Short answer: for most Kenyan artists the deciding factors are price, how you pay, and how you get paid. Interfine Music costs $12 a year, takes M-Pesa for your plan and pays royalties to M-Pesa, with a team in Nairobi. International distributors such as DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto and Amuse cost $19 to $24.99 a year at entry level, and none of them states M-Pesa payouts. ONErpm is free to join but keeps a share of earnings.
Quick picks
- Best music distributors in Nigeria (2026)
- Best music distributors in South Africa (2026)
- Get your YouTube Official Artist Channel ($15)
- Best for M-Pesa and local support: Interfine Music ($12/year, Nairobi team, WhatsApp support).
- No upfront fee: ONErpm (free to distribute; pays 85% for download stores and 70% for YouTube, per its FAQ).
- Cheapest international annual plan: Ditto Starter ($19/year).
- Unlimited uploads, large global user base: DistroKid Musician ($24.99/year).
Kenya music distributors compared
| Interfine Music | DistroKid | TuneCore | Ditto | ONErpm | Amuse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price / year | $12 (or start from $2) | $24.99 | $24.99 | $19 | Free (revenue share) | $23.99 |
| Pay your plan by M-Pesa | ✅ Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | No plan fee | Not stated |
| Royalty payouts to M-Pesa | ✅ Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Payout methods named | M-Pesa, bank, Payoneer, PayPal ($50 minimum) | DistroKid Bank (publishing page) | Not stated | Bank, on demand | PayPal or Payoneer | Not stated |
| Boomplay | ✅ Yes | Not stated | ✅ Listed | ✅ Listed | Not named clearly | ✅ Listed |
| YouTube Official Artist Channel | ✅ Requests, open to any artist | Not stated | In plan table | Pro plan ($59/yr) | Not stated | In plan table |
| Publishing administration | ✅ Yes, incl. African societies (PAVRISK and others) | ✅ $75 setup, you keep 80% | ✅ $75 one-time | ✅ Pro and Label, 15% commission | ✅ Fee not stated | Not stated |
| Support in Kenya | ✅ WhatsApp +254 791 393 533, Nairobi team | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
What each distributor says about royalties
- DistroKid: “Keep 100% of earnings” on all plans. Publishing: $75 one-time setup per songwriter, you keep 80% of publishing royalties.
- TuneCore: plans from $24.99/year. Its pricing page lists a 20% fee for social platforms (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).
- Ditto: 100% of streaming income on every plan; publishing and sync royalties (Pro and Label) carry a 15% commission.
- ONErpm: no charge to register or distribute; pays 85% for download stores, 70% for YouTube and 50% for other video.
- Amuse: keep your earnings on a paid plan; without an active plan a 25% royalty commission applies. YouTube Content ID carries a 15% fee on the entry plan.
How to choose a distributor in Kenya
- Check how you will get paid. If you want royalties on your phone, choose a distributor that pays to M-Pesa. Otherwise check the fees on bank, PayPal or Payoneer withdrawals. How Interfine payouts work.
- Compare the yearly cost, not the first year. Look at renewal prices and whether each release is charged separately.
- Make sure Boomplay is included. It is one of the most used streaming apps in Kenya and across Africa.
- Collect your publishing money. Streams also earn songwriter royalties. Register with PAVRISK and use a distributor that handles publishing administration.
- Get your YouTube Official Artist Channel. It merges your topic channel and your own channel. OAC guide.
- Test the support. Send a question before you pay and see how fast a real person answers.
How we compared
We are Interfine Music, so we have an interest in this comparison. To keep it fair we used only what each company states on its own official pages in October 2026, quoted their entry plans, and marked anything we could not confirm as “Not stated”. We left out distributors whose official pages we could not read. If you spot an error, tell us on WhatsApp and we will correct it.
Frequently asked questions
Which music distributor is best in Kenya?
It depends on what you need. If you want to pay with M-Pesa, withdraw royalties to M-Pesa, get help with Kenyan publishing (PAVRISK) and talk to a team in Nairobi, Interfine Music is built for that from $12 a year. If you want no upfront fee, ONErpm charges nothing to distribute but keeps a share of your earnings.
Which distributor pays royalties to M-Pesa in Kenya?
Interfine Music pays to M-Pesa, bank transfer, Payoneer or PayPal once your balance reaches the $50 payout minimum. Of the international distributors we checked (DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto, ONErpm and Amuse), none states M-Pesa payouts on its official pages.
How much does music distribution cost in Kenya?
Interfine Music costs $12 a year, and you can start from $2 in instalments. Official prices for others in October 2026: Ditto from $19 a year, Amuse from $23.99, DistroKid and TuneCore from $24.99. ONErpm is free to join and keeps a percentage of earnings.
Can I get my music on Boomplay from Kenya?
Yes. Interfine Music delivers to Boomplay along with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok and 200+ platforms. TuneCore, Ditto and Amuse also list Boomplay on their official store pages.
Can I pay for distribution with M-Pesa?
With Interfine Music, yes: you pay your plan by M-Pesa or card. The other distributors we checked do not state M-Pesa as a payment option.
How do I collect publishing royalties in Kenya?
In Kenya, PAVRISK (formerly PRiSK) is the society licensed by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) to collect for songwriters, publishers, performers and producers. Interfine Music handles publishing administration and registration with African societies. See our guide to music publishing royalties in Africa.