Managing Labels
Labels are the imprints or brands under which music is released. Every release requires a label—even independent artists release under a label name, which often is their own name or a self-created imprint.
Why Labels Matter
- Copyright credits - Your label name appears in ℗ (P-line) and © (C-line) credits
- Organization - Group and filter releases by label
- Branding - Build recognition for your imprint
- Store presence - Label pages exist on some streaming platforms
Creating a Label
To create a new label in LabelGrid:
- Navigate to Catalogue → My Labels
- Click Add Label
- The label setup wizard guides you through multiple steps:
- General Details - Label name, logo, email, and website
- Default Genres - Primary and secondary genre defaults
- Publishing & Copyright - P-line, C-line, publishers, and copyright owners
- Social Media - Links to your social profiles
- Distribution Settings - Enable platforms like Beatport, YouTube Music, and monetization services
- Beatport Setup (if enabled) - Genre selection and Beatport-specific information
- Public Websites - Enable public label page and demo inbox
- Click Next to move through each step
- Click Submit to save the label profile
For detailed instructions on each wizard step, see Creating a Label.
Note: The outlets and services available depend on your subscription plan.
Label Name Guidelines
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Use the official label name | Add “Records” if not part of the name |
| Be consistent across releases | Change spelling between releases |
| Use proper capitalization | USE ALL CAPS |
| Keep it professional | Use informal nicknames |
Do I Need a Label?
Yes - every release distributed through LabelGrid requires a label. Here’s how different users approach this:
For Independent Artists
If you’re an independent artist without a label:
- Use your artist name - “Luna Martinez” as both artist and label
- Create a simple imprint - “Luna Martinez Music” or “LM Records”
- Invent a brand - Create a label name that represents your music
For Labels
If you run a record label:
- Create your main label profile
- Add sub-labels or imprints as needed
- Organize releases under the appropriate imprint
For Distribution Clients
If you distribute music for multiple labels:
- Create separate label profiles for each client
- Maintain their branding correctly
- Keep catalogs organized by label
Editing a Label
After creating a label, you can edit all settings plus access additional options not available in the wizard.
Opening the Edit Form
- Navigate to Catalogue → My Labels
- Click on the label you want to edit
- Click Edit
- The edit form displays all settings organized in tabs
Edit Form Tabs
The label edit form has nine tabs with comprehensive settings:
Main Information Tab
Core label details and default settings.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Label Name | Yes | Your label’s official name |
| Short Name | No | Abbreviated name for compact displays |
| Tagline | No | Brief slogan (e.g., “Elevating Artists, Amplifying Dreams”) |
| Label Introduction | No | Short bio for quick descriptions |
| Label Description | No | Full description of your label |
| Label Email Address | Yes | Primary contact email |
| Default Primary Genre | No | Auto-fills on new releases |
| Default Secondary Genre | No | Auto-fills on new releases |
Images Tab
Visual assets for your label.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Logo (Light Color) | Yes | Main logo, minimum 500×500px |
| Logo (Dark Color) | No | Logo variant for dark backgrounds, minimum 500×500px |
| Landing Page Background | No | Wide format image for your public page |
Website Tab
Public website and demo inbox settings.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Website URL | Your external label website |
| Podcast URL/RSS | Podcast feed (SoundCloud or Mixcloud links work) |
| Enable Public Website | Toggle your sites.labelgrid.com page |
| Enable Public One-Sheet | Toggle shareable release info pages |
| Enable Stripe Cart | Enable checkout for fan purchases |
| Enable Email Opt-in Form | Collect mailing list subscribers |
| Enable Demo Inbox | Public demo submission page |
| Enable Name-Your-Price | Let fans pay what they want (requires Stripe cart) |
Retail Tab
Distribution services and monetization settings.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable Shopping Cart | Turn one-sheets into shop pages with PayPal |
| YouTube Music Enabled | Distribute to YouTube Music |
| YouTube Monetization Enabled | Enable YouTube Content ID |
| SoundCloud Monetization Enabled | Enable SoundCloud monetization |
| ACRCloud Enabled | Audio fingerprinting service |
| Audible Magic Enabled | Audio fingerprinting service |
| Audible Magic Licensing Enabled | Licensing360 sync licensing |
| Beatport Enabled | Enable Beatport distribution (see below) |
| ISRC Base | Your ISRC registrant code (leave blank if unknown) |
Important: Enabling Beatport for the first time opens a setup modal where you select genres and provide label information. See Beatport Requirements for details.
Contact Tab
Email addresses for different departments.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Email Address | Primary email for receiving/sending |
| Promo ‘From’ Email | Sender address for promotional emails |
| Sales Email | Sales inquiries |
| Dropbox Email | Demo submission notifications |
| Accounting Email | Financial communications |
| Support Email | Support inquiries |
Clips & Video Tab
Default settings for SoundCloud and YouTube uploads.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Default Clip Start | Where audio clips begin |
| Default Clip Length | Duration of clips (blank for full length) |
| Default Video Layout | Visual template for YouTube videos |
| Default Video Length | Duration for auto-generated videos |
Note: These defaults can be overridden on individual releases when creating deliveries.
Copyright & Publishing Tab
Default copyright and publishing information.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Yes | Publisher names with optional splits and territories |
| Copyright Owner(s) | Yes | Copyright owner names with optional splits |
| Copyright Name (C-Line) | Yes | Composition/lyrics copyright |
| Copyright Name (P-Line) | Yes | Sound recording copyright |
Note: The edit form always uses the advanced publishing format with support for multiple entries and percentage splits.
More Tab
Additional settings and catalog configuration.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Catalog Number Prefix | Text prefix for catalog numbers (e.g., “TOOL”) |
| Catalog Number Format | Format string (e.g., “TOOL%1$03d” produces TOOL001) |
| Allow Previews Before Release Date | Show or hide unreleased content |
| Enable Automatic Distribution | Auto-distribute to new DSPs |
| AudibleMagic Licensing360 | Enable sync licensing service |
| Default Master Split for Label | Default percentage for label royalty share (typically 50%) |
Social Media Tab
Links to your label’s social media profiles.
| Field | Format |
|---|---|
| Facebook URL | Full URL |
| Bandcamp URL | Full URL |
| Twitter ID | Just the ID (not full URL) |
| Instagram URL | Full URL |
| SoundCloud URL | Full URL |
| Spotify URL | Full URL |
| Beatport URL | Full URL |
| YouTube URL | Full URL |
Copyright Lines (P-Line and C-Line)
Your label name appears in the copyright credits on every release:
P-Line (℗)
The P-line protects the sound recording (master recording).
Format: ℗ 2026 Your Label Name
This credits who owns or controls the recording itself.
C-Line (©)
The C-line protects the artwork and packaging.
Format: © 2026 Your Label Name
This credits who owns the visual/packaging elements.
How Copyright Lines Are Set
In LabelGrid, copyright information is typically:
- Auto-generated from your label name and release year
- Customizable if the recording/artwork owner differs from the label
- Required for all releases
Who Should Be Credited?
| Scenario | P-Line | C-Line |
|---|---|---|
| You own everything | Your label | Your label |
| Licensed recording | Original label or as agreed | Your label (if you made artwork) |
| Compilation | Various or your label | Your label |
Multiple Labels and Imprints
Many organizations operate multiple label imprints:
Why Have Multiple Imprints?
- Genre separation - Different labels for different styles
- Artist branding - Vanity labels for specific artists
- Business structure - Separate entities for legal/accounting
- Acquired catalogs - Maintaining original label names
Managing Multiple Labels
- Create separate label profiles for each imprint
- Assign releases to the appropriate label
- Keep branding consistent within each label
- Use filtering to manage each catalog
Example Structure
Main Label (Horizon Records)├── Horizon Records (main imprint - pop/rock)├── Horizon Dance (electronic sub-label)├── Horizon Classical (classical sub-label)└── Artist Vanity Label (artist-specific imprint)Label Organization
Filtering by Label
Use label filters to:
- View all releases from a specific imprint
- Generate reports by label
- Manage catalog segments separately
Consistency Across Releases
- Use the exact same label profile for all related releases
- Don’t create duplicates (select existing labels)
- Update label information in one place
Label Changes and Transfers
Changing Your Label Name
If you need to rename your label:
- Update the label profile with the new name
- Existing releases retain original copyright info
- New releases use the updated name
- Consider implications for brand recognition
Transferring Releases Between Labels
Moving releases from one label to another:
- Update the release’s label assignment
- Copyright lines may need updating
- Re-deliver to stores to update metadata
- Historical reports remain under original label
Acquiring a Label/Catalog
When acquiring another label’s catalog:
- Create a label profile for the acquired imprint
- Import releases under that label
- Maintain original copyright information
- Or re-brand as your label if legally permitted
Label Settings and Defaults
Some label features may include:
Default Settings
| Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Default territories | Pre-select distribution regions |
| Default outlets | Pre-select streaming platforms |
| Default pricing | Set standard pricing tier |
Applying Defaults
When creating releases:
- Select the label first
- Default settings auto-populate
- Override as needed for specific releases
Best Practices
- Create labels before releases - Set up your label profile first
- Be consistent - Use the same label for related releases
- Complete your profile - Add logo, description, and contact info
- Plan your structure - Decide on imprints before releasing
- Keep it simple - Don’t create more labels than necessary
- Update carefully - Label changes affect copyright credits
Troubleshooting
Label doesn’t appear in dropdown
- Verify the label was saved successfully
- Refresh the page
- Check for typos in your search
- Ensure you have permission to access the label
Wrong label on a release
- Edit the release
- Change the label selection
- Save and re-submit if already distributed
- Copyright lines will update
Duplicate labels exist
- Choose one label as the primary
- Update releases to use the primary label
- Archive or delete the duplicate
- Be careful with labels that have releases
Related Guides
- Creating a Label - Step-by-step wizard guide
- Creating a Release - How labels are used in releases
- Managing Artists - Artist management alongside labels
- Beatport Requirements - Enabling Beatport distribution
- Metadata Style Guide - Naming and formatting standards
Need Help?
If you have questions about label setup or copyright information, contact our support team.