CD Baby charges a one-time fee per release instead of an annual subscription, but withholds a permanent percentage of royalties. UXEM organizes artists, review, and continuity differently. This comparison uses official information to help you choose based on your operation.
Information reviewed on July 23, 2026. Prices and terms may change.
Choose UXEM when
You manage up to 3, 25, or multiple artists.
You prefer paying in your local currency (COP, USD, or EUR depending on your country).
You want to keep 100% of your distribution royalties without a permanent commission on every play.
You need native Spanish support with defined timelines.
You need YouTube Content ID included in Studio or PRO for eligible content.
Consider CD Baby when
You prefer a one-time payment per release instead of an annual subscription.
You release infrequently and don't plan to scale your catalog soon.
You find it acceptable to give up a permanent percentage of your royalties in exchange for no renewal.
You are looking for a distributor with over two decades of track record.
You need to register composition splits through a publishing administration service.
The best option depends on the operation you need, not on who accumulates more checkmarks.
How each company works
UXEM
Music infrastructure with operational review and plans based on catalog capacity.
Start: up to 3 artists.
Studio: up to 25 artists.
PRO: unlimited artists.
Review timeline depends on plan.
Billing in COP, USD, or EUR depending on your country.
Continuity mode if not renewed.
CD Baby
Veteran distributor owned by Downtown Music Holdings (acquired by Universal Music Group in February 2026), with a one-time payment model and a permanent commission on royalties.
One-time fee: USD 9.99 per single or USD 14.99 per album.
No annual renewal, but a permanent 9% commission on digital distribution royalties.
"Fast Forward" add-on for expedited review.
"CDB Boost" add-on for promotion, USD 39.99 per release.
1–2 business days with the "Fast Forward" add-on; 7–14 business days without it, per CD Baby
Commission on distribution royalties
0% UXEM commission with an active plan
A permanent 9% commission for the life of the release, per CD Baby
CD Baby states it permanently withholds 9% of digital distribution revenue, even after the one-time fee has been recovered.
Monetization and collaboration
UXEM
CD Baby
YouTube Content ID
Studio and PRO, subject to eligibility
Included, via Social Video Monetization
Share of Content ID revenue
No additional UXEM withholding on that royalty
CD Baby withholds 30% of what it collects from YouTube, per its help center
Collaborator splits
Included for any collaborator; the collaborator must create a free UXEM account to accept and withdraw
Limited to composition splits (not recording splits) via CD Baby Pro Publishing, a paid add-on service; CD Baby tracks the split but does not pay each collaborator directly
Continuity and support
UXEM
CD Baby
If a renewal isn't paid
Continuity mode; 30% administrative fee on processed royalties
Not applicable — CD Baby does not charge an annual renewal on a release already distributed
Support
Native Spanish; timeline depends on plan
Live chat and help center with support in English, Spanish, and Portuguese
Local operation
Colombia
United States (Portland, Oregon); owned by Downtown Music Holdings, acquired by Universal Music Group in 2026
International tax documentation
Per UXEM structure
To confirm — no equivalent official source located
* Figures use the definitions each company publishes and do not necessarily represent an equivalent list of integrations. More is not always better if the destinations that matter for your operation are already included.
How much changes depending on your operation
Total cost depends on how much your catalog earns, not just the entry price.
An occasional release
CD Baby can cost less upfront if you release infrequently. The permanent 9% commission compares better against an annual subscription when the release earns royalties over several years.
An active, growing catalog
The more streams accumulate over time, the more the lifetime 9% withholding can exceed the cost of an annual subscription with a lower or no commission.
Three or more artists
On UXEM, Start already covers up to 3 artists under a single subscription. CD Baby does not publish a per-payment artist limit, but each release is paid for independently.
Splits with collaborators
Compare whether you need to split recording royalties (not just composition) and whether your collaborators can get paid automatically without extra manual work.
Prices are shown in their official currency. A conversion is always an estimate at the exchange rate checked on the review date — not an official price.
What changes when using each system
Payment model
UXEM
Annual subscription with an unlimited catalog while the plan is active.
CD Baby
One-time fee per release, with no renewal, but a permanent commission on the royalties generated.
Review
UXEM
Manual quality control with plan-defined timelines.
CD Baby
Delivery in 1–2 business days with the paid "Fast Forward" add-on; 7 to 14 business days without it, per CD Baby.
Content ID
UXEM
Included in Studio and PRO for eligible content, with no additional UXEM withholding.
CD Baby
Included via Social Video Monetization, with 30% withheld on what is collected from YouTube.
Collaborator splits
UXEM
Automatic recording-royalty split for any collaborator, with direct payment to each account.
CD Baby
Composition splits only, via an additional publishing service; the split is tracked but not paid directly to each collaborator.
UXEM may fit better if
You release music consistently, want to pay in your local currency (COP, USD, or EUR), need to automatically split recording royalties with collaborators, and prefer not to give up a permanent percentage of your revenue.
CD Baby may fit better if
You release infrequently, prefer to avoid an annual subscription, and find it acceptable to permanently give up 9% of your royalties in exchange for a one-time payment per release.
No comparison replaces
Reviewing current terms.
Confirming specific destinations.
Assessing tax implications.
Checking Content ID eligibility.
Projecting how much the 9% commission would accumulate long-term.
Confirming whether you need recording splits, not just composition splits.
How we built this comparison
UXEM information taken from its current plans and terms.
Competitor information taken only from its official pages and help center.
Prices kept in their original currency.
Services compared by function, not just by name.
Latest review visible on this page.
When we could not find a sufficient official source to compare a figure accurately, the row marks it "To confirm" instead of filling it in with an assumption.
It depends on how much and how often you release. CD Baby charges less upfront for a one-off release, but withholds 9% of royalties for life. UXEM charges an annual subscription with no such permanent commission while the plan is active.
No. It charges a one-time fee per release (single or album) and requires no annual renewal, but it permanently withholds 9% of that release's digital distribution royalties.
It depends on how long the release keeps earning streams. The longer a song's commercial life, the more CD Baby's permanent 9% matters compared to an annual subscription with a lower or no commission.
Only composition splits (not recording splits), via an additional publishing administration service. CD Baby tracks the split but does not make the payment directly to each collaborator.
Yes, it offers support in English, Spanish, and Portuguese via live chat and a help center. UXEM offers native human support in Spanish with timelines tied to the plan.
Choose with the full picture
The right distributor depends on how you work.
Review the payment model, the long-term commission, add-on services, and continuity terms before deciding.
