TuneCore is a DIY music distribution platform headquartered in New York.
The company, founded in 2005, also administers publishing rights on behalf of clients who wish to use it to do so.
TuneCore’s co-founders include Gary Burke, Peter Wells, and Jeff Price, who went on to found Audiam.
In October 2020, TuneCore confirmed that it had paid more than $2 billion in total to independent artists since it was founded 15 years prior.
Over a million independent artists had used TuneCore across those 15 years, said the company, which also claimed that “thousands” of its indie artist clients were making over $100,000 each annually.
TuneCore added that it was paying an average of $1.2 million in royalties a day to indie artists.
Believe acquisition of TuneCore
In April 2015, Believe announced it had fully acquired TuneCore for an undisclosed fee.
It later emerged that acquiring TuneCore cost Believe in the region of $40 million.
At the time, Denis Ladegaillerie, Believe CEO, said: “The success of TuneCore, its deep commitment to independent artists, and the natural synergy between our services for artists, make this partnership a powerful force to propel artists’ growth.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for TuneCore & Believe to champion independent artists and their entrepreneurship, and together our focus will be to provide the best comprehensive services to a wider range of musicians around the world.”
TuneCore leadership change
In September 2020, Believe announced that Andreea Gleeson and Matt Barrington had been jointly promoted to run TuneCore out of the US as co-heads of the company.
Gleeson was promoted to Chief Revenue Officer and Barrington upped to Chief Operating Officer.
The duo report to Denis Ladegaillerie, Chief Executive Officer of Believe.
The news came after the exit of long-time TuneCore CEO, Scott Ackerman, in April 2020.
Ackerman joined TuneCore as President and COO in 2010 and was promoted to CEO in 2012.Music Business Worldwide