How to Prepare Music Metadata Before Distribution
A practical metadata checklist for independent artists preparing release titles, artist roles, credits, dates, lyrics, IDs, and platform delivery before upload.
The short answer
Prepare music metadata before distribution by checking the release title, track titles, artist names, featured roles, songwriter and producer credits, release date, explicit status, lyrics, artwork match, ISRC and UPC handling, and profile access. Metadata controls how a release appears on platforms, so errors should be fixed before delivery rather than during release week.
Three things to know
- 01
Metadata affects platform display, credits, profile routing, campaign links, and royalty administration, so it belongs in the release plan early.
- 02
Artist names, roles, credits, titles, explicit tags, lyrics, ISRCs, UPCs, and release dates should be checked before distributor delivery.
- 03
If metadata is wrong after delivery, the artist usually needs the label or distributor to resend corrected information.
What should be in the metadata pre-flight checklist?
Use this before distribution delivery and again before public announcement links are shared.
- 01
Names and roles
Check primary artists, featured artists, remixers, songwriters, composers, producers, performers, and engineers in the correct fields.
- 02
Titles and versions
Confirm release title, track titles, version labels, clean or explicit status, and formatting across every audio file.
- 03
Rights and splits
Confirm writer splits, producer points if relevant, publisher details if known, and collaborator approvals before delivery.
- 04
Identifiers
Record ISRCs, UPCs, distributor release IDs, private links, and final file names in the release asset folder.
- 05
Profile routing
Check artist profile access, existing platform pages, collaborators, artwork match, lyrics, and smartlink behavior before announcement.
What metadata should be checked before upload?
Start with the basics: release title, track title, version information, primary artist, featured artists, remixers, songwriters, producers, explicit status, language, genre, release date, artwork, lyrics, ISRCs, UPC, and copyright lines. Then check platform routing questions such as whether the artist profile already exists and whether collaborators are credited in the right role. A campaign can lose time when these details are discovered after delivery.
Why do artist roles matter on streaming platforms?
Artist roles help platforms decide how the release appears on profiles and how credits are displayed. A primary artist, featured artist, remixer, producer, composer, or lyricist may be handled differently by a distributor and by each platform. The team should list each contributor in the correct field rather than packing everything into the title. Clean roles make the release easier to find, credit, pitch, and report.
How should titles and version information be formatted?
Titles should be consistent, readable, and aligned with distributor and platform formatting rules. Version information such as acoustic, live, remix, clean, radio edit, or instrumental should be placed in the proper version field when the distributor supports it. Avoid keyword stuffing, fake mood terms, misleading featured names, or punctuation changes that make one release look disconnected from the artist catalog.
When should credits and splits be finalized?
Credits and splits should be finalized before distribution delivery, not after the campaign starts. The artist should confirm writers, producers, performers, engineers, publishers if known, split percentages, and contact details for collaborators. This is not only administrative housekeeping. Accurate credits help collaborators feel respected, reduce disputes, support royalty workflows, and make it easier for label-services partners to answer platform or press questions.
How do ISRCs and UPCs fit into release planning?
ISRCs identify individual recordings and UPCs identify release products. Many distributors can assign them, while some labels or artists bring their own. The key campaign rule is consistency. Do not create duplicate identifiers casually, and do not redeliver the same recording in a way that fragments reporting without understanding the distributor process. Keep identifiers in the asset folder with audio versions, artwork, links, and reporting notes.
What happens if metadata is wrong after delivery?
If metadata is wrong after delivery, the fix usually starts with the label or distributor, because platforms display what they receive from the delivery source. Some updates can appear quickly and others can take longer or need review. That uncertainty is the reason to run a metadata audit before upload. During release week, the team should be promoting the song, not chasing preventable title, credit, or profile errors.
How this guide uses evidence
Practical notes
- Spotify support says metadata controls how songs and releases appear and that labels or distributors set metadata before delivery.
- Spotify credit support says credits are shown from metadata sent by the label or distributor and corrections need updated metadata delivery.
- This guide connects platform metadata rules to release operations, asset folders, profile preparation, and campaign reporting.
Source notes
- Spotify metadata guidelines: https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/metadata-formatting-guidelines/
- Spotify song credits support: https://support.spotify.com/us/artists/article/song-credits/
- Existing Velveteen Records guides cover split sheets, platform profiles, asset folders, and release deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
- Can artists fix metadata after release day?
- Often yes, but it can require the label or distributor to resend corrected metadata, so it is better to audit before delivery.
- Should featured artists go in the song title?
- Use the distributor fields for contributor roles whenever possible. Stuffing names into titles can create platform display and catalog problems.
- Who assigns ISRCs and UPCs?
- Many distributors can assign them, while labels or artists may bring their own. The important point is consistent tracking.
- Does metadata affect royalties?
- It can affect crediting, reporting, and administration. Artists should also confirm splits, registrations, and publishing details separately.
- What should be stored with metadata records?
- Keep final audio, artwork, credits, lyrics, IDs, private links, release date, distributor notes, and owner approvals in one asset folder.