BandLab: Community, Creation, and Distribution

Pros:

• Free DAW: Full creative suite for AI music creators.
• Live Collabs: Real-time teamwork and sharing.
• Integrated Tools: Includes Cakewalk and SongStarter.
• Cross-platform: Available on web, iOS, and Android.
• Community: Built-in fan engagement and creator discovery.
• Mastering: Strong tools for improving track quality.
• Distribution: Keep 100% royalties with active membership.
• Fan Subscriptions: Monthly content for fans, 100% earnings kept.

Cons:

• Pro Tools Limited: Not as powerful as Logic or Ableton.
• Cakewalk PC Only: No Mac support.
• Cost for Distribution: ~$12/mo for access to full distro features.

DistroKid: Fast, Affordable Distribution

Pros:

• Low Cost: $19.99/year for unlimited uploads.
• Massive Reach: 150+ platforms, fast delivery.
• Full Royalties: Keep 100% of your earnings.
• Simple Setup: Upload and go in minutes.
• Basic Mastering: Improves track quality slightly.

Cons:

• Hidden Costs: Content ID and legacy hosting are add-ons.
• Support Issues: Delays in response reported.
• Annual Only: Stop paying? Music removed.
• Mastering Quality: Not ideal for pro-level tracks.

Final Thoughts

Creators using Suno AI can benefit from both platforms:

• Use BandLab to build, master, and publish music with fans.
• Use DistroKid to push polished songs wide and fast.

To avoid rollout disruptions, I recommend maintaining active accounts with both.

Use my DistroKid link here to save and support my content.