The five stages
The steps a release goes through to reach the streaming services, from applying to getting paid. Distribution itself is done by the partner named above, not by this app.
- Prepare Add the audio, artwork, song info, who worked on it, who owns it, the countries and the release date.
- Validate Check the must-have boxes, the audio and artwork sizes, that the song info matches, and the rights.
- Deliver Send the approved release to our distribution partner, who gets it to the stores.
- Monitor Check delivery and store status with Symphonic after acceptance. This app keeps your application; it does not receive a live delivery-status feed.
- Maintain Request delivery changes or takedowns through Symphonic. Update your preparation records here and upload the statements you receive.
What a release needs
The things every distributor asks for before a release can go out - audio, cover art, codes and credits - in plain words.
- Audio
- One final master per song, in the best quality you have. If the release needs a clean version or an instrumental, make them now. They are separate files, not edits you add later.
- Artwork
- Square cover art at the biggest size you have. No store logos, no web addresses, and no text the stores turn down. Check how it looks small before you approve it.
- Song info
- Spell your artist and release names the same way everywhere. Add the song titles and put version names in brackets. List featured artists in the artist box, not the title.
- Credits
- Producers, writers, players and what each one did. The Metadata Passport keeps these with the song, so your next release starts with them filled in.
- Ownership
- Splits that add up to 100%, agreed by everyone named. Bad splits are the top reason money goes unpaid later.
- ISRC and UPC
- Bring your own, or get them when the release goes out. A recording keeps its ISRC for life. A new one on a re-release splits its history in two.
- Release date
- Pick it early and plan back from it. Playlist pitching and store setup both need time. The Release Scheduler warns you when there is not enough.
- Countries
- Worldwide, unless you have a reason not to. Blocking a country is easy to set and easy to forget.
- How long it takes
- Sending out is a line, not a switch. Leave time between approval and your release date. The partner's setup time comes out of that.
- Changes after it is out
- You can fix song info and swap artwork after release, but it takes time to show up everywhere. Swapping the audio is not normal, so get the master right first.
- Reports
- Upload each statement when it comes in, and Street Banker puts it with the rest of your money.
- Takedowns and updates
- A takedown pulls the music from the stores, but not its history. Plan it as its own step, not an afterthought.
Everything it needs, item by item
The full checklist, one item at a time, and where in the app each item is kept, so you can have it ready before you apply.
Audio
- Final audio master
- Clean version, when needed
- Instrumental, when needed
Artwork
- Cover artwork
Names and titles
- Artist and release names
- Track titles
- Featured artists
Credits
- Producer and contributor credits
- Songwriter information
- Publishing information
Rights
- Ownership splits
- Copyright information
- Rights confirmation
Identifiers
- ISRC information
- UPC information
Release settings
- Explicit-content status
- Release date
- Territories
Extras
- Lyrics
- Platform links or artist profiles
- Final review
What is connected, and what is not
Which parts of distribution this app can do for you today, and which you still do on the partner's own site. Nothing is sent to a store from here.
- Stores, streaming, CDs and vinyl, music videos, fan videos and YouTube Content ID Through Symphonic, once accepted
- Royalty statements you upload Supported
- Song info, codes and splits Supported
- Release dates, with a warning when time is short Supported
- Street Banker sending straight to each store itself Not offered
Reports come on the partner's schedule. "Ready" in the app means the must-have boxes are filled in. It is not a prediction, and it does not mean the release went out.