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 staff process 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 ~$2/month. Unless AWAL's marketing services are driving significant extra revenue, keeping 100% with ORB nets you more.

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: 1 one-time track credit, distribution to 150+ platforms, 100% royalties

ORB Artist — ₦3,200/month (~$2): 5 track credits per billing cycle, 100% royalties, smart links, analytics, promo assets, Spotify for Artists verification

ORB Label & Team — ₦8,000/month (~$5): 15 track credits per billing cycle, unlimited roster artists, royalty splits, team collaboration

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 ~$2/month; 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 — ✓ Staff-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

Withdraw your exact wallet amount: Your immutable ORB wallet ledger keeps the exact withdrawal amount. ORB staff process requests: local-bank destinations use the bank's supported local currency; wire, PayPal, and Payoneer destinations use USD. Any FX quote is provided by staff 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: Artist Basic and Artist include 5 track credits per billing cycle, while Label includes 15. Each approved track uses one credit; paid users can buy extra credits from their wallet, and referral bonus credits work on every plan.

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.

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 staff process 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 ~$2/month. Unless AWAL's marketing services are driving significant extra revenue, keeping 100% with ORB nets you more.