FUGA describes itself as “the largest full-service B2B music distributor in the world” and says it “empowers more than 1000 music rights holders” (fuga.com/about). It runs DDEX-based delivery to all major DSPs and calls itself the first B2B distributor to offer immersive audio delivery. For the largest independents, its scale is the point.
One material development: FUGA’s parent company Downtown Music Holdings was acquired by UMG’s Virgin Music Group in February 2026. For labels evaluating long-term distribution partnerships, this ownership change is worth considering. It places FUGA under a major label umbrella, which may influence platform priorities, pricing and its independent positioning.
But FUGA’s enterprise model comes with enterprise-level pricing. Pricing isn’t public, so you’re looking at custom quotes that typically involve setup fees, monthly platform fees, per-release charges, and revenue share on top. And if you’re a mid-size label doing solid volume but not enough to warrant an enterprise-scale annual commitment, you may find that the platform isn’t designed for your tier of operation.
The best FUGA alternatives in 2026 are LabelGrid for professional-grade infrastructure with published pricing and API access, SonoSuite and Revelator for white-label distribution, and Audiosalad and Labelcamp for immersive-audio-heavy catalogs. Labels in that middle band want professional infrastructure (API access, DDEX compliance, multi-label management) without starting from a blank quote, and the platforms worth a serious look are below.
What to Look For in a B2B Music Distribution Platform
Choosing distribution infrastructure is a fundamentally different decision at the B2B level than it is for individual artists. You’re not just picking where to upload tracks; you’re selecting the backbone of your entire operation. Here’s what actually matters when you’re evaluating platforms for label or distributor-level work.
API access and integration depth. You need a proper API if you’re running any kind of automated workflow: ingesting releases from sub-labels, syncing metadata with your internal systems, building a white-label storefront. Not a webhook that fires on release status changes, but a full REST API with sandbox environment, complete documentation, and programmatic control over your entire catalog. Ask for the API docs before the sales call, not after.
DDEX compliance. In the B2B distribution world, DDEX is the lingua franca. ERN 3.8.2 and 4.3 are the standards you’ll encounter most. Some platforms are DDEX consortium members (meaning they help shape the standards), while others implement the specifications without formal membership. Both can work. What matters is reliable, standards-compliant feed generation.
Pricing model transparency. B2B distribution pricing falls into three buckets: custom enterprise (negotiate everything), SaaS subscription (fixed monthly/annual fee), and hybrid models. There’s no universally “best” model, but you should know exactly what you’re paying before you sign. Hidden per-delivery fees and vague revenue share clauses have a way of destroying your margins at scale.
DSP reach at scale. For B2B operations, DSP count matters more than it does for solo artists. Your sub-labels and clients may need niche regional platforms, and your ability to deliver everywhere is a competitive advantage. Evaluate not just the number but the quality of DSP relationships: preferred provider status, direct delivery pipelines, and priority support channels.
White-label and multi-label capabilities. If you’re running multiple imprints or offering distribution as a service, you need proper multi-tenant architecture. Can you brand the experience? Can each label operate independently? Can you manage royalty accounting across dozens of imprints without a spreadsheet?
Support and SLA. At the B2B level, a support ticket that takes 72 hours to resolve can mean missed release dates across multiple labels. Understand what kind of support comes with your tier and whether there’s an SLA attached.
The 6 Best FUGA Alternatives
1. LabelGrid: Transparent Pricing with Full API Access
If your main frustration with FUGA is the opaque pricing and heavyweight sales process, LabelGrid is a direct counterpoint. Everything is published: distribution plans from $99/year (Solo, 85% royalty retention) through $499/year (Pro, 90% retention) to custom enterprise plans from $999/year (up to 100% retention with direct DSP deals). API plans start at $1,668/year (Starter API) and scale to custom pricing on a 2-year commitment.
That pricing transparency isn’t just a marketing angle. It fundamentally changes how you evaluate the platform. You can model your costs before talking to anyone.
The technical foundation is serious. On the API plans, LabelGrid provides a documented REST API and a sandbox, so you can build and test integrations before you go live. The sandbox is provisioned with the API plan and is IP-whitelisted. White-label distribution is a core use case, not an afterthought. The platform supports DDEX ERN 3.8.2, 4.3.0, 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 (worth noting: LabelGrid is not a DDEX consortium member, but implements the specifications).
Multi-label management scales with your plan, from 1 label on Solo up to 50 on custom plans, with API plans running from 5 labels on Starter API to unlimited on Custom API. Per-DSP streaming analytics are built in across all tiers, and automated royalty splits come in from the Basic plan up.
Distribution covers all major DSPs, and LabelGrid holds Spotify Preferred Provider status. FUGA holds it too, so treat it as a floor rather than a differentiator.
If you are deciding between building on an API and buying a turnkey platform, our guides to music distribution APIs and white-label distribution break it down, and the FUGA vs LabelGrid comparison covers pricing and features side by side.
Pros:
- Published rates on the standard and API plans, so you can budget before you talk to sales
- Documented REST API with sandbox for white-label and automation (API plans, from Starter API)
- DDEX ERN 3.8.2, 4.3.0, 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 support
- Multi-label management with automated royalty accounting (Basic plan and up)
- Merlin Network delivery partner
- Spotify Preferred Provider
- 7-day free trial on Solo, Basic and Pro to evaluate the platform hands-on
Cons:
- Not a DDEX consortium member
- Newer platform (LabelGrid was formed in 2017)
Best for: Mid-size labels and distributors that need professional API infrastructure and transparent pricing without the enterprise-level pricing and sales process.
Explore API pricing and start a free trial
2. Revelator: Label Software with DDEX Membership
Revelator sells its software as Revelator Pro for labels, alongside a standalone API and custom enterprise deals. It publishes no subscription price, so your costs come from a quote.
Revelator is a DDEX Full Member supporting ERN 4.3, delivers to all major DSPs, and offers HD audio with automatic DSP-compatible delivery.
One area to watch: Dolby Atmos support comes with per-track fees ($15/track upload plus $0.50/delivery) and is limited to Apple Music. That can add up quickly for labels with immersive audio catalogs. YouTube Content ID is included with centralized management, which is a genuine operational advantage.
Pros:
- DDEX Full Member (ERN 4.3), genuine standards authority
- Full white-label platform with custom domains and 19 languages
- HD audio with automatic DSP-compatible delivery
Cons:
- No published subscription price
- Dolby Atmos has per-track fees, Apple Music only
Best for: Labels that want DDEX Full Member credentials and are comfortable getting their pricing through a quote.
Compare Revelator and LabelGrid in detail
3. SonoSuite: White-Label Platform Specialist
White label is SonoSuite’s core offering: it lets you run your own branded distribution platform. Their white-label platform gives labels and distributors the ability to offer distribution under their own brand while SonoSuite powers the backend.
It delivers to all major DSPs and holds Spotify Delivery Platform status, so the reach is solid. Pricing is tailored to your catalog size, team structure and objectives, which makes sense for growing operations. YouTube Content ID is included as a platform capability.
The trade-offs: pricing requires contacting sales (no public quotes), and there’s no documented Dolby Atmos or hi-res audio support. If immersive audio matters to your operation, those gaps are worth weighing.
Pros:
- Strong white-label branding capabilities
- All major DSPs, Spotify Delivery Platform
- Pricing tailored to catalog size
- YouTube Content ID included
Cons:
- No public pricing, must contact sales
- No documented Dolby Atmos or hi-res audio support
Best for: Labels and distributors who want to run their own branded distribution platform under a white-label model.
Compare SonoSuite and LabelGrid in detail
4. ONErpm: Label Distribution with Latin America Strength
ONErpm offers three service levels. Emerging is a self-service tier open to all creators, with no registration, annual or upload fees; ONErpm earns a percentage of revenue instead, and its FAQ puts the creator’s share at 85% on download stores, 70% on YouTube and 50% on other video. On the Taking Off and Next Level tiers, commercial terms are negotiated.
Where ONErpm stands out is Latin America. Their office list runs through Brazil and across the region, including Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, Bogotá and Mexico City. If your catalog or growth strategy is heavily Latin American, that regional presence is worth weighing.
Pros:
- Strong Latin American presence, with offices across Brazil and the region
- Full-service support: marketing, financing, a YouTube MCN and publishing administration
- No registration, annual or upload fees on the Emerging tier
Cons:
- Emerging has no subscription fee; ONErpm takes a percentage of revenue instead, so what you pay scales with what you earn
Best for: Labels with significant Latin American catalog or growth plans in the region.
5. Audiosalad: Multi-Version ERN Support with Technical Depth
Audiosalad offers custom SaaS pricing and claims DDEX Consortium membership, supporting ERN 3.4.1, 3.7.1, and 3.8.2 (with 4.3 in development). Note that Audiosalad is not found on the current DDEX member directory as of early 2026, so the membership status should be verified directly. That standards depth matters if your operation involves complex metadata workflows or interoperability with multiple partners.
They deliver to all major DSPs, hold Spotify Delivery Platform status and support Dolby Atmos distribution. Audiosalad is positioned as a more specialised delivery platform for operations that want reliable delivery infrastructure without the full-suite overhead.
Pros:
- Claims DDEX Consortium membership with multiple ERN version support (3.4.1, 3.7.1, 3.8.2)
- Dolby Atmos supported
- Spotify Delivery Platform
- RESTful API and white-label branding
Cons:
- Custom pricing requires sales engagement
- Revenue splits and multi-label management not publicly documented
Best for: Labels and distributors that prioritize metadata standards rigor and need multi-version ERN support.
6. Labelcamp: Proven Spotify Delivery with Immersive Audio
Labelcamp operates as an enterprise SaaS platform delivering to all major DSPs, with Spotify Delivery Platform status. They have supported Dolby Atmos delivery since November 2021, to Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL.
Their enterprise positioning means custom pricing and a sales-led process, but the combination of broad DSP reach, Dolby Atmos delivery and Spotify Delivery Platform status makes them a credible option for labels that need immersive audio as a core capability.
Pros:
- Dolby Atmos delivery since November 2021
- Spotify Delivery Platform
- Enterprise SaaS model
Cons:
- Custom pricing, no public rates
- Enterprise-oriented, may not suit smaller operations
- API documentation available on request, not published
Best for: Labels with established Dolby Atmos catalogs that need an immersive audio delivery partner.
How to Evaluate B2B Distribution Platforms
Switching B2B distribution infrastructure is a bigger decision than switching artist-level distributors. Keep these factors in mind beyond the feature comparison.
Total cost of ownership. Don’t just compare sticker prices. Factor in integration development time, staff training, parallel-running costs during migration, and the opportunity cost of a lengthy onboarding process. A platform with transparent, self-serve pricing can save you months of sales cycles alone.
Migration complexity. The larger your catalog, the more you need to plan. DDEX-compliant feed migration between platforms is theoretically straightforward but practically messy: metadata inconsistencies, rights holder mapping, and delivery confirmation across all major DSPs each take time.
API and integration needs. If your operation relies on automated workflows, evaluate the API before anything else. Request sandbox access, test the endpoints that matter to your workflow, and verify the documentation is current. An API that exists on paper but lacks sandbox testing capability is a red flag.
Contractual flexibility. Enterprise B2B contracts often come with multi-year commitments, minimum volume requirements, and exit clauses that make switching expensive. Understand the lock-in before you sign. Platforms offering month-to-month or annual terms give you more flexibility to adjust.
How to Switch from FUGA
Migrating away from FUGA is more complex than switching artist-level distributors. FUGA’s terms are negotiated per client, so your obligations depend on your contract, and a large catalog needs careful planning to migrate cleanly.
Review your contract first. Check notice periods, minimum commitment terms, and any exit fees. Enterprise distribution contracts can carry clauses about catalog rights during and after a transition, so read yours closely. Get legal eyes on this before you start.
Plan a phased migration. Don’t try to move everything at once. Start with new releases on the new platform while maintaining your existing catalog on FUGA. For back catalog, get the new delivery live and confirmed first, and only then take the release down at FUGA. The other way round creates a gap and can reset the release’s streaming history. Starting with new releases lets you validate the new platform’s delivery, metadata handling, and DSP relationships without risking your active catalog.
Run platforms in parallel. Budget for a period of overlap where you’re paying for both platforms. Use this period to verify that your new distributor’s deliveries match FUGA’s quality. Check metadata accuracy on DSPs, confirm delivery timing, and validate royalty reporting.
DDEX feed compatibility. If you’re moving to another DDEX-compliant platform, your metadata should transfer cleanly in theory. In practice, verify that field mappings match between platforms. Different DDEX implementations can handle edge cases differently, with compilation albums, multi-disc releases, and territory-specific rights the usual trouble spots.
Communicate with your stakeholders. If you’re a distributor with sub-labels on FUGA, those labels need to know about the migration timeline and any temporary impact on their operations. Transparent communication prevents surprises.
Final Thoughts
FUGA built its position on enterprise-scale distribution, and for the largest independents, it may still be the right choice. But there is more of a middle ground than there used to be. Platforms like LabelGrid offer professional infrastructure with published pricing and, on the standard plans, self-serve signup that FUGA’s enterprise model doesn’t provide, while Revelator and SonoSuite bring DDEX membership and white-label depth.
The right choice depends on your scale, your technical requirements, and how much you value pricing transparency versus FUGA’s DSP reach. If you want to evaluate a platform with full API access, DDEX support, and published pricing before committing, explore LabelGrid’s plans and start a free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between enterprise and self-serve B2B distribution platforms?
Enterprise platforms like FUGA offer custom contracts and highly configurable infrastructure, but require sales conversations and typically involve setup fees. Self-serve platforms like LabelGrid publish their pricing, let you sign up for a standard plan without a sales call, and scale through plan tiers. The infrastructure quality can be comparable; the main difference is the buying experience and minimum commitment level.
How important is DDEX consortium membership for a distribution platform?
DDEX consortium members (like Revelator and SonoSuite) help shape the standards themselves, which signals deep technical commitment. However, platforms that implement DDEX specifications without formal membership (like LabelGrid) can still deliver fully compliant feeds. What matters most is whether the platform reliably generates standards-compliant metadata, not whether they have a seat at the consortium table. Ask for DDEX feed samples to verify.
How do you migrate a large catalog between B2B distribution platforms?
Large-scale catalog migration requires phased planning. Start with new releases on the new platform while maintaining existing catalog on your current provider. Use ISRC and UPC codes to ensure DSPs match new deliveries to existing records. Plan for a period of parallel operation. Verify metadata accuracy, delivery timing, and royalty reporting on the new platform before completing the transition. DDEX compliance between both platforms helps, but always verify field mapping manually.
Why does API access matter for B2B music distribution?
API access turns distribution from a manual upload process into programmable infrastructure. Labels and distributors use APIs to automate release ingestion from sub-labels, sync metadata with internal systems, build white-label distribution platforms, generate custom analytics, and integrate distribution into broader workflow automation. Without API access, you’re limited to whatever the platform’s UI provides, which rarely matches the complexity of real B2B operations.
Why don’t most B2B distribution platforms publish their pricing?
Enterprise B2B platforms historically use custom pricing because their costs vary significantly based on catalog size, delivery volume, DSP requirements, and support needs. While this allows for tailored deals, it also creates information asymmetry that benefits the vendor. Some platforms, LabelGrid among them, publish their pricing so you can evaluate costs before engaging with sales.
