Believe

Believe is a French music distribution company founded in 2005 by Denis Ladegaillerie, headquartered in Paris. The company was publicly traded on Euronext Paris from 2021 until July 2025, when a consortium led by TCV funds, EQT X, and CEO Denis Ladegaillerie completed a successful buyout and took the company private. Believe is one of the world's largest music distribution companies, with offices in 50+ countries, over 2,000 employees, and distribution to 100+ streaming platforms worldwide. In 2024, Believe generated EUR 988.8 million ($1.05 billion) in revenue, an 11.5% organic growth year-over-year, with its artists generating over 800 billion streams globally. Believe holds the #1 position in the Apple and Spotify Preferred Partner Program, reflecting the volume and quality of its deliveries to the two most important streaming platforms. The company operates through three divisions: Believe Label and Artist Solutions (for labels), Believe Artist Services (bespoke services for top artists), and TuneCore (DIY self-service distribution, which Believe acquired in 2015). Believe offers audio and video distribution, audience development, music publishing, sync licensing, financial support and royalty advances, marketing strategies, and A&R services. Pricing for Believe's core services is custom-negotiated with no public rate card. For DIY artists, TuneCore provides a self-service alternative with transparent pricing under the Believe umbrella.

Pricing and Plans

Believe does not publish pricing for its Label and Artist Solutions or Artist Services divisions. All deals are custom-negotiated based on the label, artist, catalog size, territory scope, and services required.

Three Divisions

• Believe Label and Artist Solutions: Full-service distribution and marketing for labels. Includes audio and video distribution, audience development, marketing strategies, financial support, and A&R. Custom deals with revenue share negotiated per partnership.
• Believe Artist Services: Bespoke services for top-tier artists. Includes everything in Label and Artist Solutions plus dedicated marketing campaigns, brand partnerships, sync licensing, and strategic career development. Highly selective, custom deals.
• TuneCore: DIY self-service distribution for independent artists. Transparent per-release and subscription pricing. This is the entry point for artists who want to be in the Believe ecosystem without a custom deal. See our music distribution services comparison for TuneCore pricing details.

What Is Included in Believe Services

• Audio and video distribution to 100+ streaming platforms worldwide
• Audience development and marketing strategies
• Music publishing administration
• Sync licensing opportunities
• Financial support and royalty advances
• A&R services
• Collaborator splits and royalty accounting
• #1 preferred partner status at Apple and Spotify for priority delivery

How Access Works

Believe's core services (Label and Artist Solutions, Artist Services) are not open-signup. Access is obtained through:

• Label partnerships: Labels partner with Believe for distribution and marketing of their full roster.
• Artist deals: Established artists may be offered bespoke deals through Believe Artist Services, typically negotiated through management.
• TuneCore for DIY: Independent artists who want Believe-backed distribution without a custom deal use TuneCore, which offers self-service signup and transparent pricing.

If you are an independent artist looking for DIY distribution, use TuneCore rather than approaching Believe directly. For other DIY options, see our music distribution services comparison.

What Sets Believe Apart

1. #1 in Apple and Spotify Preferred Partner Program: Believe holds the top position in the preferred partner programs at both Apple Music and Spotify. This means the highest priority delivery, the most direct support channels, and early access to new platform features. No other distributor holds the #1 position at both platforms simultaneously.
2. Publicly traded company: Believe is listed on Euronext Paris, providing financial transparency that privately-held distributors do not offer. Public filings reveal revenue, growth, and strategic direction, which can be valuable for labels evaluating long-term partnerships.
3. 50+ countries with local offices: Believe has physical offices in 50+ countries, enabling localized marketing campaigns, territory-specific strategies, and on-the-ground relationships with regional DSPs and media. This global footprint is larger than most competitors.
4. Three-tier structure: The Believe/TuneCore structure provides a clear path from DIY to full-service. Artists can start on TuneCore, build their career, and graduate to Believe Artist Services as their needs grow. This is a coherent ecosystem that few competitors replicate.
5. Financial support and royalty advances: Believe offers financial support and royalty advances to qualifying labels and artists. This provides upfront capital for recording, marketing, or touring, which is particularly valuable for labels managing multiple artists and release cycles.
6. TuneCore acquisition: Believe's acquisition of TuneCore gave the company a dominant position in both the DIY and full-service distribution markets. TuneCore handles the high-volume, self-service segment while Believe focuses on labels and established artists.
7. A&R services: Believe provides A&R services, helping labels and artists identify talent, develop releases, and refine creative direction. Most distributors do not offer A&R as a core service.
8. Music publishing and sync licensing: Believe includes music publishing administration and sync licensing opportunities as part of its services. This reduces the need for separate publishing and sync deals, consolidating revenue streams under one partner.
9. Founded in 2005, 20 years of operation: Believe predates many competitors and has navigated the industry's transition from downloads to streaming. The company's longevity and growth into a public company demonstrate sustained execution.
10. Audience development expertise: Believe's marketing services go beyond basic playlist pitching to include data-driven audience development, social media strategy, and advertising campaigns tailored to specific territories and genres.

Submission and Upload Process

For Believe's core services (Label and Artist Solutions, Artist Services), there is no self-service upload process. The workflow typically involves:

1. A label or artist's management initiates a conversation with Believe's business development team.
2. Believe evaluates the catalog, artist profile, streaming history, and commercial potential.
3. If accepted, a custom deal is negotiated covering distribution, marketing, territory scope, revenue share, and services.
4. Once the deal is signed, Believe's operations team handles ingestion, metadata, delivery, and ongoing management.
5. Marketing, audience development, and A&R services are coordinated through dedicated account managers.
6. Royalty accounting, collaborator splits, and financial reporting are provided on a regular schedule.
7. Financial support and royalty advances are available based on catalog performance and deal terms.

For DIY distribution through TuneCore, the process is self-service: create an account, choose a pricing plan, upload files and metadata, select stores, and submit. See TuneCore's page for details.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Not open-signup for Believe services. Believe's core services are not available through self-service signup. If you are an independent artist without label representation or industry connections, you cannot access Believe directly. Use TuneCore (owned by Believe) for DIY distribution instead.
• No public pricing. All deals are custom-negotiated, which means you cannot compare costs upfront. Believe's revenue share is generally higher than DIY distributors, reflecting the broader service scope including marketing, A&R, and publishing admin.
• Revenue share likely higher than DIY. Full-service distribution with marketing, publishing admin, and A&R costs more than basic digital delivery. Artists who do not need these services may pay more than necessary by working with Believe instead of a DIY distributor.
• Loss of control. Signing with Believe means entrusting your catalog and marketing strategy to a third party. Some artists prefer to maintain direct control over their releases, campaigns, and rights management.
• Best for established labels and artists. Believe's services are designed for labels and artists with existing audiences and commercial traction. Emerging artists without a track record are unlikely to be accepted into Believe's core programs.
• Complex corporate structure. The Believe/TuneCore structure can be confusing. Artists may not know which division is appropriate for their needs. If you are unsure, start with TuneCore and inquire about Believe services as your career grows.
• AI music policy not stated. Believe does not publicly document its policy on AI-generated music for its core services. TuneCore's policy may differ. If you produce AI-assisted or AI-generated content, confirm acceptance before pursuing a deal.

Who Believe Is Best For

Believe is best for established independent labels and artists with proven commercial traction who need full-service distribution, marketing, audience development, publishing administration, and A&R support. If you have a catalog that generates meaningful revenue, a roster of artists with growing audiences, or a need for financial support and royalty advances, Believe provides a level of service that DIY distributors cannot match. The #1 preferred partner status at Apple and Spotify ensures the best possible delivery and support at the two most important streaming platforms.

Believe is not suitable for emerging artists, hobbyists, or anyone who needs transparent pricing and self-service signup. If you are an independent artist looking for straightforward digital distribution, use TuneCore (Believe's DIY division) or consider DistroKid, CD Baby, or Catapult. Use our streaming royalty calculator to project your earnings and compare costs across DIY distributors.

Pros and Cons Comparison

Notable Artists Who Use Believe

Believe represents over 1.35 million artists and labels worldwide, either directly or through their labels. The company's roster spans multiple genres and territories, with particular strength in France, Asia, and emerging markets. Notable artists and labels include:

• Janet Jackson: Signed a long-term global publishing agreement with Believe Music Publishing in March 2026, bringing her entire catalog (11 studio albums, 10 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, 180 million records sold worldwide) to the company.
• JUL: The French rapper was the top-selling artist in France for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, distributed through Believe. He led the French album charts with multiple number-one releases.
• Werenoi: The French rapper dominated French charts with the number-one album in both 2023 and 2024. His sudden death in 2025 at age 31 prompted a tribute concert at Paris Accor Arena with 17,000 fans. Believe controlled four of the top five albums in France in 2024, including the top three.
• GIMS: The Congolese-French artist's track "Spider" topped the French singles chart in 2024, distributed through Believe in collaboration with Playtwo.
• Cleo Sol: The British R&B singer uses Believe's business model to retain master ownership while leveraging the company's global infrastructure.
• Russ: The American rapper and producer utilizes Believe's distribution model to maintain independence while accessing global marketing support.
• Craig David: The British singer is part of Believe's UK roster.
• Adekunle Gold: The Nigerian artist represents Believe's strength in African markets.
• Tinie Tempah: The British rapper is distributed through Believe's UK operations.
• Grupo Frontera: The Mexican group represents Believe's growing Latin music presence.
• Joao Gomes: The Brazilian artist is part of Believe's roster in the Latin American market.
• Sault: The British musical collective is distributed through Believe.
• NTO, Urumi, Trym: French electronic artists supported through Believe's in-house labels.
• Hermeto Pascoal and Grupo: Won a Latin Grammy Award in 2024 as part of Believe's Latin roster (17 artists received 24 nominations, winning 4 awards at the 25th Latin Grammy Awards).

Notable labels owned or partnered with Believe include Nuclear Blast (German metal label), Groove Attack (German indie), Naive (French), DMC (Turkish, fully acquired August 2024), White Hill Music (Indian, acquired), Tôt ou Tard (French, stake held), Global Records (Eastern European dance music, 25% stake acquired July 2024), and All Night Long (French EDM label, launched in partnership with Kidding Aside).

Video Gallery

The following videos provide additional context about Believe, its leadership, and its position in the global music industry.

Denis Ladegaillerie and Romain Vivien on the Global Rise of Believe

In this Billboard News segment, Believe founder Denis Ladegaillerie and Global Head of Music Romain Vivien explain the rise of their multibillion-dollar music company. They discuss Believe's 10% global digital market share, its number-one-to-three position across Asia and Europe, and why artists like Janet Jackson, Cleo Sol, and Russ use Believe's model to retain master ownership while accessing global infrastructure.

The Future of Record Labels by Believe Founder Denis Ladegaillerie

In this presentation from Slush 2015, Believe founder Denis Ladegaillerie discusses how technology has driven change in the music industry over the past decade, the transition from downloads to streaming, and how data analysis and CRM management are changing the way artists are developed. He outlines four impacts of streaming on creativity, artist development, marketing, and revenue models.

Related Resources

• Music Distribution Services Compared - Broader distributor comparison including DIY options
• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project your earnings across platforms
• Mechanical Royalties Explained - Understanding publishing administration
• Believe Official Website - Label services and partnership information

Similar Music Distributors

• TuneCore - Believe's DIY division for self-service distribution. The entry point for independent artists who want to be in the Believe ecosystem without a custom deal.
• The Orchard - Full-service distribution and label services owned by Sony Music. Direct competitor to Believe's Label and Artist Solutions division.
• Downtown Artist and Label Services - Label services distributor acquired by Universal Music Group in February 2026. Competes with Believe for established label partnerships.
• FUGA - Full-service distribution and label services platform. Enterprise-level alternative for labels evaluating distribution partners.
• AWAL - Curated, invite-only distributor with label services owned by Sony Music. Similar selective model to Believe's Artist Services division.
• Symphonic - Full-service distributor with publishing admin, sync licensing, and label services. Smaller-scale alternative to Believe for labels and established artists.
• Stem - Curated distribution and artist services platform acquired by Concord in March 2025. Competes with Believe for established independent artists.
• DistroKid - Flat-fee DIY distributor with unlimited uploads. The DIY alternative for artists who do not need Believe's full-service offering.
• CD Baby - One-time fee per release with 9% commission. Open-signup alternative for independent artists.
• ONErpm - Free distribution with marketing services. Another DIY option with some label-services capabilities for growing artists.