Ninja Tune Enhances Artist Satisfaction and Cuts Payouts Processing Time by 50% With Tipalti Mass Payments

The Challenge

Managing Rising Complexity With Artist Royalties

With a 35-year history and a global roster of artists, Ninja Tune has become one of the UK’s most respected independent music labels. But as the company expanded—adding new artists, territories, and entities—its finance team struggled to keep pace with the complexity and volume of royalty payouts. Managing payouts became increasingly demanding, with the small finance team responsible for issuing payouts in various currencies under tight deadlines while ensuring compliance with global requirements.

The growing demands were creating pressure on the team and highlighting the need for more robust payout processes to maintain the company’s high standards for timely, accurate payouts. Manual workflows were no longer sustainable, and it became clear that a more scalable solution was needed to support the company’s ongoing growth.

The Solution

A Scalable, Self-Service Platform With Tipalti

To automate royalty payouts operations, Ninja Tune turned to Tipalti, which provided an automated solution to address inefficiencies in onboarding and payouts workflows. The platform allowed artists to register their details directly, easing the administrative burden on the finance team. As a result, the responsibility for updating account information shifted to the payees, effectively resolving bottlenecks and improving the artist experience.

By automating these processes, Ninja Tune was able to complete onboarding well in advance of payment deadlines, eliminating last-minute rushes and ensuring accuracy. Additionally, Tipalti’s pre-built integration with NetSuite allowed for real-time synchronization of payment data, reducing repetitive manual tasks and improving compliance. This alignment across systems further streamlined operations and enhanced the visibility of payment workflows.

The Result

Faster Payouts, Reduced Stress, and Stronger Artist Relationships

Since adopting Tipalti, Ninja Tune has reduced its payment processing time by 50% and typically pays artists about a week earlier than before. This greater efficiency has alleviated stress within the finance team and enabled the company to scale operations without immediately increasing headcount.

The shift to self-service onboarding and automated validation significantly reduced the likelihood of errors and supported timely, accurate payments. The improved process has had a positive impact on the artist experience and reinforced existing trust.

Tipalti has enabled Ninja Tune to explore the feasibility of more frequent royalty payments in certain areas. By freeing up time and resources, the finance team gained the capacity to focus on strategic projects, positioning the company for continued success in the evolving music industry.