RouteNote
routenote.com
What it is
RouteNote distributes digital music to stores chosen by artists and labels. It reviews uploaded releases before forwarding approved music to selected partners; the company says its network includes more than 50 platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud and Deezer. Users can choose stores, pricing tiers and the countries where music is available. Releases can be submitted to its YouTube Content ID system for monetization when audio is used in videos. The Free plan has no upfront distribution fee and pays artists or labels 85% of net revenue. Premium charges by release: a single costs $10, paid once, an EP $20, paid once, an album $30, paid once, and an extended album $45, paid once. Each Premium release also has a $9.99 a year renewal fee beginning the following year. RouteNote says approved releases are delivered within 24 hours, excluding weekends; stores generally take up to 14 days to make them live, while some may take up to 28 days. Its Android and iOS apps show earnings, statistics, discography and support contacts; the iOS app also allows uploads.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- RouteNote reviews uploaded music for partner-store compliance and distributes approved releases to selected music and social platforms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Support
- The pricing page says RouteNote offers 24/7 email and ticket support.Read 2 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Account security
- RouteNote says it uses one-time passcodes sent to the linked email address to verify sensitive account changes.Read 2 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Android availability
- RouteNote has an official Android app distributed through Google Play.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Company size and location
- LinkedIn lists RouteNote as privately held, headquartered in Truro, England, with 11–50 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Convert effects
- Convert includes audio effects such as noise reduction, 3D audio, volume, bass, equalizer, tempo, panning, vocal removal, pitch shifting and reverb.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Distribution destinations
- The maker says it partners with more than 50 digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud and Deezer.Read 2 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Documentation and support
- The Support Hub provides FAQs covering uploading, distribution, payments, statistics, SoundCloud, referrals and artist resources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Founders and founding year
- RouteNote’s Support Hub names Steven Finch and Rolf Munding as founders in 2007.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Independent limit: sample-pack claims
- MusicDistribute reports that non-exclusive sample packs can prevent monetization through YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok recognition systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · musicdistribute.com
- Independent review score
- MusicDistribute rates RouteNote 5.8 out of 10 overall and describes its delivery speed as slow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · musicdistribute.com
- Intended customers
- RouteNote describes its services as serving artists and labels of all sizes.Read 2 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- iOS requirements
- The iPhone app requires iOS 16.0 or later and is listed as 55.5 MB.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Legal entity
- Companies House lists ROUTENOTE LIMITED as an active private limited company incorporated on 31 March 2010 at Kernow House, Gas Hill, Truro.Read 15 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Licence model
- RouteNote’s site terms identify RouteNote Limited as owner of site materials and prohibit downloading or reverse engineering its software, indicating proprietary rather than open-source software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Limit: communication
- Trustpilot’s review summary reports unresolved tickets, delayed updates and inconsistent response times.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Limit: content-recognition eligibility
- RouteNote blocks YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok recognition for releases containing non-exclusive samples and several categories such as remixes, AI content, sound effects and meditation music.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Limit: minimum length
- A release must total at least 30 seconds and each individual track must be at least 3 seconds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Limit: moderation delays
- Trustpilot reviews repeatedly mention very slow approval and moderation, sometimes taking many weeks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Limit: termination rights
- The artist-label agreement permits RouteNote to terminate immediately or withdraw tracks from its and partner catalogues at its discretion.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Mobile app
- The RouteNote app lets users view earnings and statistics, browse their discography and contact support; its iOS app also supports uploading releases.Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Mobile app features
- The mobile app supports discography browsing, track previews, statistics, earnings, support tickets, referrals, profile editing and social-profile connections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Moderation and delivery
- After approval, RouteNote says it delivers releases to selected stores within 24 hours, excluding weekends; most stores make them live within 14 days, though some can take up to 28 days.Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- New store distribution
- RouteNote says it can automatically send existing releases to new partner stores at no additional cost, and users can opt out by contacting support.Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Notable news: Android app
- RouteNote announced its official Android app on April 3, 2023 and said it had more than one million users at that time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Notable news: licensing launch
- RouteNote announced new Licensing subscription models on October 14, 2026, including Free Creator and Creator Plus.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Praise: customer support
- Trustpilot’s review summary says many users value support responses that are quick, detailed and effective.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Praise: low-cost distribution
- Trustpilot’s review summary says users appreciate distributing to many online stores without a costly monthly plan.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Premium features
- The pricing page lists fast track moderation, no lock-in, 90 days of Trends data and fan location insights for Premium.Read 2 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Public API and SDKs
- The reviewed official site and Support Hub expose no public API documentation or SDK downloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 2.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 3.2 out of 5 from 1,370 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 3.1 out of 5 from 3,046 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Revenue share
- Free distribution pays the artist 85% of net revenue, while Premium keeps 100% of streaming and download revenue after its fees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Revenue sharing
- Artists and labels with RouteNote accounts can split release revenue; Free-plan splits are calculated after RouteNote’s 15% share.Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Rights ownership
- The artist-label agreement says artists retain ownership of intellectual-property rights while granting RouteNote non-exclusive distribution rights.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- RouteNote Convert
- RouteNote Convert provides free browser tools for audio, image, document and font conversion without requiring an account or installation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Self-hosting
- RouteNote provides hosted web and mobile services; the reviewed official materials describe no self-hosted deployment option.Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
- Social integrations
- RouteNote distributes or monetizes music through Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud and TikTok.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Store and territory controls
- Artists and labels can choose stores, pricing tiers and the countries where their music is available.Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- Streaming distribution
- Supported destinations include Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Anghami and Napster.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- YouTube Content ID
- Selecting YouTube submits eligible audio to Content ID so uses in videos can be claimed and monetized.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
- YouTube monetization
- RouteNote says releases can be uploaded to its YouTube Content ID system so audio can be monetized when used in videos.Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
Plans and prices
Free Free Free plan Free distribution · Keep 85% of net revenue · No upfront distribution fee Read 20 Sep 2026 · support.routenote.com
Premium Single $10, paid once $9.99 annually from the following year 1 track · 100% streaming and download revenue · fast-track moderation · all services Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
Premium EP $20, paid once $9.99 annually from the following year 2–6 tracks · 100% streaming and download revenue · fast-track moderation · all services Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
Premium Album $30, paid once $9.99 annually from the following year 7–18 tracks · 100% streaming and download revenue · fast-track moderation · all services Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
Premium Extended Album $45, paid once $9.99 annually from the following year 19+ tracks · 100% streaming and download revenue · fast-track moderation · all services Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
Premium renewal $9.99 a year Renewal fee every year per release Storage, administration and maintenance Read 5 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
Licensing Free Creator Free free limited catalogue · 3 music downloads monthly · 20 sound-effects downloads monthly · attribution required Read 15 Oct 2026 · licensing.routenote.com
RouteNote Free Free free forever 85% of net revenue · unlimited artists · unlimited uploads · all services Read 15 Oct 2026 · routenote.com
Licensing Creator Plus $7.99 a month introductory price; yearly option saves $35.89 full music and sound-effects bundle · unlimited downloads · no attribution · commercial use · perpetual licence Read 15 Oct 2026 · licensing.routenote.com
RouteNote Premium — Single $10, paid once $10 – Single [1 Track]; $9.99 annually per release starting the following year Keep 100% of streaming and download revenue · 1 track · annual renewal fee Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
RouteNote Premium — EP $20, paid once $20 – EP [2 – 6 Tracks]; $9.99 annually per release starting the following year Keep 100% of streaming and download revenue · 2–6 tracks · annual renewal fee Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
RouteNote Premium — Album $30, paid once $30 – Album [7 – 18 Tracks]; $9.99 annually per release starting the following year Keep 100% of streaming and download revenue · 7–18 tracks · annual renewal fee Read 2 Oct 2026 · support.routenote.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free distribution has no upfront fee.
- Users choose stores and release territories.
- More than 50 partner platforms are listed.
- The iOS app supports release uploads.
Limits
- Free-plan revenue share is 15%.
- Premium releases have a 9.99 USD annual renewal fee.
- Stores may take up to 28 days to publish releases.
Who it suits
It suits artists and labels that want to distribute releases to selected stores and territories. The free and per-release Premium options provide different revenue arrangements.
RouteNote in depth
Read the full write-up
RouteNote distributes music for independent artists and labels who want control over stores and territories. Its strongest case is the choice between paying nothing upfront and paying per release to keep all streaming and download revenue; Premium’s annual renewal changes that calculation over time.
Overview
RouteNote reviews uploaded releases, then sends approved music to the stores an artist or label selects. Its network spans more than 50 digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud and Deezer. Users can choose pricing tiers and the countries where each release is available, making the service a good fit for creators who want distribution choices rather than a single all-or-nothing destination setting.
Approval and delivery are separate from publication. RouteNote says it sends approved releases to selected stores within 24 hours, excluding weekends; most stores make them live within 14 days, and some take up to 28. Existing releases can also be distributed to newly added partner stores without an extra charge, though opting out requires contacting support.
Key features
Release controls and revenue
Artists and labels can split revenue from a release. On Free, splits are calculated after RouteNote’s 15% share, so collaborators divide the remaining net revenue rather than the full amount. Monthly payouts and publishing administration broaden the service beyond delivery alone.
YouTube and mobile tools
RouteNote says releases can be submitted to its YouTube Content ID system so audio used in videos can be monetized. Its app lets users check earnings and statistics, browse their discography and contact support; the iOS app also supports release uploads. That makes mobile access more useful for account management than for full release work on Android.
Premium extras and account security
Premium includes fast-track moderation, no lock-in, 90 days of Trends data and fan location insights. Those additions may help artists who value quicker review and a short window of audience analysis, but they do not remove store publication delays. Sensitive account changes are verified with one-time passcodes sent to the linked email address. RouteNote also says it provides 24/7 email and ticket support.
Pricing
RouteNote’s freemium structure lets users choose whether to trade a share of revenue for no upfront distribution fee or pay per release for a larger share. Free costs nothing and keeps 85% of net revenue; the plan is also described as free forever, with unlimited artists, unlimited uploads and full access to services. That makes it a practical starting point for artists who want to avoid upfront charges, but the 15% share applies to ongoing earnings.
Premium charges once per release, with a $9.99 a year renewal fee per release starting the following year for storage, administration and maintenance. The first-year prices are $10, paid once for a single track, $20, paid once for an EP of 2–6 tracks, $30, paid once for an album of 7–18 tracks, and $45, paid once for an extended album of 19+ tracks. Premium keeps 100% of streaming and download revenue. It suits releases expected to earn enough to justify the initial charge and recurring renewals; artists with many releases should account for the fee on each one.
All Access is a custom pricing option. The per-release structure is more flexible than a subscription tied to an artist account, but the annual renewal means Premium is not a one-time cost. No release quota applies to Free, which is explicitly described as unlimited uploads.
Platforms
RouteNote supports Android, iOS and web. The mobile app covers earnings, statistics, discography and support, while iOS additionally supports uploading releases. RouteNote says it distributes to more than 50 digital platforms, with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud and Deezer among them.
Who it's for
RouteNote is best suited to independent artists and labels who want to choose stores, pricing tiers and territories, and who prefer either a no-upfront-cost option or per-release charges instead of an artist-level subscription. Free is the lower-risk choice for new or modest-earning catalogs; Premium is better for releases where keeping the 15% share is worth the upfront cost and annual renewal. Creators seeking instant publication should look elsewhere, since moderation and store timelines still apply.
Pros and cons
Pros: Free has no upfront distribution fee and allows unlimited artists and uploads, while Premium gives a clear per-release route to 100% of streaming and download revenue.
Pros: Store, pricing-tier and territory choices let artists tailor where each release is sold or streamed.
Pros: More than 50 distribution partners, YouTube Content ID, revenue splits and monthly payouts cover several common independent-release needs.
Cons: Free retains 15% of net revenue, which can become costly as a release earns more.
Cons: Premium renews at $9.99 a year per release from the following year, so maintaining a large catalog creates recurring fees.
Cons: Moderation precedes delivery, and store publication can take up to 28 days at some destinations.
Alternatives
UnitedMasters is worth considering for creators who want a free tier with royalty splits or a $19.99 a year DEBUT+ plan that includes unlimited releases; RouteNote instead offers per-release Premium pricing and broader control over stores and territories.
FreshTunes may suit a new artist who wants a free web-based starting plan with one artist and support that can take up to 10 days; RouteNote’s Free plan allows unlimited artists and uploads.
Ditto Music is a better fit for an artist who prefers a paid annual subscription, with Starter at $19 a year for unlimited releases for one artist and distribution to 150+ platforms. RouteNote avoids an annual artist subscription on Free but renews Premium releases individually.
ONErpm is another free-tier option for artists who prefer a web service with no registration, annual or upload fees and a revenue percentage model.
Amuse suits artists willing to pay annually for a paid plan that includes unlimited releases, with its Artist plan at $23.99 a year for one artist.
LANDR Distribution is a paid alternative for users seeking distribution across web, desktop and mobile platforms.
Symphonic Distribution may suit a creator distributing music videos specifically to Spotify or Vevo, with a stated 25.00 USD per-video option for those services.
TuneCore is an alternative for artists who prefer an annual paid plan; its Rising Artist plan costs $24.99 a year and includes distribution to 150+ digital stores, revenue splits and YouTube Content ID.
For more options, browse Music Distribution Platforms or, for licensing-oriented catalogs, Stock Music Libraries.
Verdict
RouteNote is a strong choice for independent artists and labels who want granular control over destinations and a low-barrier way to distribute music. Free makes experimentation inexpensive, while Premium can make sense for releases likely to earn enough to offset both the upfront price and yearly renewal. Look elsewhere if you want an annual artist subscription, a guaranteed immediate launch, or no recurring cost on paid releases.
Verdict
RouteNote offers no-upfront-fee distribution and per-release Premium options, with artist control over stores and territories. Account for the Free revenue share or the annual Premium renewal fee when choosing an arrangement.
Where Specifiction places it
- Stock Music Libraries#2 of 608.7
- Music Distribution Platforms#2 of 318.6
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