A DiscSource charge on your bank or credit card statement traces back to AVL Digital Group, the parent company behind CD Baby and Disc Makers. Both are legitimate businesses that serve independent musicians: CD Baby distributes music to streaming services, and Disc Makers manufactures CDs, DVDs, and vinyl. If you recognize neither, the charge may belong to someone else on your account, a forgotten order, or in rarer cases a compromised card.
What DiscSource Actually Is
“DiscSource” is the billing descriptor that shows up when you pay any AVL Digital Group brand. The two you’re most likely dealing with are CD Baby and Disc Makers.
CD Baby is one of the largest digital distribution platforms for independent artists. Musicians pay CD Baby to place their releases on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and dozens of other services. Disc Makers handles physical production: CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records in custom runs.
Individual listeners who buy music directly from an independent artist’s online storefront can also see this descriptor, because some of those storefronts route payments through the same system.
Match the Amount to a Purchase
The dollar amount usually tells you which service produced the charge.
CD Baby charges a one-time fee of $9.99 to distribute a single and $14.99 for an album, with no annual or subscription fees.1CD Baby. How Much Does CD Baby Cost? Transparent Pricing Guide A charge in that range almost always means a new release was submitted. CD Baby also retains 9% of ongoing distribution revenue, so smaller periodic entries can appear depending on how the account is set up.
Disc Makers charges run much larger. CD replication costs roughly $1 per unit for 1,000 copies, dropping to about $0.70 per unit at 5,000 copies.2Disc Makers. Understanding CD Replication Costs Vinyl pressing starts at $999 for 100 records and climbs from there.3Disc Makers. Custom Vinyl Record Pressing Services A DiscSource charge in the hundreds or low thousands usually points to a physical manufacturing order.
Check Before You Dispute
Spend ten minutes confirming the charge is actually unauthorized. Mystery charges often turn out to be legitimate purchases someone forgot about.
Pull up the transaction in your banking app. Note the exact date, the amount to the penny, and the full descriptor text. Many DiscSource entries include the phone number 800-446-2313, which connects to the company’s billing department. Check which card was used, because a shared account or an authorized user may explain it immediately.
Search your email for “CD Baby,” “Disc Makers,” or “DiscSource.” Order confirmations and distribution receipts pile up unread, and one that matches the date and amount usually settles the question. If the charge is $9.99 or $14.99, ask any musicians in your household whether they recently uploaded a release.
Ask the Merchant First
If the charge is legitimate but you want it reversed, contact CD Baby or Disc Makers directly before involving your bank. Merchant refunds are faster and simpler than formal disputes, and they typically post within three to five business days.
For CD Baby, log into your account, go to your releases under “Albums & Singles,” select the release you want to cancel, and submit the cancellation from the distribution section.4CD Baby Help Center. How Do I Cancel a Release Canceling removes the release from all streaming platforms permanently and cannot be undone. If you only want to stop future charges, confirm with support that no additional services are active.
For Disc Makers, call the number on your statement or use the customer service portal. If a manufacturing order hasn’t entered production, you have a reasonable chance at a full refund. Once production starts, refund options narrow. Have the transaction date, amount, and the last four digits of the card ready.
Dispute With Your Bank If the Merchant Won’t Refund
If the merchant refuses or you’re certain the charge is unauthorized, file a formal dispute through your bank. Your protections depend on which type of card was used, and the difference matters.
Credit Card Charges
Credit card billing disputes fall under Regulation Z, which implements the Fair Credit Billing Act. You have 60 days from the date your creditor sent the statement containing the error to submit a written dispute.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 12 CFR 1026.13 – Billing Error Resolution Most banks accept disputes through their app or website, which counts as written notice. Your maximum liability for unauthorized credit card charges is capped at $50. The creditor cannot try to collect the disputed amount or report it as delinquent while the investigation is open, and it must resolve the dispute within two complete billing cycles, with 90 days as the outer limit.6eCFR. 12 CFR 1026.13
Debit Card Charges
Debit card disputes operate under Regulation E, which implements the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. The 60-day notice window is similar, but the stakes are higher because the money has already left your checking account.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 12 CFR 1005.11 – Procedures for Resolving Errors Your bank must investigate within 10 business days. If it needs longer, it can extend to 45 days, but only if it provisionally credits your account within those first 10 business days so you aren’t left short.
If the bank asks you to confirm your dispute in writing, send that confirmation within 10 business days of your initial call. Missing that deadline can cost you the provisional credit while the investigation continues.
How to File the Dispute
Open your banking app or online portal and find the transaction. Most banks offer a “dispute this charge” option directly on the transaction detail screen. Pick the category that fits: usually “unauthorized charge” or “billing error.”
You’ll be asked for a brief written explanation. Keep it factual. State whether you never authorized the charge, whether the amount is wrong, or whether you didn’t receive what you paid for. Attach supporting documents if you have them: cancellation confirmations from CD Baby or Disc Makers, emails requesting a refund, or proof the product never arrived.
File early. Banks process disputes faster when they arrive early in the cycle, and the merchant has more time to respond.
If the Charge Is Truly Unauthorized
If nobody with access to your card used CD Baby or Disc Makers, treat the charge as a possible card compromise. File the dispute, then request a replacement card from your bank immediately so the number can’t be used again.
If the bank rules in your favor, any provisional credit becomes permanent. If it rules against you, it will reverse the credit and send a written explanation. You can then request the documents the bank relied on and, if the amount justifies it, escalate through a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or pursue the matter in small claims court.