Music distribution in Nigeria lets independent artists deliver their recordings to Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, TikTok and other supported stores through one distributor. With ORB, you can start with one free release, pay for eligible upgrades in naira through Paystack, and keep 100% of your streaming royalties on every plan.

This guide explains the practical release process. For an overview of local checkout and artist tools, visit music distribution in Nigeria.

How does music distribution in Nigeria work?

Upload your original recording, artwork and credits to your distributor. The distributor reviews the submission and sends an approved release to your selected stores. Each store controls its own processing, acceptance and final availability. Distribution does not guarantee playlists, streams, radio airplay or income.

ORB supports delivery to 150+ stores and platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay and YouTube Music. Use the available store catalogue in the release editor to choose where to deliver your music.

Step 1: Choose a plan and understand the costs

Compare the current ORB plans before uploading:

• Free: one release, with no upfront distribution payment and 0% royalty commission. For a never-paid Free artist, the 30-day removal countdown starts at first approval, not the scheduled release date. It is not permanent free distribution.
• Artist and Artist Plus: ongoing distribution while your subscription is active, with included track credits and eligible creative and release-management tools.
• Label & Team: paid distribution plus roster management for artists you represent.

New paid subscriptions start with quarterly billing. Nigerian checkout uses Paystack in NGN. Confirm the selected plan, full billing-cycle amount and any payment-provider charges before authorizing payment. Paid artists can buy extra track credits from their Wallet; ordinary extra credits are not permanent release coverage. See how track credits work.

For a first-release comparison, read free music distribution: costs and limits. For store selection and upload preparation, use the free multi-platform release checklist.

Step 2: Create and verify your artist account

Create your ORB artist account. Complete your artist profile and the email, phone and identity-verification steps requested in your workspace. Use the correct stage name for your release; legal identity verification is separate from your public artist name.

You do not need a record label to distribute your own music. You must own or have permission to use the recording, composition, beat, samples, artwork and collaborator contributions.

Step 3: Prepare an original WAV or FLAC master

Every track requires a genuine WAV or FLAC audio master. MP3 files and Spotify previews are not accepted as distribution masters. Renaming an MP3 file to .wav does not convert it.

Check the exported recording before uploading: the file must play correctly, contain the complete intended track and meet ORB's 30-second minimum and 30-minute maximum track duration. Obtain the original master from your producer or engineer if needed.

Prepare square, clear cover art: 3000 × 3000 pixels is recommended, with a supported image format and no unauthorized branding or URLs. Check the cover-art requirements and the upload validation in your editor.

Step 4: Enter titles, credits and recording codes

Supply your release title, stage name, genre, language, explicit-content setting and songwriter, producer and featured-artist credits. Review spelling and collaborator permissions.

For a new recording, ORB can obtain new ISRC and UPC/EAN identifiers. For a catalog transfer, preserve the original ISRC for each recording, original UPC/EAN, original release date and matching metadata. Importing Spotify metadata does not import your audio: upload an original WAV or FLAC master to every imported track, then complete normal submission. See catalog transfer.

Royalty splits are available on every plan. Collaborators can accept by email without an ORB account; roster management is a separate Label feature. Learn about artist royalty splits.

Step 5: Select stores and schedule your release

Select the supported outlets in the release editor, including Spotify, Apple Music and Boomplay where appropriate. Set your scheduled release date at least 11 days ahead; 14 days is recommended to leave more processing time. Keep a transfer's original release date separate from the new delivery date.

Read the Spotify upload guide or Apple Music distribution guide for store-specific preparation. Stores decide when the release becomes available; no fixed live-date turnaround is guaranteed.

Step 6: Submit and follow the release status

Review every track, uploaded master, artwork, code, credit and store selection. Submit through the release editor once all required information is saved.

ORB promises approval within 24 hours. If the team requests corrections, make the requested changes and resubmit. Approval is not the same as being live on every store. Monitor the normal release status in your workspace and wait for stores to complete processing.

Step 7: Review royalties and request a withdrawal

Store reports arrive on their own schedules; a new release does not immediately produce a complete earnings report. Review the available analytics and credited royalties in your ORB Wallet.

ORB takes 0% royalty commission on all plans, including Free. Withdrawal fees, minimums and destination requirements are separate from royalty commission. Save your payout destination, complete the required verification and email confirmation, and submit a withdrawal request for staff to process. Read how to withdraw music royalties; a withdrawal is not an instant or guaranteed payment.

Can I distribute music for free in Nigeria?

Yes. ORB offers one free release with no upfront distribution payment and 0% royalty commission. For never-paid Free artists, the release enters a 30-day removal countdown at first approval, regardless of its scheduled release date. Activate a paid plan before expiry to maintain distribution under the paid-plan terms.

Can I pay for music distribution in naira?

Yes. Nigerian subscription checkout uses Paystack in NGN. Review the current full-cycle price on Pricing and in checkout; a monthly equivalent is not a monthly payment option.

How long does music distribution take?

ORB promises approval within 24 hours, but each store controls processing and final availability. Schedule at least 11 days ahead, with 14 days recommended. These scheduling requirements are not a guarantee that every store will make the release live by a fixed deadline.

Can I upload MP3 audio or import a Spotify preview?

No. Upload a genuine original WAV or FLAC master for every track. Spotify catalog imports prepare metadata drafts only; you must supply the original track files and complete submission.

Do I need to give up my royalties or recording rights?

ORB takes 0% royalty commission on every plan. Distribution does not transfer ownership of your original recording, and you remain responsible for rights, licenses and collaborator agreements. Provider processing charges and agreed collaborator splits are separate from ORB's commission policy.

Start with the Nigeria distribution overview, compare plans and billing, then prepare your release.

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.