PINJAR MUSIC • RELEASE PREPARATION
Your audio is finished. Your artwork is ready. Now make sure the information attached to your music is just as accurate.
This music metadata checklist helps you review the details that identify your release, credit its contributors and describe the recording you are delivering.
Prepare these details before opening your distribution form. A clear release sheet makes submission easier and helps you catch avoidable mistakes.
What Is Music Metadata?
Music metadata is the information supplied alongside your recording. It includes details such as the track title, artist names, contributor roles, release date and identifiers.
Your distributor delivers this information to music platforms together with the release assets. The metadata helps platforms describe the release and display its credits.
Prepare two levels of information
Release-level information describes the single, EP or album. Track-level information describes each individual recording. Review both, especially when an album contains different collaborators.
1 Keep Artist Names Consistent
Use the intended spelling of your artist name consistently. Check punctuation, spacing and capitalisation against your existing releases.
- Enter each artist in the appropriate artist field.
- Select primary and featured roles accurately.
- Avoid combining multiple names in one field.
- Check the order in which collaborators should appear.
For example, if your established artist name is “Tanmoy Kumar Das,” check that an accidental abbreviation has not been entered on the next release.
2 Confirm the Correct Artist Profiles
Artists can share the same name. Where your distributor supports profile mapping, provide the correct Spotify and Apple Music artist links for existing profiles.
- Open each artist link and confirm the profile.
- Check profile links for featured artists too.
- Indicate when an artist is releasing music for the first time.
- Save the links in your release records.
Correct profile information helps the delivery process, but still check the live release. Report any profile mismatch through the appropriate distributor or platform support route.
3 Review Track Titles and Version Names
Enter the actual song title and use the distributor’s version field where available. Examples of version information include “Acoustic,” “Live” or a specific remix name.
Keep promotional language outside the release title. Phrases such as “viral hit,” “best song” or “listen now” belong in marketing copy, not your song metadata.
Example of a clear submission
Track title: Evening Rain
Version: Acoustic
Primary artist: Your artist name
Use separate contributor fields for featured artists rather than manually adding their names to the song title. Follow your distributor’s formatting instructions.
4 Credit Everyone Under the Correct Role
Confirm contributor names and roles before submission. A performer, lyricist, composer and producer may be different people.
| Role | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Primary artist | The main credited artist or artists. |
| Featured artist | The collaborator credited as a featured performer. |
| Composer | Who wrote the musical composition. |
| Lyricist | Who wrote the lyrics. |
| Producer | Who should receive the production credit. |
| Engineer | Recording, mixing or mastering roles, where supported. |
Use the naming requirements shown in each field. Do not assume that a performance stage name is appropriate for every songwriting or rights field.
Credits and payment splits are separate checks
Entering someone as a contributor does not necessarily configure their payment share. Confirm revenue splits through your agreements and the service’s split-payment tools.
5 Check Language and Instrumental Settings
Read the language field carefully. A form may distinguish the language of the metadata from the language performed in the recording.
A Bengali song with a title written in Latin letters still contains Bengali lyrics. Do not choose English solely because the title uses English letters.
- Identify the language heard in the recording.
- Follow the distributor’s instructions for multilingual tracks.
- Use the instrumental option for recordings without lyrics or speech.
- Check spelling when submitting Bengali or Hindi script.
6 Set Explicit and Clean Labels Accurately
Review the entire recording before selecting its content rating. Check verses, introductions, spoken sections and background vocals.
Use the distributor’s explicit-content field. Avoid adding your own explicit warning to the title unless the submission instructions specifically require it.
A clean edit is not simply another name for every non-explicit song. Check how your distributor distinguishes a clean version from an original recording without explicit content.
If you are delivering multiple versions, make sure each uploaded file matches its selected label.
7 Match ISRC and UPC Codes to the Right Assets
Check whether each recording already has an ISRC. Keep existing identifiers with the correct recordings and follow your distributor’s instructions for new assignments.
- Verify the ISRC against the exact audio version.
- Avoid copying one recording’s code onto another track.
- Check the release UPC separately from track ISRCs.
- Store identifiers as text to preserve leading zeros.
Read our ISRC vs UPC guide for a fuller explanation of recording and release identifiers.
8 Review Dates and Territory Selection
Choose a release date that allows time for delivery, review and any corrections. Check your distributor’s recommended submission window before announcing the date.
If the form asks for an original release date, distinguish it from the date of a new delivery or re-release. Ask support when you are unsure which date belongs in a particular field.
Review country availability against the territories covered by your rights and distribution agreement.
Keep your campaign consistent
Use the approved release date in your announcements, artwork captions and promotional schedule. Update those materials if the date changes.
9 Confirm Label and Rights Information
Enter the label and rights information that accurately applies to the release. Avoid copying another release’s details without checking them.
- Confirm the intended record label name.
- Review copyright and sound-recording fields carefully.
- Use dates and names supported by your records.
- Keep contributor agreements and permissions accessible.
Follow the field descriptions provided by your distributor. If a field’s meaning is unclear, resolve it before submitting.
10 Match the Metadata to Your Audio and Artwork
A correctly completed form can still accompany the wrong file. Perform a final listening and visual check.
- Play the uploaded audio from beginning to end.
- Confirm it is the approved master.
- Check the version, duration and track order.
- Compare any artwork title and artist text with the submission.
- Check the distributor’s current audio and artwork specifications.
Use clear filenames for your own records, such as “Evening-Rain-Acoustic-Final.wav.” A filename helps organisation but does not replace the metadata fields in the distribution form.
Your Final Music Metadata Checklist
Before You Press Submit
- Artist names are spelled consistently.
- Existing artist profiles have been checked.
- Track titles and versions match the recordings.
- Contributors have reviewed their credits.
- Language and instrumental settings are accurate.
- Explicit and clean labels match the audio.
- ISRC and UPC details have been checked.
- Release dates and territories are correct.
- Label and rights fields match my records.
- Audio, artwork and track order are approved.
Save a copy of your completed release sheet. It will be useful if you need to request a correction or compare the live release with your original submission.
What If You Find an Error After Release?
Contact your distributor with the release identifier, affected track and the exact correction required. Spotify states that labels or distributors must send metadata updates to correct delivered information.
Confirm whether the requested change can be handled as an update before uploading another copy or requesting a takedown.
Prepare Your Release With Pinjar Music
Explore our distribution plans and get your audio, artwork and release information ready for submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is music release metadata?
It is the information delivered with your release, including titles, artist names, contributor roles, identifiers, dates and other descriptive fields.
Can incorrect metadata delay a release?
Submission errors can require corrections during review. Check your distributor’s requirements and allow time to resolve any issues before your planned date.
Should featured artists go in the song title?
Use the dedicated artist fields and assign the correct featured role. Follow your distributor’s title-formatting instructions.
Does adding credits automatically pay collaborators?
Not necessarily. Contributor credits and payment splits are separate parts of release administration. Check your agreements and split-payment settings.
Can I correct metadata directly in Spotify for Artists?
Delivered music metadata generally needs to be corrected through your label or distributor, which sends the update to Spotify.
Do audio-file tags replace the distribution form?
Do not rely on embedded tags alone. Complete the release and track fields required by your distributor and review the submission preview.