If you cannot tell an artist exactly where their money is, how much you have spent on their project, and what they owe you, you are not running a label. You are running a liability. Here is how to build the accounting system that keeps your label out of trouble.
Every song has two copyrights. A record label controls one. A music publisher controls the other. If you do not know which one your deal covers, you are either leaving money uncollected or giving up rights you do not know how to manage.
You do not need investor money to start a label. You need a budget, a release plan, and the discipline to reinvest what you earn. Funding is not about getting money. It is about deploying it well.
Artists do not sign with labels because of a logo. They sign because the label stands for something they want to be part of. Your brand is not your artwork. It is the world you build around your artists.
Downtown Artist & Label Services is a US-based full-service music distribution and marketing company, part of Downtown Music Holdings. Now part of Virgin Music Group alongside FUGA, CD Baby, Ingrooves, and Songtrust after Universal Music Group acquired Downtown Music Holdings for $775M in February 2026. Offers distribution, bespoke marketing solutions, project management, and funding for entrepreneurial artists, labels, and their partners. Artists retain ownership of masters and full creative control. Provides white-glove distribution, DSP promotion, account management, hands-on A&R support, enhanced analytics, split pay, and complete audio and video asset management. Preferred partner status at all key DSPs. Not open-signup. Curated roster with application required. No public pricing. Downtown Music Holdings serves 1.7 million clients in 145+ countries with 23 million music assets in catalog. Best for established artists and labels seeking white-glove service with global reach.
Label Engine is a B2B music distribution and label services platform based in Vancouver, Canada, founded in 2010. Built for record labels and distributors rather than individual artists. Distributes to 100+ stores including Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport, Traxsource, TikTok, and YouTube. Offers royalty accounting, promotion, and demo management tools. First release free, then subscription-based label services starting at $49/month or $499/year. Strong focus on electronic music platforms. Best for small to mid-size record labels managing multiple artists and releases.
Nettwerk Music Group is a Vancouver-based independent music company founded in 1984 that operates a record label, publishing division, artist management, and a dedicated sync licensing department called Nettwerk One. The company represents artists like Sarah McLachlan, Passenger, Paris Paloma, and SYML for sync placements across film, television, trailers, advertising, and video games. In 2026, Create Music Group invested over $300 million to support a management buyout led by CEO Terry McBride.
