A step-by-step guide on preparing music files for digital distribution, including optimizing metadata, file formats, and marketing success.
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” - Seneca
Your distribution readiness checklist:
Research and choose the right platform to distribute your music, like us :)
Keep your masters ready and have the info and metadata tracked in Sheets.
Plan and schedule your release at the time that best works in your favor, submitting the release ahead by 3-4 weeks in advance allows for editors to consider for curation and placement opportunities.
Leverage the Pre-Save tool and anticipate a successful release day!
Plan marketing activities to gain traction, build momentum, and enhance the reach of your music
Let’s break down the process so you can approach your release holistically.
1. Choosing the right partner
The obvious comparison is on pricing and royalties–but if you’re only starting, navigating the entire journey of turning your projects into products can become less confusing if done with services that offer support or guidance throughout the process. DIY doesn’t mean you’ve got to figure it all by yourself, being a DIY or Indie artist allows you to have complete control over your creative output, and if your partner can help unlock certain marketing, promotion, or placement opportunities–go for it.
Our pricing model at Aulosa will be a fixed fee per release with lifetime distribution - no yearly renewals to keep your music online, artists get 85% royalties.
Join the waitlist–we’re launching in April 2024.
2. Music and Metadata
Platforms support multiple audio formats, and we’re excited to share that Aulosa supports Dolby Audio and Sony 360 Reality Audio formats and these high-end spatial audio formats that elevate a listener’s music experience does pay you more - Apple announced that artists that create in spatial audio receive 10% more royalties in recognition of the cost of making such high quality products.
Let’s talk about metadata, it’s an essential part of packaging your music to be delivered to stores. This info is all about your project like:
Title of the release: name of your Single, EP or Album.
Version: indicate if Remix or any other derivative work.
Artists: Primary credits, inner credits like Lyricists and Composers (real names) have become mandatory to disclose as this helps track and associate your Works with PROs and combat AI creations.
Release Date: Indicate when your release hits the market.
Label: You can mention your Label name, group name, or simply your stage name if you’re a Solo Act, or add the legal name of the entity registered as a business.
℗ Publishing Line: Add the legal name of the individual or entity that own the sound recording of the Master Work created, this signifies owner of those rights.
© Copyright Line: Add the legal name of the individual or entity that controls the copyright of the music, this signifies the owner of the music but not the Recordings of it.But if you wrote and recorded it yourself then add your name in both the lines.
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code): is an alpha-numeric unique identifier that’s assigned to every track to identify on all the platforms for easy royalty collection and tracking.
UPC/EAN (Universal Product Code/European Article Number): is a unique identifier that is used worldwide for tracking trade items in-store or online platforms.
3. Timing is everything!
Choosing the right time to drop your Single could make all the efforts worthwhile, the current norm all artists and labels are familiar with and follow is scheduling the release 3-4 weeks ahead. This allows your distribution partner to ensure the music is sent to all the stores as per standard ETA, and the editorial teams on the other end to consider your release for playlisting opportunities. And finally it gives you enough time to plan your Go-to-Market strategy for your music–this is what it takes to “turn your projects into products.”
4. Unlock the power of Pre-Save
Some platforms (us) give artists a free tool - the pre-save that automatically converts to a smartlink on the day of release, but until that day how you promote it and drive pre-saves can make some visible difference. When people sign up to be notified about your release going live on a particular date on Spotify, that signals the platform’s algo that your release indeed is something people are looking forward to, and the data provides algorithmic playlists cues for inclusions and also editors to consider for playlisting!
5. Marketing your music on “Release Day” and beyond:
If you’ve done everything correctly until this point you’ll most likely witness good results on the first day itself, like finding your song on that most saved playlist, or a good number of your fans already listening to it, and probably sharing it too!
Here are few additional ways you can explore:
1. Reach out to your local radio station and ask them if they’d be willing to play it for better discovery and reach.
2. Partner with popular cafes and allow them to play your music to build awareness among new audiences.
3. Ask your Creator/Influencer friends to use your audio in their next Reel or TikTok if it suits their vibe.
4. Identify channels and platforms whether offline or online that have an audience you feel would appreciate discovering your music, and explore a mutually beneficial partnership to amplify your release, discover new fans and build fandom.
Conclusion
In conclusion, preparing your music release for digital distribution requires careful attention to detail and strategic planning. From choosing the right distribution platform to optimizing metadata and timing your release effectively, each step plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of your music launch. Partnering with platforms like Aulosa can provide not only distribution support but also guidance and opportunities for marketing and promotion.
By understanding the importance of metadata, embracing high-quality audio formats, and leveraging tools like pre-saves, artists can maximize their visibility and potential earnings. Moreover, coordinating marketing efforts on release day and beyond, whether through radio stations, cafes, influencers, or strategic partnerships, can further amplify the reach and impact of your music.
Ultimately, a holistic approach to music release preparation empowers artists to take control of their creative output while capitalizing on opportunities to connect with audiences, build momentum, and establish a lasting presence in the digital music landscape.
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