.
At Infinity Minutes: every release is reviewed before delivery. If something needs fixing, you'll see exactly what and why. Our team is in Kigali and easy to reach.
7. Tools to promote your music
Getting on Spotify is only the start. Look for tools that help fans find your song.
At Infinity Minutes: a free promo page for every song, with a beat-reactive preview and links to every platform, plus promo images for Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp status and X.
The bottom line
The best free music distributor is the one that reaches your fans' platforms, lets you keep most of your royalties, and pays you in a way that works where you live. Create a free Infinity Minutes account and release your next song in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Are free music distributors really free?
Free distributors usually take a share of royalties instead of charging upfront. Infinity Minutes charges nothing to distribute and keeps 15% of the royalties you withdraw, plus USD 10 per withdrawal.
What is the best free music distributor in Africa?
Look for wide platform coverage (including Boomplay, Audiomack and TikTok), a fair royalty share and payouts you can receive locally. Infinity Minutes covers 27 platforms, lets you keep 85% and pays to MoMo or bank.
Do I keep my rights with a free distributor?
You should. With Infinity Minutes you keep ownership of your music and can end the agreement at any time.