ORB

ORB Entertainment

Your Music. Your World.

ORB Entertainment vs AWAL

AWAL is a selective, application-based distributor that takes a cut of your royalties instead of a flat fee. For most independent African artists, an open platform that lets you keep 100% changes the math entirely. Here's an honest breakdown.

ORB Starter — Free trial: First single, one one-time credit, 30-day window from approval, 100% royalties

ORB Artist — ₦9,600/quarter (₦3,200/month equivalent): 5 included track credits per cycle; extra credits sold separately. Analytics, AI cover art, promo graphics, smart links and catalog transfer. 100% royalties.

ORB Artist Plus — ₦15,000/quarter (₦5,000/month equivalent): 5 included track credits per cycle; extra credits sold separately. Artist tools plus eligible Content ID/OAC requests, publishing line and lyrics. 100% royalties.

ORB Label & Team — ₦24,000/quarter (₦8,000/month equivalent): 15 included track credits per cycle; extra credits sold separately. Unlimited roster artists and label tools. 100% royalties.

AWAL AWAL — Revenue share (~15%): No upfront fee; AWAL keeps a percentage of your royalties

AWAL Access — Application / invite based: Selective acceptance — not open to all artists

Who can join: ORB — Open to every artist; AWAL — Application / invite only

Pricing model: ORB — Free or flat $6.99 per quarter (international base price); AWAL — Takes ~15% of your royalties

Royalty cut: ORB — 0% — keep 100%; AWAL — ~15% commission on earnings

Pay in local currency: ORB — ✓ Naira, Cedis, Rand, KES, CFA + 30 more; AWAL — ✗ Foreign currency

Withdrawal destinations: ORB — ✓ ORB-processed local-bank currency or USD wire / PayPal / Payoneer; AWAL — ✗ Foreign currency — conversion fees apply

Boomplay & TikTok delivery: ORB — ✓ First-class platforms; AWAL — ✓ Included

Marketing & playlist support: ORB — Included tools + Africa focus; AWAL — ✓ Strong for accepted artists

Smart pre-save & release links: ORB — ✓ Included on Artist plan; AWAL — ✓ Included

Free catalog transfer in: ORB — ✓ Done for you; AWAL — ✗ Tied to contract terms

Track credits: ORB — 5 per billing cycle on Artist; 15 on Label; extras from wallet; AWAL — ✗ N/A

Support in your timezone: ORB — ✓ Africa-based team; AWAL — ✗ Mostly UK/US-based

Artist controls and creative tools: ORB combines music distribution with artist controls and creative tools, not only local payments. Artists manage release metadata, release dates, store selection and participant credits; royalty splits are available on every plan. Paid artist plans include analytics, audience insights, AI cover artwork, promotional graphics and track-audio teaser videos, smart links and catalog-transfer access. Managed Meta and Google/YouTube advertising is available on every plan with a separately funded campaign budget; artists choose their budget, targeting and creative and can review campaign results. YouTube Content ID requests and YouTube Official Artist Channel (OAC) claims are distinct ORB services for eligible Artist Plus and Label artists: Content ID is requested for qualifying releases, while OAC claims concern the artist's channel. YouTube controls final eligibility and approval. Artist and catalog management includes release metadata, scheduling, store selection and collaborator credits; Label adds roster management, multi-artist analytics and a custom label name. Availability depends on the plan and service requirements; ORB does not claim every competitor feature or guaranteed streams.

Withdraw your exact wallet amount: Your immutable ORB wallet ledger keeps the exact withdrawal amount. ORB processes requests: local-bank destinations use the bank's supported local currency; wire, PayPal, and Payoneer destinations use USD. Any FX quote is provided by ORB team before processing.

Pay in your local currency: Subscribe in your own currency through Paystack or Flutterwave. No need for an international card, no failed transactions because of FX limits.

Built for African artists: Boomplay and TikTok are first-class platforms. Afrobeats, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Mbalax, Coupé-Décalé, Highlife, Kwaito — ORB understands the genres, the markets, and the artists.

Flexible track credits: Paid subscribers can buy additional track credits from their ORB Wallet: ₦250 per track on quarterly billing, ₦500 on six-month billing, or ₦1,000 on annual billing. That averages ₦83.33/month per extra track, not ₦85. These are add-on charges alongside a paid plan, not a standalone ₦83.33 monthly subscription. Active catalog tracks above the plan allowance may also incur extra-track charges at renewal. Ordinary extra credits do not provide lifetime distribution or replace optional Track Coverage.

AWAL is a strong option for artists with traction who get accepted and want hands-on marketing — if you don't mind giving up ~15% of your royalties. For many independent African artists, ORB's open access, 0% commission, and flexible saved payout methods may be a better fit. ORB also combines release controls, royalty splits, AI artwork, promotional assets and analytics with separately funded managed ad campaigns. Paid artists can purchase extra track credits at the published per-cycle price; compare the total cost for your actual release volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main difference between ORB and AWAL?
AWAL takes a commission (around 15%) of your royalties and is application-based, so not every artist is accepted. ORB is open to everyone and lets you keep 100% of your royalties on paid plans for a small flat fee — so you keep more of what you earn and don't have to be approved first.
Can any artist join AWAL?
No. AWAL is selective and application or invite based, so many independent artists are turned down. ORB is open to every artist — you can start free and release today.
Does AWAL pay in local African currency?
No. AWAL pays in foreign currency. ORB processes withdrawals from the immutable wallet ledger: local-bank destinations use the bank's supported local currency, while wire, PayPal, and Payoneer destinations use USD.
Will I keep more money with ORB or AWAL?
For most artists, ORB. AWAL keeps ~15% of everything you earn for the life of the deal, while ORB takes 0% on paid plans for a flat $6.99 per quarter (international base price). Unless AWAL's marketing services are driving significant extra revenue, keeping 100% with ORB nets you more.
Does ORB take a commission on royalties?
ORB takes 0% royalty commission on every plan, including Free. Artists keep 100% of royalties reported to ORB by stores. This does not guarantee a fixed payment per stream or eliminate separate subscription, withdrawal or currency-conversion charges. Collaborator shares follow the agreed split.
What happens to my music if I stop paying for ORB?
Subscription-funded releases, including tracks submitted with ordinary extra credits, become eligible for removal after subscription inactivity and advance notice of at least 30 days. Check your catalog for the scheduled removal deadline. Releases with verified, paid Track Coverage are protected from subscription-related takedown even if you stop renewing. Never-paid Free trial releases have a separate 30-day distribution window from approval. Rights and store policies still apply.
What is Track Coverage and who can use it?
Track Coverage is an optional paid add-on for a specific eligible release, purchasable only with an active Artist, Artist Plus or Label & Team subscription—not Free or lapsed accounts. Verified, paid coverage protects that release from subscription-related takedown without continued renewal; rights and store policies still apply. The Nigerian base price is ₦38,750 per track before volume discounts: 5% off 5–9 tracks, 10% off 10–14 and 15% off 15 or more. Checkout provides a server-issued local-currency quote. Apply coverage while preparing a release or to an eligible existing release. Ordinary extra credits are not Track Coverage.
How much does ORB cost in Nigeria?
Artist: ₦9,600 per quarter (₦3,200/month equivalent), ₦19,200 per six months, or ₦36,480 per year; 5 included track credits per billing cycle. Artist Plus: ₦15,000 per quarter (₦5,000/month equivalent), ₦30,000 per six months, or ₦57,000 per year; 5 included track credits per billing cycle. Label & Team: ₦24,000 per quarter (₦8,000/month equivalent), ₦48,000 per six months, or ₦91,200 per year; 15 included track credits per billing cycle. New paid subscriptions start at quarterly billing. Monthly amounts are equivalents, not monthly checkout prices. Annual plan billing saves 5%.
Why do I see Artist at ₦3,200 and Artist Plus at ₦5,000 per month?
These are different plans and monthly equivalents. Artist costs ₦9,600 for three months; Artist Plus costs ₦15,000 for three months. Label & Team costs ₦24,000 for three months. They are not alternative prices for the same Artist plan. Checkout displays the full selected-cycle amount and currency.
How much do extra track credits cost?
Paid subscribers can buy additional track credits from their ORB Wallet: ₦250 per track on quarterly billing, ₦500 on six-month billing, or ₦1,000 on annual billing. That averages ₦83.33/month per extra track, not ₦85. These are add-on charges alongside a paid plan, not a standalone ₦83.33 monthly subscription. Active catalog tracks above the plan allowance may also incur extra-track charges at renewal. Ordinary extra credits do not provide lifetime distribution or replace optional Track Coverage.
Can I release more than the included five or fifteen tracks?
Yes. Paid subscribers can purchase extra credits instead of upgrading solely to add tracks. Artist and Artist Plus include five credits per cycle; Label includes fifteen. For example, three extra credits on a quarterly plan cost ₦750 in addition to the subscription. Paid subscribers can buy additional track credits from their ORB Wallet: ₦250 per track on quarterly billing, ₦500 on six-month billing, or ₦1,000 on annual billing. That averages ₦83.33/month per extra track, not ₦85. These are add-on charges alongside a paid plan, not a standalone ₦83.33 monthly subscription. Active catalog tracks above the plan allowance may also incur extra-track charges at renewal. Ordinary extra credits do not provide lifetime distribution or replace optional Track Coverage.
What artist controls and tools does ORB offer?
ORB combines music distribution with artist controls and creative tools, not only local payments. Artists manage release metadata, release dates, store selection and participant credits; royalty splits are available on every plan. Paid artist plans include analytics, audience insights, AI cover artwork, promotional graphics and track-audio teaser videos, smart links and catalog-transfer access. Managed Meta and Google/YouTube advertising is available on every plan with a separately funded campaign budget; artists choose their budget, targeting and creative and can review campaign results. YouTube Content ID requests and YouTube Official Artist Channel (OAC) claims are distinct ORB services for eligible Artist Plus and Label artists: Content ID is requested for qualifying releases, while OAC claims concern the artist's channel. YouTube controls final eligibility and approval. Artist and catalog management includes release metadata, scheduling, store selection and collaborator credits; Label adds roster management, multi-artist analytics and a custom label name. Availability depends on the plan and service requirements; ORB does not claim every competitor feature or guaranteed streams.
Does ORB offer YouTube Content ID?
Yes. Eligible Artist Plus and Label & Team artists can request YouTube Content ID for qualifying releases and track their request status through ORB. Artists must confirm exclusive rights to the content; YouTube determines eligibility, matching, claims and any resulting monetization. Content ID is separate from an Official Artist Channel claim and does not enroll or monetize the artist's entire channel.
Can I claim a YouTube Official Artist Channel (OAC) through ORB?
Yes. Eligible Artist Plus and Label & Team artists can submit a YouTube Official Artist Channel (OAC) claim through ORB. Applicants must be verified, own or operate the artist channel, confirm compliance with YouTube's Community Guidelines, and have at least three live official releases distributed to YouTube through ORB. ORB supports the claim workflow; YouTube controls final approval. OAC claims are separate from release-level Content ID requests.
What artist-management tools does ORB provide?
Artists can manage their releases and catalog, metadata, release dates, store selection, collaborator credits and royalty splits. Paid artist plans add creative and promotional tools, analytics, smart links and catalog transfer. Label & Team adds artist-roster management, a custom record label and multi-artist analytics. Managed advertising lets artists set a separate campaign budget, targeting and creative and review results. Content ID and OAC claim workflows are available to eligible Artist Plus and Label artists. Compare the specific tools, plan requirements and total costs you need rather than assuming any distributor's offerings are identical.
How does ORB pricing work outside Nigeria?
International base prices are Artist $6.99 per quarter, Artist Plus $10.99 per quarter, Label & Team $16.99 per quarter. Supported countries receive configured local-currency quotes; these are not conversions of the Nigerian monthly-equivalent prices.
What does the Free trial include?
One first single release creation with one one-time track credit. Never-paid Free releases have a 30-day distribution window from approval, not from the scheduled release date. Artists keep 100% of royalties reported to ORB; store availability remains subject to rights and store policies.
Does ORB offer unlimited releases?
ORB uses transparent track credits, not unlimited all-inclusive uploads. Additional paid-plan credits are available from the Wallet at the published per-cycle rate. Label's unlimited roster artists do not mean unlimited included track credits.