KushTunes
vs TuneCore.
Two distributors, two pricing philosophies. One charges yearly rent on your back catalog. The other doesn't.
Overview
KushTunes is a pay-per-release distributor built in East Africa. TuneCore is a US-based distributor that charges per release plus annual renewal to keep music live. Both deliver to 30+ stores in 24-48 hours and pay 100% of streaming royalties on standard plans.
Last updated 2026-05-28
Side-by-side
The facts, ranked.
Evidence
Five things we can actually back up.
Last updated 2026-05-28
KushTunes does not charge an annual renewal fee to keep music live.
Source: Pricing model published at kushtunes.com/pricing
KushTunes pays 100% of streaming royalties on every plan.
Source: Royalty-statement pipeline (DSP → artist, no intermediate cut)
KushTunes supports M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and MTN MoMo payouts.
Source: Pesapal + mobile-money integrations, live in production
KushTunes delivers to Spotify in 24-48 hours, typical.
Source: Internal release-pipeline telemetry, Q1 2026
KushTunes is bootstrapped and headquartered in Kampala, Uganda.
Source: Founder Wizlox, public record on social profiles
Frequently asked
Should I switch?
Last updated 2026-05-28
Is TuneCore worth it in 2026?
TuneCore is a fit for artists who release frequently enough to absorb annual renewal fees and who pay in USD. For infrequent releases, single-album catalogs, or artists needing mobile money payouts, pay-per-release distributors like KushTunes can be more cost-effective long-term.
Why would I switch from TuneCore to KushTunes?
Artists switch from TuneCore to KushTunes when they want to stop paying annual renewal fees to keep older releases live, when they need mobile money payouts, or when they prefer a distributor headquartered closer to their region.
Can I migrate my catalog from TuneCore to KushTunes?
Yes. Request takedowns from TuneCore for the releases you want to migrate, then re-upload to KushTunes with your existing ISRC codes (which you own). Migration typically takes 7-21 days. Stream history and playlist placements do not transfer.
Does TuneCore charge yearly?
Yes. TuneCore charges a per-release fee plus an annual renewal fee to keep music live. If renewal is not paid, releases are removed from stores. KushTunes is pay-per-release with no annual renewal — once distributed, releases stay live without recurring fees.
Which is faster to Spotify — KushTunes or TuneCore?
Both KushTunes and TuneCore typically deliver to Spotify in 24-48 hours under normal conditions. Store-side ingestion (not distributor speed) is usually the bottleneck. Both support scheduled future release dates for coordinated launches.
Does TuneCore take royalties? Does KushTunes?
Both KushTunes and TuneCore pay 100% of streaming royalties on standard distribution plans. TuneCore offers a separate publishing administration service that charges a commission on publishing royalties; KushTunes focuses on distribution only with zero royalty cut.
Does TuneCore support mobile money?
TuneCore pays out via PayPal, direct bank transfer and check. It does not support M-Pesa, Airtel Money or MTN MoMo. KushTunes supports mobile money payouts natively in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
What do TuneCore and KushTunes have in common?
Both deliver to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, Amazon Music, Tidal and 20+ other stores. Both let artists keep their masters. Both pay 100% of streaming royalties. The differences are pricing model (per-release renewal vs. one-time) and payout rails.
See for yourself
Try KushTunes free.
Spotify-ready in 24-48 hours. No annual renewal to keep music live. No commission on what you earn.