Frequently Asked Questions

What is ORB Entertainment?

ORB is a music operating platform for independent artists and labels: distribution, royalties, release tools, promotion, graphics, analytics, and team workflows in one workspace.

Who can use ORB?

Independent artists, producers, DJs, managers, and labels can use ORB when they control or have permission to distribute the recordings and artwork they submit.

How do I create an ORB account?

Create an account, verify your email, complete the requested artist or label details, and use the release workspace when your profile is ready.

Why does ORB ask me to verify my identity?

Verification helps ORB protect artist accounts, confirm payout ownership, and review rights information connected to releases. The information requested can vary by account and action.

What does the Free plan include?

Free includes one release creation and one one-time track credit. It is a way to start distributing without recurring track credits.

How do paid plan credits work?

Paid plans include recurring track credits according to the selected plan. Each approved track uses a credit; creating a draft does not charge a credit.

Does ORB take a commission on royalties?

No. ORB takes 0% royalty commission. Artists keep 100% of the royalties reported to ORB, subject to the applicable plan and payout process.

Can I buy extra track credits?

Paid-plan artists can purchase extra track credits from the ORB wallet when they need more capacity than their recurring allowance.

What audio files does every track need?

Every track needs audio in WAV or FLAC format. Lossless audio is required for distribution; MP3 and AAC are not accepted by streaming stores.

What are ORB artwork requirements?

Cover art is square and normalized to 1400 × 1400. Artwork must also meet applicable store size, quality, rights, and content rules.

How much lead time should I allow?

The minimum release date is 11 days from submission; 14 days is recommended so there is room for review and store processing.

How long does ORB review take?

ORB’s review approval target is within 48 hours. Stores control their own processing and final availability timelines, so approval is not a guarantee of a specific live date.

Can I change metadata after submitting?

Some metadata can be corrected during review. Once a release is approved or delivered, changes may require a metadata update request and store processing.

Which stores can receive my release?

ORB distributes eligible releases to a broad network of music services, including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Boomplay, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, and more.

Where do my royalties appear?

Royalties reported by stores collect in your ORB Wallet and can be reviewed through the wallet and reporting views.

How are royalty withdrawals paid?

Local bank destinations use the bank's supported local currency. Wire, PayPal, and Payoneer destinations use USD. ORB staff process requests after email-code verification, and the original ledger amount remains unchanged until staff have an FX quote.

Who processes withdrawals?

Withdrawals are paid-plan requests, verified with an email code, and processed by ORB staff after the request and payout details are reviewed.

Which currency is used for a withdrawal?

A local bank destination uses its supported local currency. Wire, PayPal, and Payoneer destinations use USD.

Does currency conversion change my ledger amount?

No. The original ledger amount remains unchanged until staff have an FX quote for the receiving payout route.

Why has my withdrawal not arrived yet?

Staff processing, payout verification, banking rails, and the receiving provider can all affect timing. Check transaction history and contact support if the status needs review.

What can I see in ORB Analytics?

Analytics brings together available store-reported performance such as streams, audience activity, territories, and revenue across your catalog.

Are analytics real time?

No. Store reports arrive on their own schedules. ORB displays the latest reports it has received and labels the reporting period where available.

Can labels view roster analytics?

Label and team workflows are designed to help authorized teams review roster activity and catalog performance from one account.

Can I export a report?

Use the report controls available in your account to review or download supported analytics data. Availability depends on the report and account access.

What is an ORB Release Link?

It is a shareable page that gathers your release’s available platform destinations in one place, so fans can choose their preferred service.

When can I create a release link?

Create a link from an eligible release once ORB has the release information and store destinations needed to build the page.

Does ORB support pre-save pages?

Yes, eligible releases can use pre-save pages where the selected store and release state support that flow.

Can I share a release link before the release date?

Yes. A pre-release link or pre-save page can be shared ahead of launch when it is available for the release.

What are royalty splits?

Royalty splits let a release owner record how participating collaborators should share the release’s royalty workflow.

When should I add split participants?

Add participants and confirm their percentages during release creation, before submission, so everyone’s agreed allocation is clear.

Can a label manage multiple artists?

The Label & Team plan includes roster management and tools for working with multiple artists under a label workspace.

Does a split change ORB’s commission?

No. ORB takes 0% royalty commission. A split describes the participants’ allocation; it does not create an ORB commission.

Can I transfer an existing catalog to ORB?

Eligible paid artists can request a catalog transfer to ORB while preserving the identifiers and metadata needed to reduce the risk of losing existing store history.

What should I prepare for a catalog transfer?

Prepare your current release metadata, audio and artwork, store links, and identifiers such as ISRC and UPC where available.

Will my existing streams move automatically?

Keeping identifiers and matching metadata can help stores associate the new delivery with existing history, but stores control matching and cannot be guaranteed by ORB.

Can I transfer only some releases?

Transfer requests can be scoped to the catalog you want to move; eligibility and the exact process are reviewed by ORB staff.

What is AI Cover Art?

AI Cover Art helps eligible paid-plan users generate and refine a release artwork direction, preview it, and receive a normalized 1400 × 1400 JPEG.

Can I use any AI-generated image as a cover?

No. AI artwork still requires rights and policy review. Only use artwork you are allowed to distribute and ensure it meets store requirements.

What is Promo Canvas?

Promo Canvas creates a vertical 14-second teaser from an eligible approved release, with release context designed for social sharing.

What promotional graphics can ORB create?

Promotional Assets can create release-ready visual formats such as a Promo Canvas teaser, Instagram post, and Instagram Story from eligible release artwork and metadata.

What advertising does ORB manage?

ORB manages eligible Meta campaigns across Facebook and Instagram and Google video campaigns on YouTube from the ORB workspace.

Are managed ad campaigns prepaid?

Yes. Managed campaigns use prepaid budgets. You choose the campaign details and budget before ORB reviews the request.

Does ORB guarantee campaign results?

No. ORB reports results from the advertising provider, but reach, clicks, streams, and other outcomes are not guaranteed.

What happens if my campaign is rejected?

ORB reviews the campaign before activation. If it is rejected, you can correct the details and submit again without paying again; approved campaigns lock artist edits.

What is YouTube Content ID?

Content ID can identify eligible uses of your recording on YouTube and apply claims through the relevant rights workflow.

How do I request Content ID?

Content ID is an eligible per-release manual request. Open the eligible release, confirm the rights information, and submit the request for review.

Is every release eligible for Content ID?

No. Eligibility depends on the release, rights ownership, and YouTube’s policies. ORB and YouTube determine whether a request can proceed.

Do I need exclusive rights for Content ID?

You must confirm the rights required for the request, including exclusive control where applicable. Do not submit material you cannot authorize.

How do I contact ORB support?

Use the support and contact paths in the ORB website or your account. Include your artist ID, release details, and a clear description so the team can investigate.

How does ORB protect my account?

Use a unique password, verify your email, keep payout details private, and never share email verification codes. ORB may request information to confirm account ownership.

What should I do if I see a suspicious login?

Change your password, review account and payout details, and contact ORB support promptly with the account information needed to investigate.

Can ORB guarantee store approval or playlist placement?

No. ORB reviews releases against its requirements, while each store controls acceptance, processing, editorial decisions, and final availability.