2026 Comparison
CD Baby charges a one-time fee per release. UXEM charges an annual subscription. The most important difference is not the payment model: it is the royalty percentage.
Meet both platforms
Global music distribution and monetization platform created in Colombia. Built for Latin American and independent artists worldwide, with native Spanish support, COP payments and tools for record labels.
One of the oldest digital distributors in the world, with over 20 years of history. Its model is a one-time fee per release: $9.99 per single and $14.99 per album. No annual subscription, but it retains 9% of all streaming royalties forever.
Direct comparison
What changes in practice
CD Baby
CD Baby charges no annual subscription, which seems attractive at first. However, it retains 9% of all your streaming royalties forever, plus 30% on video platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram). Over time, that accumulated 9% can far exceed the cost of any annual subscription.
UXEM
All UXEM plans — including the free one — deliver 100% of your audio platform royalties. We do not charge a commission on your success. What you earn is yours.
CD Baby
CD Baby does not have a native split payments tool. If your track was produced by someone else or has co-authors, royalty splitting remains outside the platform and must be handled manually.
UXEM
UXEM includes Split Payments in all plans. Set collaborator percentages once and the system distributes earnings automatically — no manual management required.
CD Baby
CD Baby distributes to 150+ digital platforms — sufficient for most artists, but if you want presence in regional stores and emerging platforms, you may find limitations.
UXEM
UXEM distributes to 250+ digital platforms worldwide, including regional stores in Latin America, Europe and Asia, at no additional cost.
CD Baby
CD Baby operates from the US. Technical support is primarily in English and royalty payments may be subject to IRS withholdings for Latin American artists.
UXEM
UXEM was founded in Colombia. You pay in Colombian pesos (COP), with no IRS withholdings, native Spanish support and fully local tax reporting.
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