UnitedMasters pricing includes DEBUT+ at $19.99/year, SELECT at $59.99/year, and PARTNER by invitation. Each plan is designed for a different stage of independent artist growth, from basic music distribution to expanded marketing, brand, sync, and artist support opportunities. These plans let artists release music to 150+ top music services while keeping 100% of their royalties.

This blog is published by SoundCloud. This guide explains UnitedMasters pricing, hidden costs, royalty policies, and how the platform compares with DistroKid, TuneCore, and SoundCloud for independent artists.

UnitedMasters pricing overview

Unlike distributors that charge per release, UnitedMasters Pricing focuses on annual subscription-based distribution for independent artists releasing music consistently.

• The DEBUT+ plan costs $19.99/year and covers core music distribution needs.
• The SELECT plan costs $59.99/year and adds marketing tools, Blueprint career guidance, and eligibility for PARTNER.
• The PARTNER plan is available by invitation and includes dedicated artist relations support, brand and sync deals, playlist pitching, and advances.

The biggest difference between DEBUT+ and SELECT is not royalty retention because both plans let artists keep 100% royalties. SELECT mainly adds stronger promotion, guidance, and career-growth features for artists scaling their releases.

UnitedMasters pricing plans breakdown

UnitedMasters offers three main pricing tiers designed for different stages of independent artist growth, from basic music distribution to advanced marketing and career support.

DEBUT+ ($19.99/year)

DEBUT+ is UnitedMasters’ entry-level paid plan for independent artists who want affordable music distribution with full royalty retention.

Key features include:

• Unlimited music distribution
• Distribution to 150+ music services like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Instagram, and more
• Advanced streaming analytics
• Mastering access at $4.99/track
• YouTube content monetization ($4.99/release and 80% royalty retention)

SELECT ($59.99/year)

SELECT is UnitedMasters’ growth-focused plan for artists who need more than basic distribution. It includes everything in DEBUT+, along with more support for promotion, education, monetization, and campaign planning.

Key features include:

• Includes DEBUT+ distribution, royalties, analytics, ArtistPages, MasterLinks, and payout tools
• Access to marketing tools
• Daily payments with Real-Time Royalties
• Two free mastered tracks with signup
• Access sync deals, brand partnerships, and perks
• Distribute to 150+ music services
• Higher-priority support compared with DEBUT+
• Artists get access to premium education through Blueprint
• Early access to SelectCon tickets
• Eligibility for PARTNER

PARTNER (By invitation)

PARTNER is UnitedMasters’ invitation-only plan for established artists who need hands-on artist services. Unlike DEBUT+ and SELECT music distribution pricing, it is not a standard paid subscription and is offered by invitation.

Key features include:

• Dedicated artist relations support.
• Global marketing support.
• Personalized marketing and rollout strategy.
• Artists receive support to grow fans and streams across distribution channels.
• Editorial playlist pitching.
• Access to hand-picked brand collaborations and sync opportunities.
• Access to funding for recording, creative production, and related needs.

UnitedMasters pricing vs other distributors

UnitedMasters sits between lower-cost distributors like DistroKid and ecosystem-driven platforms like SoundCloud. While the platform keeps pricing relatively simple, long-term value depends on release frequency, audience growth tools, analytics, and overall monetization features.

Here is a pricing comparison for major music distribution platforms in 2026:

UnitedMasters pricing pros & cons

UnitedMasters pricing works well for creators looking for straightforward annual distribution without complex add-ons or per-release fees. However, the platform may not fit every growth strategy, especially for musicians, considering long-term audience development and promotional tools.

Pros of UnitedMasters pricing

• Both DEBUT+ and SELECT allow artists to keep 100% of streaming royalties
• Unlimited music distribution is included across both paid plans
• Pricing is simpler than many platforms with multiple hidden add-ons
• Artists keep full ownership of their master recordings
• SELECT includes access to promotional campaigns and brand partnership opportunities
• The platform offers a clean, mobile-friendly dashboard for release management and analytics

Cons of UnitedMasters pricing

• Music distribution depends on maintaining an active subscription
• SELECT costs more than some entry-level distribution competitors
• Advanced promotional and support tools are mainly reserved for SELECT
• The platform focuses more on distribution than on fan community building
• Larger catalogs may require deeper analytics and campaign features over time

Why Soundcloud pricing is a better alternative to UnitedMasters

SoundCloud Artist Pro combines music distribution, monetization, analytics, audience growth, and fan engagement within one subscription instead of separating artist-growth tools across multiple services.

For independent artists managing releases, promotion, and monetization simultaneously, this creates a more centralized workflow than distribution-only platforms.

Artist Pro includes:

• Unlimited music distribution to 60+ streaming and social platforms
• 100% royalties on eligible distributed music before taxes and payment processing fees
• Fan-Powered Royalties eligibility based on actual listener activity
• Monetization through Fan Support, YouTube Content ID, and streaming distribution
• Audience analytics covering plays, listener geography, engagement trends, and top fans
• Built-in discovery through reposts, recommendation systems, and SoundCloud’s creator ecosystem
• Direct fan engagement through comments, reposts, and audience interaction tools

Who should choose each UnitedMasters plan?

The right UnitedMasters plan depends on how often you release music, how much support you need, and whether you are looking for basic distribution or broader career-growth tools.

DEBUT+ Works Best if:

• You want an affordable annual music distribution pricing
• You release singles, EPs, or albums consistently
• You want to keep 100% of your royalties
• You need core tools like scheduled releases, Split Pay, analytics, ArtistPages, and MasterLinks
• You do not need advanced career guidance, brand opportunities, or priority support yet

SELECT Works Best if:

• You want everything in DEBUT+ plus stronger growth support
• You need access to Blueprint education, Blueprint AI, and Blueprint Live
• You want priority customer support
• You want access to UM Exclusives, including brand, sync, and perk opportunities
• You want eligibility for invitation to UnitedMasters PARTNER

PARTNER Works Best If:

• You are an established artist with a clear audience or career momentum
• You need dedicated artist relations support
• You want a custom distribution, marketing, and rollout strategy
• You want access to playlist pitching, brand pitching, sync pitching, and advances
• You are looking for higher-touch support beyond a standard subscription plan

Final thoughts

UnitedMasters offers flexible annual pricing with unlimited distribution and 100% royalty retention across both paid plans. However, long-term value depends on more than pricing alone, especially for creators focused on audience growth and fan engagement.

If you want your distribution tools to support what happens after release day, get started with Artist Pro and build stronger connections with your listeners.