wavbee vs CD Baby
wavbee vs CD Baby — no per-release fees, no 9% lifetime commission
CD Baby charges $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album, one time — plus a 9% commission on all future revenue, forever. wavbee's flat annual pricing starts at $15/year with up to 100% royalties and no per-release charges.
All plans, side by side
Prices and features verified against CD Baby's published pricing on 6 July 2026.
| Plan | Price | Royalties | Delivery | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artist | $15/yr (₹1,080/yr) | 90% | 1–4 days | Unlimited releases · Content ID · playlist pitching · daily analytics — all included |
| Artist Pro | $33/yr (₹2,520/yr) | 100% | Under 3 days — guaranteed | Everything in Artist · priority release review |
| Label | $30/yr (₹2,520/yr) | 90% | 1–4 days | Unlimited artists & releases · revenue splits & reporting |
| Label Growth | $75/yr (₹6,250/yr) | 95% | 1–4 days, priority queue | Everything in Label · priority delivery & release review |
| Label Pro | $187.50/yr (₹15,625/yr) | 100% | Under 3 days — guaranteed | Everything in Label Growth · dedicated partnership support |
| Plan | Price | Royalties | Delivery | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single release | $9.99 one-time | 91% (9% commission, lifetime) | No delivery-time commitment advertised | Content ID included · no annual renewal · music stays on stores |
| Album release | $14.99 one-time | 91% (9% commission, lifetime) | No delivery-time commitment advertised | Content ID included · no annual renewal · music stays on stores |
| Optional add-ons | CDB Boost $39.99/release · FastForward $29.99/release | — | — | Paid promotion and expedited-service extras, per release |
CD Baby retired its Standard-vs-Pro distribution tiers: there is now one flat one-time fee per release with YouTube Content ID included, and a 9% commission on digital distribution revenue for the life of the release ('we keep just 9%… you get the remaining 91%'). Verified against cdbaby.com/cd-baby-cost on 6 July 2026.
Quick comparison
Detailed comparison
Pricing breakdown
wavbee charges a flat $15/year for the Artist plan with unlimited releases, Content ID, analytics, and playlist pitching included. The Artist Pro plan at $33/year gives 100% royalties. There are no per-release fees and no hidden commissions.
CD Baby uses a one-time per-release fee model: $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album, with Content ID included and no annual renewal. This sounds simple — and it is simpler than it used to be — but CD Baby also takes a 9% commission on all revenue from every release, forever, and paid extras (CDB Boost $39.99/release, FastForward $29.99/release) sit on top. For a growing catalog, fees plus lifetime commission add up.
The 9% lifetime commission
wavbee's Artist and Label plans pay 90% royalties with a transparent 10% platform fee. Pro plans pay 100% — zero commission, ever. Your earnings grow with your streams, not your distributor's take.
CD Baby takes 9% of all revenue on every release, for the lifetime of the release. There is no way to avoid this commission — it applies on top of the per-release fee. As your catalog grows and earns more, CD Baby's cut grows proportionally. Over several years, this can far exceed the upfront release fee.
Content ID and YouTube
Content ID is included on every wavbee plan. When someone uses your music in a YouTube video, you earn 90-100% of the ad revenue depending on your plan. No additional fees, no separate signup process.
CD Baby now includes YouTube Content ID on every release at no extra fee — a real improvement over its old Pro-tier gating. The catch is unchanged: the 9% lifetime commission applies to Content ID revenue like everything else, so a viral YouTube moment still hands CD Baby a cut of every dollar, forever.
Music ownership after payment
wavbee uses a subscription model — your music is distributed while your subscription is active. If you cancel, music is taken down, though loyal artists may qualify for continued distribution. The advantage: you never pay per-release fees and there's no lifetime commission.
CD Baby's one-time payment model means your music stays on stores even if you stop using their service. This is a genuine advantage for artists who want to "set and forget." However, the 9% lifetime commission means CD Baby continues earning from your music regardless — so "one-time" doesn't mean "no ongoing cost."
Who should choose CD Baby
Choose wavbee if you release music regularly and want predictable, all-inclusive pricing. With unlimited releases at $15/year and no per-release fees, wavbee is dramatically cheaper for artists with catalogs of 3+ releases. Indian artists benefit from UPI, 19 languages, and regional support.
Choose CD Baby if you plan to release very few tracks (1-2) and want them to stay on stores forever without a subscription. CD Baby's one-time model works for hobbyists who release infrequently. However, for regular releases, the per-release fees plus 9% commission make it one of the most expensive distributors long-term.
How to switch from CD Baby to wavbee
Apply to wavbee
Create your account at wavbee.com/apply. Choose from 5 plans starting at $15/year.
Upload your catalog
Re-upload your releases with the same ISRC codes and UPC barcodes. This preserves streaming history and playlist placements.
Wait for delivery
wavbee delivers to 100+ platforms within 1-4 days. Since CD Baby keeps music up, there's no gap in availability.
Request CD Baby takedown
Once wavbee releases are live, contact CD Baby to take down your releases from their account. This prevents duplicate store listings.
The verdict
CD Baby's one-time pricing model is attractive for hobbyists releasing 1-2 tracks. But the 9% lifetime commission on all revenue — on top of the per-release fee — makes it one of the most expensive distributors for active artists. With wavbee at $15/year for unlimited releases and up to 100% royalties, active artists save hundreds of dollars over time.
Frequently asked questions
Is CD Baby's one-time fee really cheaper than wavbee's subscription?
For 1-2 releases, CD Baby's upfront cost is comparable — even cheaper in year one. But CD Baby also takes 9% of all revenue forever. After 2-3 releases, wavbee's $15/year unlimited plan wins. An album on CD Baby costs $14.99 upfront + 9% of every dollar it ever earns. On wavbee, unlimited releases cost $15/year total with 90-100% royalties.
Does CD Baby take a commission on top of the release fee?
Yes. CD Baby charges a one-time per-release fee ($9.99 single / $14.99 album) AND takes 9% of all revenue from that release, forever. This fee-plus-commission combination is unusual among major distributors. wavbee charges only the annual subscription with no per-release fees.
Can I keep my music on stores if I leave CD Baby?
Yes — CD Baby's one-time payment means your music stays on stores even if you stop using them. wavbee requires an active subscription, though loyal artists may qualify for free continued distribution.
How do I switch from CD Baby to wavbee?
Apply at wavbee.com/apply, re-upload your releases with the same ISRC codes and UPC barcodes. Since CD Baby keeps music up after you leave, you can transition without gaps. Once wavbee releases are live, request takedown from CD Baby to avoid duplicate listings.