What "Free" Really Means in Music Distribution
The word "free" is heavily misused in music distribution. Most distributors that claim to be free use one of three tricks to charge you eventually:
✗Annual subscription: "Free to sign up, but $22/year to keep your music live" (DistroKid)
✗Per-release fee: "Free account, but you pay per single or album per year" (TuneCore)
✗Commission cut: "No upfront fee, but we take 15% of every rupee you earn" (RouteNote)
True free distribution means: no signup cost, no annual fee, no per-release fee, and zero commission on your royalties. Western Beats is the only distributor in India that meets all four criteria.
Fee Comparison: India's Top Distributors
| Distributor | Sign-up | Annual Fee | Per Release | Commission | Your Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Beats | Free | Free | Free | Free | ₹0 always |
| DistroKid | Free | $22.99/yr | Free | 0% | $22.99+/yr |
| TuneCore | Free | $9.99/single/yr | $9.99–$29.99 | Some | $100+/yr |
| Deliver My Tune | Free | ₹999+/yr | Varies | Some | ₹999+/yr |
| RouteNote | Free | Free | Free | 15% | 15% royalties |
What Western Beats Gives You for Free
✓150+ platforms including JioSaavn, Gaana, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music
✓Jio Caller Tune (CRBT), Airtel Hello Tune & Vi Hello Tune distribution
✓Free ISRC code for every track
✓Free UPC barcode for every release
✓100% royalties — we take nothing
✓100% IP ownership — your music is always yours
✓72-hour delivery to all platforms
✓Official Warner Music India partnership backing
Why Is Western Beats Free?
Western Beats operates as the distribution arm of Western Beats Private Limited, backed by its partnership with Warner Music India. Our mission is to make Indian independent artists competitive globally. We earn through premium value-added services for artists who want additional marketing and promotion — not by taxing your core distribution.
This means the core act of getting your music on every major platform, earning 100% royalties, and owning your IP — that is free and will remain free.
How to Start Free Distribution in 3 Steps
Create your free account
Sign up at westernbeats.com/sign-up with your email. Verified in under 2 minutes via OTP.
Submit your music
Upload your track, cover art, and fill in the release details at westernbeats.com/submit. Takes about 10 minutes.
Go live in 72 hours
Your music appears on JioSaavn, Gaana, Spotify, Apple Music and 150+ platforms. Royalties flow directly to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Western Beats really free with no hidden fees?
Yes. Western Beats is completely free — no signup fee, no annual fee, no per-release fee, no commission on royalties. You keep 100% of what the platforms pay you.
What platforms does Western Beats distribute to for free?
150+ platforms including JioSaavn, Gaana, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Wynk, Hungama, Jio Caller Tune, Airtel Hello Tune and Vi Hello Tune.
How long does free distribution take?
Your music goes live within 72 hours of submission. Some platforms may take slightly longer but are typically live within 5 days.