ORB

ORB Entertainment

Your Music. Your World.

ORB Entertainment vs CD Baby

Considering a CD Baby alternative? Compare what you pay upfront, what you pay over time and how royalties are handled—not just the price of uploading one single.

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.

CD Baby Standard Single — $9.95 per single: One-time fee, 9% commission on streaming royalties

CD Baby Standard Album — $29 per album: One-time fee, 9% commission on streaming royalties

CD Baby Pro Single — $39.95 per single: Includes Sync Licensing, YouTube monetization, publishing admin

CD Baby Pro Album — $89 per album: Same as Pro Single, for albums

Upfront pricing: ORB — Free trial → Artist ₦9,600/quarter in Nigeria or $6.99/quarter international base. Extra credits available separately.; CD Baby — $9.95 per single, $29 per album

Royalty cut: ORB — 0% — keep 100%; CD Baby — 9% commission on streaming royalties (Standard)

Track credits: ORB — 5 per billing cycle on Artist; 15 on Label; extras from wallet; CD Baby — ✗ Pay per release forever

Pay in local currency: ORB — ✓ 30+ African currencies; CD Baby — ✗ USD only

Withdrawal destinations: ORB — ✓ ORB-processed local-bank currency or USD wire / PayPal / Payoneer; CD Baby — ✗ USD via PayPal / Payoneer

Boomplay & TikTok: ORB — ✓ First-class delivery + analytics; CD Baby — ✓ Delivered

Pre-save & smart links: ORB — ✓ Included on Artist plan; CD Baby — Limited

Catalog transfer: ORB — Included with paid plans; original audio and normal resubmission required; CD Baby — ✗ Self-serve

Track charges: ORB — Each approved track uses one credit; extras available from wallet; CD Baby — One-time fee per release

Africa-based support: ORB — ✓ Yes; CD Baby — ✗ 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.

CD Baby's per-release pricing made sense in 2005. In 2026, with streaming volume what it is, paying 9% of every royalty payment forever plus $9.95 per single is an expensive way to distribute. ORB's paid plans include track credits each billing cycle, extra credits from the wallet, and 0% commission. 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.

Is ORB Entertainment a CD Baby alternative?

Yes. ORB offers a Free trial and paid subscription plans with track credits. Artists keep 100% of royalties reported to ORB on every plan. Compare that structure with CD Baby's current release fees, commissions and services using your expected release volume and royalty income.

What should I check when moving music from CD Baby?

Review the cancellation options for each release, including any connected social-video monetization or other services. Prepare the ORB replacement using original masters, artwork and identifiers, and verify its store delivery before cancelling the old delivery. Your historical CD Baby balances and reports remain with your old account.

ORB Entertainment is an independent service, not affiliated with CD Baby. Prices, features and terms can change; check each provider's current checkout before deciding.

How to transfer your catalog from CD Baby to ORB

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does CD Baby take 9% of my streaming royalties?
CD Baby's Standard plan is structured as a one-time upfront fee ($9.95 per single or $29 per album) plus a 9% commission on all streaming royalties for the life of the release. It's the original distribution model from the CD/iTunes era. ORB charges 0% — you keep 100% of your royalties on every plan.
Is ORB cheaper than CD Baby?
The cheaper option depends on release volume, plan features, renewal terms and optional services. 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. 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. 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. Compare the competitor's current checkout and terms; ORB does not guarantee the lowest total cost for every artist.
Can I transfer my music from CD Baby to ORB?
Yes, with an active paid ORB plan. Prepare release drafts, upload the original masters and artwork, preserve the original ISRC and UPC identifiers, and submit each release normally. Verify replacement delivery before requesting removal from CD Baby. Store matching, stream retention and uninterrupted availability are not guaranteed. Catalog transfer has no separate service fee; normal track-credit requirements apply.
Does CD Baby pay in local African currency?
No. CD Baby pays in USD via PayPal or Payoneer. ORB keeps the exact withdrawal amount in its immutable wallet ledger; ORB processes local-bank withdrawals in the bank's supported local currency or USD withdrawals by wire, PayPal, or Payoneer. Any FX quote comes from ORB team before processing.
Should I stay on CD Baby if I've already paid the upfront fee?
Even after paying CD Baby's upfront fee, you're still losing 9% of every royalty payment forever. Most artists recover the cost of switching within a few months because of the 0% commission on ORB. New releases especially should go through ORB from day one.
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.
Is ORB Entertainment a CD Baby alternative?
Yes. ORB offers a Free trial and paid subscription plans with track credits. Artists keep 100% of royalties reported to ORB on every plan. Compare that structure with CD Baby's current release fees, commissions and services using your expected release volume and royalty income.