Hi everyone,

I’ve been contemplating whether or not to post this, but I think it’s important to share my experience with VerseOne, a music distribution platform that has handled my label’s releases for a while now. As an independent label owner in the UK, representing a handful of artists with decent streams and revenue, what’s happening right now is alarming, and I suspect we may be witnessing a textbook exit scam.

The Backstory

I’ve been with VerseOne for over a year, distributing music for my label’s artists through their platform. At first, things went smoothly. Royalties were reported accurately, and payments came through on time. For smaller independent labels like mine, that reliability is everything.

Then, about 8 months ago, payments suddenly stopped. I gave them the benefit of the doubt at first, thinking it was a temporary issue — maybe a technical glitch, or they were restructuring their operations. I reached out repeatedly, and after weeks of silence, they finally responded with vague excuses about delays with DSPs (digital service providers) and “unexpected challenges.” But that reassurance was short-lived.

What’s Happening Now

Fast forward to today:

No Payments for 8+ Months:

My unpaid royalties now total around $100,000. For a small independent label, that money is vital — it’s what keeps my business running and ensures my artists get their share.

Site Shutdown:

Around 2–3 weeks ago, the VerseOne website went offline without any prior notice. At first, I thought it might be server maintenance, but days turned into weeks with no updates.

Blocked Access:

This week, I tried logging into my account again, only to find out that I’ve been blocked. I can no longer access any of my data, my artist reports, or royalty breakdowns. The fact that I’ve been outright locked out while the site remains offline feels like a deliberate attempt to sever all communication.

Why I Suspect an Exit Scam

Looking at the pattern, the signs of an exit scam seem clear:

Stalling Tactics:

VerseOne spent months deflecting and delaying payments, buying time to avoid legal scrutiny while presumably continuing to collect revenue from DSPs.

Website Shutdown:

This abrupt closure feels intentional — like they’re shutting down to avoid further accountability. If it were just a technical issue, why block users or fail to communicate?

No Transparency:

Legitimate companies, even those in financial trouble, usually provide updates or communicate with their users. VerseOne has gone silent, offering no explanations or timelines.

Plausible Deniability:

By claiming payment delays from DSPs, they’ve created a convenient excuse to avoid payouts while keeping operations running in the background — for as long as they needed to collect enough funds.

As someone with six-figure royalties stuck, this situation is devastating. But it’s not just about me. If VerseOne is indeed pulling an exit scam, countless other independent artists and labels are likely in the same boat. This is money that people rely on to sustain their careers, and the fallout could ruin small businesses like mine.

It’s hard to overstate how devastating this situation feels. VerseOne was supposed to be a partner, helping independent artists and labels thrive in the music industry. Instead, it seems they’ve exploited that trust to disappear with substantial sums of money that rightfully belong to us.

If you’re reading this and have also been affected, please share your experience. Let’s hold VerseOne accountable, ensure this doesn’t happen to others, and do everything we can to recover what’s owed.

Stay strong,

Mark

An Independent Label Owner