FreshTunes: A Music Distributor with “Silent Hold” Practices That Harm Independent Musicians

FreshTunes presents itself as a free and accessible music distribution platform, promising delivery to major streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube Music. On paper, the offer sounds appealing—especially for independent musicians. In practice, however, many creators encounter a troubling reality: songs that never go live, no rejection notice, and no communication whatsoever.

What happens is not a review delay. It is something far worse: a silent hold.

The “3-Day Review” That Never Ends

FreshTunes states that content review typically takes around three days. Yet numerous users report tracks remaining stuck for weeks or even months without any status update. There is no confirmation of approval, no rejection email, and no explanation.

During this time, musicians wait under the assumption that their release is still being processed—when in reality, the track may never be delivered to any platform at all.

The Misleading “Provide a Proper License” Message

One of the most common system messages displayed by FreshTunes reads:

“Please provide a proper license for the rework of the original phonogram.”

This message appears even for tracks that are 100% original:

• No samples
• No covers
• No remixes
• No third-party audio

The problem is not only the accusation itself, but the fact that FreshTunes provides no place to upload a license, no follow-up email, and no ticket system. The message functions as a dead end rather than a genuine request for clarification.

Overreliance on Automated Detection

FreshTunes appears to rely heavily on automated audio fingerprinting and similarity detection systems. While copyright protection is important, excessive automation without human review leads to frequent false positives.

Ironically, high-quality productions with clean vocals and professional arrangements seem more likely to be flagged. Instead of rewarding originality, the system penalizes polish.

No Email, No Transparency

In many reported cases:

• No rejection email is sent
• No clarification request is issued
• No notification confirms that the track will not be delivered

Musicians are left checking YouTube Music and other platforms repeatedly, unaware that their music was never submitted in the first place.

Real Consequences for Independent Artists

This lack of transparency has tangible consequences:

• Lost release momentum
• Failed promotion schedules
• Emotional stress and frustration
• Time wasted waiting for a release that will never happen

All of this could be avoided with a single, clear email.

“Free” Is Not an Excuse for Poor Communication

No one expects premium support from a free distributor. However, basic professionalism is not a luxury. Clear status updates, honest rejection notices, and simple communication are industry standards—standards that many other distributors, free or paid, manage to meet.

FreshTunes chooses not to.

Conclusion

FreshTunes is not merely strict—it suffers from systemic transparency and communication issues. The platform’s silent hold practices place independent musicians in a position of uncertainty, wasting time and undermining trust.

Free distribution should not mean silence, confusion, and stalled careers. For artists who value clarity and momentum, FreshTunes represents a risk that may not be worth taking.