ORB Entertainment vs Amuse
Amuse is popular for its free distribution and mobile-first approach. But for African artists, the difference is in how — and in what currency — you actually get paid. Here's an honest breakdown.
ORB Starter — Free: 1 release, distribution to 150+ platforms, 100% royalties
ORB Artist — ₦5,000/month (~$3): Unlimited releases, 100% royalties, smart links, analytics, promo assets, YouTube monetization, Spotify for Artists verification
ORB Label & Team — ₦8,000/month (~$5): Everything in Artist + unlimited roster artists, royalty splits, team collaboration
Amuse Start — Free: Unlimited releases, 100% royalties, slower delivery queue
Amuse Boost — ~$24.99/year: Faster delivery, splits, more control
Amuse Pro — ~$59.99/year: Fastest delivery, advanced tools, priority support
Starting price: ORB — Free (1 release) → ~$3/month unlimited; Amuse — Free tier available
Royalty cut: ORB — 0% — keep 100%; Amuse — 0% — keep 100%
Pay in local currency: ORB — ✓ Naira, Cedis, Rand, KES, CFA + 30 more; Amuse — ✗ USD-based billing
Get paid in local currency: ORB — ✓ Direct to local bank / mobile money; Amuse — ✗ Paid in USD — conversion fees apply
Boomplay & Audiomack delivery: ORB — ✓ First-class platforms; Amuse — ✓ Included
Free-tier delivery speed: ORB — Standard 7–15 days; Amuse — Slow queue on free tier
Smart pre-save & release links: ORB — ✓ Included on Artist plan; Amuse — Limited
Royalty splits: ORB — ✓ Included on Label & Team plan; Amuse — Paid tiers only
Free catalog transfer in: ORB — ✓ Done for you; Amuse — ✗ Self-serve
Never blocked from releasing: ORB — ✓ Submit on credit, pay later; Amuse — ✗ Not offered
Support in your timezone: ORB — ✓ Africa-based team; Amuse — ✗ Europe-based
Get paid in your local currency: ORB pays royalties directly in Naira, Cedis, Rand, Shillings, CFA Francs and 30+ African currencies — no USD conversion fees, no waiting on PayPal exchange rates. Withdraw to your local bank or mobile money the same day.
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 Audiomack are first-class platforms. Afrobeats, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Mbalax, Coupé-Décalé, Highlife, Kwaito — ORB understands the genres, the markets, and the artists.
Never blocked from releasing: If you run out of track credits on a paid plan, you can keep submitting. The cost is added to your next bill. Your creative flow never stops because of billing — something no other distributor offers.
Amuse is a solid free option if you're comfortable with USD payouts and a slower free-tier queue. For African artists, ORB wins on local-currency billing and payouts (no FX losses), first-class Boomplay and Audiomack treatment, and the ability to keep releasing even when credits run low.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ORB or Amuse better for free distribution?
- Both offer free distribution with 100% royalties. The real difference is payouts: Amuse pays in USD, so African artists lose 5–10% to FX and transfer fees, while ORB pays directly in your local currency to your bank or mobile money with no conversion fees. ORB's free tier also delivers on a standard timeline rather than a slow free-tier queue.
- Can I move my catalog from Amuse to ORB?
- Yes. Sign up for ORB, open Catalog Transfer in your dashboard, and submit your Amuse release list. ORB's team handles the migration with no downtime — your streams and playlist placements stay intact. Transfer is free on every plan.
- Does Amuse pay in local African currency?
- No. Amuse pays in USD, which African artists must then convert, losing money to FX and bank fees. ORB pays directly in Naira, Cedis, Rand, Shillings, CFA Francs and 30+ other currencies.
- Which is better for Afrobeats and Amapiano?
- ORB Entertainment. Boomplay and Audiomack are first-class platforms, and promotion and analytics are tuned for African genres and markets rather than treated as global afterthoughts.