UK label · global network
Your music, everywhere it should be heard.
Free music distribution, video distribution, royalty collection and music publishing. We help artists reach the world’s biggest stores, video platforms and collection societies, and keep what they earn.
- Free UPC and ISRC codes
- Delivery to 45+ digital stores
- Keep 70% of video revenue
- Keep 100% ownership of your publishing
Proud members of the industry bodies that matter
- Digital stores (DSPs) we deliver to
- 45+
- Video revenue you keep
- 70%
- Publishing royalties paid to you
- 85%
- Ownership of your publishing, kept by you
- 100%
What we do
Everything an independent artist needs, in one place
Distribution, video, publishing and rights management, handled by one team that reviews every release by hand.
Music Distribution
Deliver your catalogue to 45+ digital stores with free UPC and ISRC codes.
- Free UPC and ISRC codes
- Delivery to 45+ DSPs
- Manual review of every album
Video Distribution
Get music videos onto Apple Music, TikTok Music, VEVO and TIDAL. Keep 70% of the revenue.
- $0 delivery to our foundation partners
- You keep 70% of royalties
- Free VEVO channel for artists
Publishing
Claim your rights and collect public performance and mechanical royalties around the world.
- Keep 100% ownership of your publishing
- Get paid 85% of your royalties
- Registered with PROs and CMOs worldwide
Rights Management
Protect and administer your catalogue with a network of industry partners.
- Distribution, promotion and IP protection
- Digital monetisation strategy
- Streamlined rights administration
How it works
From upload to release day in four steps
A straightforward path, with a person checking your release at every stage.
- 01
Submit
Send us your music or video through our application form or by email.
- 02
Review
We review every upload by hand and give feedback if a change is needed to meet a partner's specifications.
- 03
Deliver
Once approved, we dispatch your release to the stores and partners you chose.
- 04
Go live
You receive your release links by email, and on release day your music goes live.
Tip for video releases: pick a go-live date at least 3 weeks after you submit.
Our network
One delivery, 45+ stores and services
Streaming, downloads, short video, radio and fingerprinting services: your catalogue goes where listeners are.
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- YouTube Music
- TikTok
- Amazon Music
- TIDAL
- Deezer
- SoundCloud
- Pandora
- Beatport
- Anghami
- JioSaavn
- Boomplay
- Qobuz
- Napster
- Traxsource
- + many more
Video distribution
Free VEVO channel and free video distribution
Deliver your music videos to Apple Music, TikTok Music, VEVO, TIDAL and more for free, and receive 70% of the revenue.
Artists
The sound of the label
Electronic, hip-hop, pop, Afrobeat, Latin, rock and more, from artists across the world.
- HA
Hala Al Turk
Youthful Prodigy of Middle Eastern Pop
- D
Dabro
Bass Alchemists of Unrelenting Beats
- F
FILV
Architect of Tropical House Bliss
- E
Edmofo
Electro-Hip-Hop Trailblazer
- S
SKN
Urban Beatsmith with Global Flavor
- R
Rompasoo
Synthwave Virtuoso and Retrowave Maestro
- T
TRFN
Architect of Progressive House Journeys
- P
Polarrana
Experimental Sound Artisan
- SD
Serhat Durmus
Architect of Ethereal Bass Landscapes
- D
Draganov
Eastern-European Rap Maverick
- H
Hamza
French-Moroccan Rap Phenom
- G
Gradur
Trap Commander of French Rap
Blog
Latest from Dark Lab
Video and YouTube
Why music videos still matter for independent artists
A video is not a luxury. It is a second place for people to find you and a second way for your music to earn. Here is how to make the most of one.
Video and YouTube
Content ID and YouTube for independent artists
Content ID can pay you when fans use your music in their videos. It can also flag your own uploads by mistake. Here is how it works and how to stay in control.
Royalties and rights
Remixes and samples: get permission before you release
Dance music runs on remixes and samples. The permission side is less fun, but it is the part that decides whether your release stays online.
Help yourself
Guides and answers
Our support centre and guides cover the questions artists ask most.
Music publishing 101 ↗
A plain introduction to music publishing, from our support centre.
VEVO FAQ ↗
Answers about your VEVO channel and video delivery.
Music distribution FAQ ↗
Common questions about distributing your music.
Music industry guides
Plain-English guides on distribution, ISRC and UPC codes, VEVO, publishing and royalties.
Video distribution blueprint
Our step-by-step guide: approval, delivery, pricing and go-live.
FAQ
Questions artists ask us
Can't find your answer? Our team is happy to help.
How much does video distribution cost?
Delivery to our foundation video distribution partners costs $0, and you keep 70% of the royalties generated from monetisation on platforms that support it. Re-uploads after a takedown are charged at the standard rate, and payments are processed through PayPal.
How far in advance should I submit a video?
Please submit videos with a go-live date at least 3 weeks after the submission date. This gives our partners time to ingest and process your video and gives our marketing team time to pitch it for a feature placement.
What kind of videos can't be distributed?
Please make sure your videos avoid websites, permanent logos, scrolling credits, nudity, violence or explicit drug use. If a change is needed we will give you feedback, and rejection only happens when revisions are not possible.
Do I keep ownership of my publishing?
Yes. With Dark Lab Records Publishing you keep 100% ownership of your publishing and are paid 85% of your royalties.
Is audio distribution open to everyone?
Audio distribution services are exclusively available to a carefully curated selection of clients at Dark Lab Records Ltd. Video distribution is open: use the video application form to get started.
Where do I send my demo?
Email demos@darklabrecords.com, or drop your demo using the demo form on our Demo page.
Ready to put your music in front of the world?
Send us your demo, or talk to the team about distribution, video, publishing and rights management.