COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best music distribution for record labels in 2026?
It depends on roster size and what you need to run. For up to about 5 artists, Too Lost’s Label Account ($35.99 a year, unlimited artists) has the lowest fixed fee here, and Ditto Music’s Labels plan starts at €89 a year. For a multi-label group or a catalog that pays artists, LabelGrid offers several labels per account with royalty splits, artist payouts and recoupable expenses from $199 a year. Labels that want a services partner can apply to AWAL or Symphonic Partner. For a white-label business, compare LabelGrid’s API plans with FUGA and Revelator.
Which distributor is cheapest for a label with 5 artists?
On published fees, Too Lost’s Label Account costs $35.99 a year for unlimited artists, with no cut of master-recording earnings while subscribed. DistroKid Ultimate starts at €81.99 a year and Ditto Music’s Labels plan at €89 a year for up to 5 artists. Symphonic’s Starter costs $29.99 per primary artist, so $149.95 for 5. Compare commissions and paid extras as well as the fee.
Which distributors let one account run several labels?
LabelGrid runs several labels from one account: 3 on Basic, 5 on Pro and 50 on Custom Distribution. Symphonic Partner allows unlimited sub-labels, each subject to approval. FUGA uses a primary account with subaccounts, and Revelator offers label and artist portals with parent-child accounts. The Orchard lets an account hold sub-labels, entered as the imprint on each release. At AWAL, a company with several labels picks the label for each release.
Which distributors handle royalty splits and recoupment for labels?
LabelGrid adds artist payouts and recoupable expenses to its splits from Basic up. Too Lost makes allocations subject to recoupment, and TuneCore offers a priority payout to recover recording costs. Ditto Music, DistroKid and Revelator also offer splits, Symphonic pays collaborators through SplitShare, and The Orchard lists collaborator splits and royalty accounting among its services; see the table for each one’s terms.
Which options offer white-label distribution?
FUGA offers a custom-branded White Label interface, and Revelator offers branded label and artist portals; neither publishes prices. LabelGrid’s API plans, from $1,668 a year, are for building your own branded service, and Pro adds white-label reporting. Too Lost’s Enterprise Suite includes a white-label dashboard, with no published price.
Do label plans take a commission on royalties?
Some do and some do not. Too Lost, Ditto Music, DistroKid and TuneCore take no commission on recorded-music earnings from stores while you subscribe, though each charges for some extras. LabelGrid keeps 15% of standard DSP earnings on Solo and Basic, 10% on Pro and 5% on Custom and API plans through its own deals, and nothing on your own direct deals (Custom and API). On AWAL’s standard deal you keep 85%. Symphonic Partner publishes a standard 85/15 split of royalties. The Orchard does not publish its label terms.
Is this comparison independent?
No. LabelGrid publishes this page and is one of the options compared. Every competitor figure comes from that vendor’s own pages, read within 90 days of the update date, and each situation lists options by stated criteria, with LabelGrid first only where it fits those criteria.
How do I move my catalog without losing streams?
Re-upload each release with the same ISRCs and UPCs and matching metadata, confirm it is live on every store, and only then take it down from your old distributor. The checklist above lists each step; plan for about 2 to 4 weeks end to end.