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Amazon Music vs CD Baby

Amazon Music logo

Amazon Music

Music

Unlimited music for every moment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CD Baby logo

CD Baby

Music

Music distribution charging an upfront per-release fee plus a permanent 9% commission on royalties, now owned by Universal Music Group

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Amazon Music has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Music amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks; CD Baby the 9% commission is permanent and cannot be bought out, so an artist with growing streaming income pays CD Baby more every year indefinitely, unlike a flat subscription fee.
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Music covers Music streaming, CD Baby covers One-time per-release fee.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Music and CD Baby actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Music and CD Baby differ
AttributeAmazon MusicCD Baby
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumOne-time purchase plus ongoing commission
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, EchoWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amazon Music

  • Music streaming
  • HD audio
  • Podcasts
  • Alexa integration
  • Echo devices
  • Fire TV
  • Alexa
  • Amazon account security

Only in CD Baby

  • One-time per-release fee
  • Permanent royalty retention
  • CDB Boost
  • Royalty collection
  • Social monetisation
  • DIY musician tools

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon Music

  • On-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakersnot CD Baby
  • Listening to podcasts and Audible audiobooks in one appnot CD Baby
  • Offline playback for subscribersnot CD Baby

CD Baby

  • An artist who releases rarely and wants to pay once with no risk of losing distribution over a missed renewalnot Amazon Music
  • A musician comfortable trading a permanent 9% royalty cut for the certainty of never facing a subscription lapsenot Amazon Music
  • An artist wanting publishing administration and sync submission bundled through the optional CDB Boost add-onnot Amazon Music
  • A legacy CD Baby user with an existing catalogue who prefers not to migrate to a subscription-based competitornot Amazon Music

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon Music

  • Amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks
  • Unlimited skips require the Amazon Music Unlimited subscription
  • Subscriptions bought through iTunes renew automatically each month unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • The account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of each membership period
  • The iOS app requires iOS 16.0 or later

CD Baby

  • The 9% commission is permanent and cannot be bought out, so an artist with growing streaming income pays CD Baby more every year indefinitely, unlike a flat subscription fee.
  • It is now owned by Universal Music Group following the 2026 Downtown Music Holdings acquisition, which sits awkwardly against its original positioning as an independent alternative to major labels.
  • Sync placements CD Baby secures on an artist’s behalf carry up to a 40% commission, among the highest cuts in the category.
  • Social platform monetisation is commissioned at 30%, higher than DistroKid’s or TuneCore’s 20%.
  • The one-time fee model looks cheaper upfront than a subscription, but for any artist with meaningful and growing streaming revenue the compounding 9% cut typically costs more over a few years.

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Music

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited selection
    • Ads
  • Unlimited$9.99/month
    • Full catalog
    • HD audio

CD Baby

On request
  • Single$9.99/month
    • One-time upfront fee per single
    • 9% commission on digital royalties, permanent
  • Album$14.99/month
    • One-time upfront fee per album
    • 9% commission on digital royalties, permanent
  • CDB Boost$39.99/month
    • Optional per-release add-on for publishing and sync submission

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Music if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo.
  • You also want hd audio.
Amazon Music review

Choose CD Baby if

  • You need one-time per-release fee.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want permanent royalty retention.
CD Baby review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Music or CD Baby better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Music starts at Free and CD Baby at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Music or CD Baby?
Amazon Music has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon Music and On request for CD Baby.
Does Amazon Music or CD Baby run on more platforms?
Amazon Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo. CD Baby runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Amazon Music for free?
Yes. Amazon Music has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CD Baby starts at On request.
What is Amazon Music best used for?
Amazon Music is most often used for on-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakers, listening to podcasts and audible audiobooks in one app, offline playback for subscribers. Of those, on-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakers and listening to podcasts and audible audiobooks in one app are not what CD Baby is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Music do that CD Baby cannot?
Amazon Music covers Music streaming, HD audio, Podcasts, Alexa integration. CD Baby covers One-time per-release fee, Permanent royalty retention, CDB Boost, Royalty collection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon Music: What are the pricing options for Amazon Music?

The main Amazon Music page does not display pricing information. Users must visit additional pages on Amazon's website or the app store to see subscription costs.

Source
CD Baby: Does CD Baby ever take a subscription fee?

No, it charges a one-time upfront fee per release, but keeps a permanent 9% commission on royalties with no way to remove it.

Amazon Music: Is there a free tier or trial period?

The page does not disclose whether a free trial, free tier, or evaluation period is available for Amazon Music. Pricing and trial details would need to be found on related pages.

Source
CD Baby: Who owns CD Baby now?

Universal Music Group, following its February 2026 acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, CD Baby’s previous owner.

Amazon Music: Can I cancel my Amazon Music subscription anytime?

The page does not specify cancellation policies or contract terms for Amazon Music subscriptions.

Source
CD Baby: What happens if I never pay again after the initial fee?

Releases stay distributed since there is no recurring distribution fee; the ongoing 9% commission is deducted automatically from royalties as they are earned.

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