CD Baby vs RouteNote:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, RouteNote had more branded searches than CD Baby among music distribution platforms worldwide. RouteNote had about 201,000 branded searches, while CD Baby had 135,000. RouteNote made up 11.9% of all music distribution platform searches we track, and CD Baby accounted for 8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about music distribution platforms, CD Baby appeared in three of the four answers and RouteNote in two. CD Baby was mentioned before RouteNote in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
RouteNote, about 49% more searches than CD Baby
Who does AI mention more?
CD Baby, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, RouteNote in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
CD Baby, named ahead of RouteNote in 3 of 3 answers
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Top music distribution platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, CD Baby was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. RouteNote was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. CD Baby was listed before RouteNote in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
DistroKid1st
TuneCore2nd- CD Baby3rd
UnitedMasters4th
LANDR5th- RouteNote6th
Ditto Music–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- DistroKid4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- TuneCore4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- CD Baby3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- UnitedMasters3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- RouteNote2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- LANDR2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Ditto Music0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about music distribution platforms
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which music distribution platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best music distribution platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best music distribution platform for releasing songs?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“music distribution platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“music distributor for artists”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is CD Baby or RouteNote more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for CD Baby and RouteNote by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven music distribution platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for RouteNote, CD Baby. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | DistroKid | TuneCore | RouteNote | CD Baby | LANDR | Ditto Music | UnitedMasters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 43% | 23.5% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7% | 4.7% | 2.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.1% | 23% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 3.8% | 2.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 47.3% | 21.1% | 9.5% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 4.3% | 2.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.6% | 20.4% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 2.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 48% | 21.5% | 9.6% | 7.9% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 2.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.5% | 20.8% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 7.6% | 4.2% | 2.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 47.1% | 21.1% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 6.3% | 4.2% | 2.3% |
| May 2026 | 46.5% | 20.8% | 11.4% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 2.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 49.4% | 18.1% | 9.9% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 2.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 49.4% | 18.1% | 9.9% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 2.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 48.6% | 17.8% | 11.9% | 8% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 2% |
| Sep 2026 | 48.6% | 17.8% | 11.9% | 8% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 2% |
How has the CD Baby and RouteNote comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: RouteNote took it in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CD Baby’s share of searches among music distribution platforms worldwide moved from 10.5% to 8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RouteNote’s share of searches among music distribution platforms worldwide moved from 8.6% to 11.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 201K.
How did search popularity change for music distribution platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CD Baby’s and RouteNote’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among music distribution platforms
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