Distribution Platforms & SongProof

Does Agreeing to Any Distributor’s T&C Invalidate a SongProof Certificate?

Internal Reference Memo  |  April 2026  |  Covers: DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, Amuse.io & all standard distributors

1. The Core Question

If an artist distributes their music through any major digital distribution platform — DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, Amuse.io, or others — and agrees to that platform’s Terms & Conditions, does that agreement nullify their SongProof certificate, or give the distributor any rights over their song?

2. Platform-by-Platform Analysis

The following breaks down what each major platform’s agreement actually says about copyright ownership and what rights they acquire from artists.

2.1  DistroKid

DistroKid’s Distribution Agreement is the most explicit on this point. Their terms state in all-caps:

• Artists retain 100% ownership of music and masters
• DistroKid is non-exclusive — artists can distribute the same music elsewhere simultaneously
• DistroKid does not register songs for copyright or with any PRO
• If the annual subscription lapses, music can be removed from stores — but the SongProof certificate is unaffected

2.2  CD Baby

CD Baby operates the same way for standard distribution: artists grant only a limited license to sell and distribute. CD Baby does not own the intellectual property.

• CD Baby stores and sells music but holds no ownership over the intellectual property
• Artists grant only a limited license to sell and distribute
• CD Baby explicitly does not register songs with the US Copyright Office — and notably states that registering copyright “is the strongest legal protection and helps establish ownership” — a position fully aligned with SongProof’s value proposition

2.3  TuneCore

TuneCore is explicit that artists maintain full ownership throughout.

• TuneCore does not register songs with the US Copyright Office
• For distribution, the license granted is non-exclusive and limited to delivery
• TuneCore Publishing Administration (optional add-on) is an exclusive admin arrangement — not an ownership transfer. Artists should read this agreement carefully as it includes exclusivity for the term

2.4  Amuse.io

Amuse.io keeps 100% of royalties for artists and requires them to confirm they are the rightful copyright owner before distribution is permitted.

• Artists keep 100% of royalties under their subscription model
• Amuse requires artists to warrant they are “the rightful owner of the Recordings” before uploading — meaning Amuse’s platform relies on the artist already owning the copyright
• Amuse does not claim any copyright or ownership interest

2.5  Other Platforms (Stem, Ditto, UnitedMasters, Songtradr, etc.)

While specific T&C language varies, all compliant music distribution platforms operating under standard music industry licensing law share the same foundational structure:

• They receive a license to distribute, not an assignment of copyright
• They require artists to warrant that they already own the rights being distributed
• No distribution agreement can retroactively invalidate a pre-existing blockchain timestamp
• Copyright ownership and proof of authorship are governed by copyright law, not by distribution contracts

Any distributor that did attempt to claim copyright ownership would be operating illegally and in direct violation of international copyright frameworks (Berne Convention, WIPO Treaties, US Copyright Act, etc.).

3. Platform Comparison at a Glance

*Any standard distributor operating under international music licensing law. A distributor claiming copyright ownership would be operating illegally.

4. Why the SongProof Certificate is Unaffected by Any Distribution T&C

4.1  Two Completely Different Legal Lanes

4.2  Blockchain Timestamps Are Immutable and Independent

A SongProof certificate records the cryptographic hash of the audio file on the blockchain at a specific moment in time. This record:

• Exists outside any distribution platform or contractual relationship
• Cannot be altered, deleted, or overridden by any third-party T&C or corporate action
• Predates distribution — establishing creation before any distributor was ever involved
• Is governed by the blockchain protocol itself, not by any company’s terms of service
• Survives subscription lapses, platform shutdowns, acquisitions, and legal disputes

4.3  Distributors Actually Rely on Artists Already Owning the Content

Every distribution platform requires artists to confirm they own the rights before uploading. A SongProof certificate directly strengthens this representation — it is timestamped evidence that the artist owned and created the recording before distributing it. In a dispute, a SongProof certificate can corroborate the warranty the artist made to the distributor.

5. The One Exception: Publishing Administration Add-Ons

This section is important for artist education. While standard distribution agreements are uniformly non-threatening to copyright ownership, optional publishing administration services offered by some platforms deserve closer attention.

6. The SongProof Value Proposition Across All Platforms

This analysis reveals a consistent, industry-wide gap that SongProof fills:

• Distribution gives you access to stores — SongProof gives you documented proof of creation
• Distribution agreements can lapse or be terminated — the SongProof blockchain record is permanent
• Platforms can pull music in a dispute — SongProof evidence survives independently of any platform
• No distributor registers copyright for artists — SongProof fills exactly that documentation gap

7. Summary Table

Songproof.com  |  Blockchain Copyright Timestamping  |  April 2026