How to switch distributors comes down to one rule: re-upload to the new one with exactly the same ISRCs, audio and details, and only then take the old releases down. Do it in that order and your play counts and playlist spots usually carry over. Check the new distributor will actually save you money first with the music distribution calculator.
Why artists move
Usually because something went wrong:
- Takedowns without warning. In October 2026 DistroKid confirmed it had removed tracks after claims from Universal Music Group. Several artists told reporters they got no notice and no reason, Music Business Worldwide reported.
- Frozen money. In 2024 DistroKid froze Devi McCallion’s royalties during a fraud investigation she denied, and TuneCore pulled Benn Jordan’s music by mistake, The FADER reported.
- The distributor quits. In 2022 Universal’s Spinnup went invite-only and told departing artists to move their releases by 19 July, or have them removed.
- Unpaid royalties. In 2026 the R&B singer Kenny Lattimore sued SRG/ILS Group, claiming at least $100,000 in unpaid royalties. Those are his claims in court, not findings.
Price is the other big reason. Our DistroKid alternatives guide compares the main options.
Before you switch
- Write down every ISRC and UPC. Your old distributor’s dashboard shows them. The ISRC is what carries your history over; our guide to ISRC and UPC codes explains both.
- Download your files and artwork, the exact versions you uploaded.
- Save your earnings reports and note any splits you’ve set up.
- Check the new distributor takes your ISRCs. DistroKid, for example, only lets you enter your own ISRCs on its Musician Plus and Ultimate plans.
The steps
- Upload everything to the new distributor with the same song titles, release titles, artist names, ISRCs and audio. DistroKid’s help centre says matching these is how services try to keep your play counts and playlists.
- Once the new uploads are live, remove the releases from the old distributor. DistroKid suggests doing it the next day. A short overlap where a release shows twice is fine.
- Keep the old account open until the last royalties have come through. Services pay distributors after the streams happen, so money keeps arriving for a while.
What you might lose
There’s no guarantee. DistroKid says it can’t promise play counts and playlists will carry over, because that’s down to the services. You may also lose reviews on iTunes and Amazon.
Your UPC may change too. Some distributors, DistroKid included, won’t accept a UPC from elsewhere and issue a new one. That’s not a disaster: the UPC identifies the release, while play counts follow the ISRCs.
Next step
Before you move, price the new distributor over a few years, and if you haven’t chosen yet, start with our music distribution guides.
Where these figures come from
- Music Business Worldwide: DistroKid confirms it has removed tracks in response to UMG claims (12 Oct 2026)
- The FADER: distributors, bots and frozen royalties (3 Sep 2024)
- Music Business Worldwide: Spinnup goes invite-only (19 May 2022)
- Digital Music News: Kenny Lattimore sues SRG/ILS (Feb 2026)
- DistroKid Help Center: Switching from a different distribution company (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- DistroKid Help Center: Using existing ISRCs or UPCs (checked 29 Oct 2026)
