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RouteNote Alternative: SpaceMedia vs RouteNote

SpaceMedia and RouteNote both distribute music without an upfront fee. The meaningful differences are the artist share, payout threshold, current processing guidance and Content ID access.

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By SpaceMedia Editorial Team Published Updated

Free plans at a glance

SpaceMedia Free90%

Artist share
Payout from €25

RouteNote Free85%

Artist share
US$50 threshold

RouteNote includes Content ID for eligible free-plan content. SpaceMedia Free does not.

SpaceMedia advantage

90% artist share

Five percentage points more than RouteNote Free.

Processing guidance

5 days vs 31 to 33

Distributor targets differ. Store processing remains separate.

RouteNote advantage

YouTube Content ID

Available for eligible content in RouteNote's free model.

How we compare the plans

SpaceMedia publishes this comparison and is one of the services reviewed. RouteNote facts are linked to RouteNote support pages, and advantages for either provider are stated directly.

  1. The comparison uses each provider’s published free-plan terms available on the verification date.
  2. Distributor processing and store processing are kept separate because neither provider controls every store timeline.
  3. Public customer reviews are treated as subjective context, never as proof of a universal outcome.

SpaceMedia Free vs RouteNote Free

Published terms and the practical tradeoff behind each one.

FeatureSpaceMedia FreeRouteNote FreeWhat it means
Upfront fee €0 No upfront fee Both offer a free distribution option. Source
Artist revenue share 90% 85% RouteNote says its Free model pays artists 85%. Source
Payout threshold €25 US$50 Currencies differ, so compare thresholds rather than treating them as a direct conversion. Source
Current moderation or processing Processing target within 5 days 31 to 33 working days for moderation Store review and ingestion happen after distributor processing for both services. Source
Additional store processing Varies by store May take another 7 to 14 days Final publication dates are controlled by stores and are not guaranteed. Source
Current support response guidance Email support, no public response-time guarantee 5 to 7 working days SpaceMedia does not claim a support SLA that it cannot substantiate. Source
Unlimited releases and tracks Included in Free Available in Free Check current eligibility and content rules before submission. Source
YouTube Content ID Not included in Free Available with a 15% share This is a genuine RouteNote advantage for eligible artists who need free-plan Content ID. Source
Platform coverage 250+ platforms Major global stores and services Platform availability can change and may depend on release eligibility. Source
Rights ownership Artist keeps ownership Artist keeps ownership Distribution permission is still required for every submitted recording. Source

Provider currencies differ. Published processing estimates are not guaranteed store publication dates.

Where SpaceMedia Free stands out

  • Higher free-plan artist share at 90%
  • Lower payout threshold at €25
  • Processing target within 5 days
  • Clear disclosure that Content ID is not included and store dates are not guaranteed

Where RouteNote stands out

  • YouTube Content ID is available in the free model for eligible content
  • Long-established free and premium distribution options
  • No upfront fee for the Free model

Choose SpaceMedia Free when

  • Keeping 90% instead of 85% matters
  • A €25 payout threshold better fits your cash flow
  • You want the published processing target within 5 days
  • You do not need Content ID in the free plan

Choose RouteNote Free when

  • Eligible free-plan Content ID is essential
  • You accept the current published moderation guidance
  • A US$50 payout threshold works for you
  • RouteNote’s specific store or workflow coverage suits your catalogue

Important considerations

Current timelines and public reviews add context, but they are not guaranteed outcomes for every release.

  • RouteNote currently publishes a moderation estimate of 31 to 33 working days, before possible store processing time.
  • RouteNote currently publishes a 5 to 7 working day support response estimate.
  • Public reviews include subjective reports about long reviews, slow support and generic rejection replies. Individual experiences vary.
  • SpaceMedia Free does not include YouTube Content ID. Artists who need it should factor that into their decision.

Before moving an existing release

A distributor switch needs coordination. These checks reduce avoidable duplication, but no provider can guarantee that every store will preserve history.

  1. Ask both distributors how they handle existing UPCs, ISRCs and matching metadata before submitting a replacement.
  2. Keep artist name, release title, track titles, audio and identifiers consistent where the receiving distributor permits it.
  3. Wait for the replacement delivery to be accepted before requesting a takedown from the old distributor.
  4. Do not assume store URLs, playlist positions, stream counts or publication dates will remain unchanged.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. SpaceMedia Free has no upfront distribution fee, includes unlimited releases and tracks, and pays artists 90% of earnings reported to SpaceMedia.

SpaceMedia Free pays 90% of reported earnings. RouteNote currently states that its Free model pays artists 85%.

SpaceMedia allows payout requests from €25. RouteNote currently publishes a US$50 threshold. The currencies differ.

No. SpaceMedia Free does not include YouTube Content ID. RouteNote offers it in the free model for eligible content and retains 15%.

RouteNote currently publishes an estimate of 31 to 33 working days for moderation, followed by possible store processing. This is guidance, not a guaranteed date for every release.

A distributor change may be possible, but continuity is not guaranteed. Confirm identifier and metadata handling with both providers, wait for the replacement to be accepted, and only then coordinate the old takedown.

Choose SpaceMedia when artist share, payout access and shorter published processing guidance matter most. Consider RouteNote when eligible free-plan Content ID is essential.

Sources and fact checking

Last checked 2026-07-17. Provider terms can change. Public reviews are subjective and labelled accordingly.

Release without an upfront fee

Keep 90% of reported earnings and request payouts from €25.

Try SpaceMedia Free