Indie labels thrive by innovating, and FiXT is no exception. The label has always been committed to offering more to artists. Now, through its partnership with Trolley, FiXT is reinforcing that with world-class infrastructure—delivering faster payouts, clearer tax reporting, and the efficacy of a major label, all while retaining its independent spirit.
Trolley, the payout platform trusted by leading creator platforms and music companies worldwide, is partnering with FiXT Music—an artist-first, Midwest-based, independent record label—to modernize how their artists get paid. Founded in 2006, FiXT has grown into a global label reaching millions monthly while staying true to its vision of empowering creators.
But with growth comes complexity. Scaling from a DIY label into a global business meant FiXT was suddenly managing hundreds of contracts, quarterly payouts across multiple countries, and mounting compliance requirements.
The challenge wasn’t just paying people—it was doing so in a way that matched what major labels could offer, without losing what defined FiXT from the start.
Major-label infrastructure for indies
Known for its hybrid catalog of metal, EDM, synthwave, and alt-rock, FiXT has built a global fanbase of millions and landed over 1,000 film, TV, and game syncs.
For FiXT, partnering with Trolley wasn’t only about payouts; it was critical to living up to their mission of “helping artists build sustainable careers in ways not previously possible, by putting a world-class team around them.”
Competing with labels in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville requires strong business infrastructure, and FiXT set out to give its artists the same professional-grade support as any major label.
“We have always prided ourselves in being at the forefront of new technology when it comes to music and want to do so in our operations as well,” explained Travis Brockett, Administrative Director at FiXT. “Trolley fits right into that vision by giving us enterprise-level efficiency while keeping the spirit that defines us.”
Faster, smarter, more transparent payouts
Since launching with Trolley in March, FiXT has seen dramatic improvements in how quickly and efficiently they pay artists, contractors, and collaborators.
“Before Trolley, paying everyone meant an entire day of manual work,” said Brockett. “I was processing ACHs, wires, and PayPal mass pays separately. Now, with Trolley, I can process everything in under an hour. It’s way better.”
With quarterly payouts being sent to hundreds of artists, writers, and producers that 80% time savings is significant—freeing the team to focus on supporting artists instead of admin.
And efficiency behind the scenes is only half the story. For FiXT’s roster, Trolley has also elevated the payment experience. Artists now receive automated notifications when payouts are processed, replacing the manual “expect your payment” emails Brockett once had to send one by one.
This small but powerful shift has made payments more transparent, timely, and professional, reinforcing FiXT’s commitment to treat artists as partners.
👉 Curious how much time your team could save? See Trolley in action.
Turning tax season into a non-event
Managing royalties isn’t just about paying artists—it’s also about handling the hassle of tax form collection, validation, and filing.
Previously, FiXT’s finance team had to manually input offline payments and process tax statements themselves.
With Trolley, the entire process is consolidated into a single system. Contractors and collaborators are onboarded directly, and even the small number of offline payments can be logged so that recipients still get their 1099s at year’s end.
The impact has been immediate:
- Streamlined 1099s – Trolley automatically issues and generates Forms 1099, eliminating the need for tax filing management in QuickBooks or through preparers
- Global compliance – Foreign tax IDs and withholding rules are handled in-system, reducing the risk of errors for international artists
- Better recipient experience – Artists receive their tax statements digitally, with many commenting how glad they were to have them “in their inbox before they even asked”
“Having everything in one place makes tax season much easier,” said Brockett. “It keeps us compliant, saves us time, and builds trust with our artists.”
Empowering artists with systems that scale
By consolidating payout vendors and gaining global coverage, FiXT has unlocked the operational efficiency and compliance needed to support continued growth.
For a label built on a DIY ethos, this shift isn’t about becoming corporate, but rather ensuring their artists get the support usually reserved for majors.
“FiXT shows that an indie doesn’t have to compromise to scale,” said Conor Cox, VP Revenue at Trolley. “They’re proving you can serve millions of fans and thousands of artists with the same professionalism as the majors—while staying true to what makes you indie.”
As FiXT continues expanding its catalog, landing syncs, and supporting artists in more than 175 countries, Trolley makes sure the business infrastructure keeps pace. Less paperwork, more focus on artists—FiXT is scaling without compromise.
👉 Want to see how Trolley can help your label scale payouts and streamline tax compliance? Book a demo today.
