How to Prepare Music for Distribution in 2026: Complete Pre-Release Checklist

The most common reason music releases get delayed, rejected, or underperform isn’t the music itself — it’s inadequate preparation before the upload. Distributors reject submissions with technical audio errors, incorrect artwork, and incomplete metadata. Platforms receive releases that can’t be pitched for editorial consideration because the release date is too close. Artists lose streaming history because they didn’t note their ISRC codes before switching distributors. Every one of these problems is avoidable with the right preparation. This guide covers everything you need to do before you open a distributor’s upload page — in the order you need to do it.

The Pre-Distribution Checklist

Audio preparation

• ☐ Final mix approved — tested on multiple playback systems (earbuds, car speakers, studio monitors, phone speaker)
• ☐ Professionally mastered or AI-mastered to streaming standards
• ☐ Loudness: -14 dB LUFS (Spotify, Amazon, TikTok, YouTube) or -16 dB LUFS (Apple Music)
• ☐ True peak: no higher than -1 dBTP to prevent clipping after platform encoding
• ☐ Exported as WAV or FLAC — 16-bit minimum, 44.1 kHz sample rate
• ☐ 24-bit/48kHz or higher if recording was produced at that resolution (for Apple Music lossless, Amazon HD, Deezer HiFi)
• ☐ No clipping, distortion, or encoding artifacts
• ☐ Stereo file (not mono, unless intentional)
• ☐ Clean fade at the end — no abrupt cuts, no silence longer than 5 seconds
• ☐ File named without special characters (use track title or artist-title format)

Cover artwork

• ☐ Square format — exactly 3000×3000 pixels (not scaled up from smaller)
• ☐ JPEG or PNG format, maximum 10MB file size
• ☐ RGB colour space (not CMYK)
• ☐ No website URLs, social media handles, or promotional text
• ☐ No third-party logos or copyrighted imagery
• ☐ No explicit content
• ☐ If artist name or title appears in artwork — must match metadata exactly (same spelling, same capitalisation)
• ☐ Readable at thumbnail size (50×50 pixels) — check legibility at small scale before submitting
• ☐ Not purely white or purely black (some platforms flag these as placeholder art)

Metadata

• ☐ Track title — final, exact spelling, capitalisation confirmed
• ☐ Artist name — identical to every previous release (even minor variations create duplicate profiles)
• ☐ Featured artist credits — in the featured artist field, not added to the main artist name
• ☐ Songwriter/composer credits — all writers listed, shares confirmed and documented in writing
• ☐ Producer credits — if applicable
• ☐ Genre and subgenre — accurate, not aspirational (affects algorithmic playlist eligibility)
• ☐ Explicit content flag — checked if any part of the track contains explicit language
• ☐ Language — primary language of the lyrics
• ☐ Label name — your name, a custom label name, or blank
• ☐ Cover song flag — checked if releasing someone else’s composition (triggers mechanical licensing)
• ☐ Original songwriter name — required for cover songs to route mechanical royalties correctly
• ☐ Release date — set at least 3–4 weeks from upload date (see timing section below)

Rights and legal

• ☐ You own or control the master recording rights
• ☐ You own or control the composition rights — or have a mechanical license for cover songs
• ☐ All co-writer splits documented in a signed split sheet before upload
• ☐ No uncleared samples in the recording
• ☐ Registered with a PRO (ASCAP or BMI in the US, PRS in the UK) before release
• ☐ Registered with the MLC (themlc.com) for US streaming mechanical royalties
• ☐ SoundExchange registration (soundexchange.com) for internet radio royalties — optional but recommended

Post-upload (before release day)

• ☐ Spotify for Artists profile claimed and verified
• ☐ Spotify editorial pitch submitted (at least 7 days before release — ideally 14–28)
• ☐ Apple Music for Artists profile claimed
• ☐ Amazon Music for Artists profile claimed
• ☐ Deezer for Creators profile claimed
• ☐ Pre-save campaign set up and link ready to share
• ☐ Release day social content prepared in advance
• ☐ Independent curator pitches sent (2–3 weeks before release)

Audio Preparation: What Every Spec Actually Means

Loudness: -14 dB LUFS

Every major streaming platform normalizes audio to a target loudness level — they turn tracks up or down so the listening experience is consistent between songs. Spotify, Amazon Music, TikTok, and YouTube target -14 dB LUFS. Apple Music targets -16 dB LUFS. Deezer targets -14 dB LUFS. The common mistake: mastering as loud as possible thinking it makes your track sound better. It doesn’t — the platform turns it back down to -14 dB LUFS regardless, and aggressive limiting used to achieve loud masters often makes the track sound worse after normalization, not better. Master to -14 dB LUFS and your track plays back exactly as mastered on every platform.

Platform	Loudness target	True peak limit
Spotify	-14 dB LUFS	-1 dBTP
Apple Music	-16 dB LUFS	-1 dBTP
Amazon Music	-14 dB LUFS	-2 dBTP
YouTube / YouTube Music	-14 dB LUFS	-1 dBTP
TikTok	-14 dB LUFS	-1 dBTP
Deezer	-14 dB LUFS	-1 dBTP

Master to -14 dB LUFS with a -1 dBTP true peak ceiling as your universal standard. This produces correct playback on every platform without any per-platform adjustment.

File format: WAV or FLAC

Distributors require lossless audio files — WAV or FLAC. Platforms convert your audio for delivery (Spotify uses Ogg Vorbis, Apple Music preserves lossless), but they convert from your source file. Starting from an MP3 means converting an already-compressed file, which degrades quality further. Always export WAV or FLAC from your DAW, regardless of what format you originally recorded in. Resolution guide: 16-bit/44.1 kHz is the minimum accepted standard and produces excellent quality for streaming. 24-bit/48 kHz or higher is worth uploading if your session was recorded at that resolution — Apple Music Lossless, Amazon Music Ultra HD, and Deezer HiFi all support and preserve higher-resolution audio, and higher-resolution streams pay slightly more per stream on these platforms.

The mix test: three listening environments

Before finalizing your mix for mastering, test it on at least three different playback systems. A mix that sounds balanced on studio monitors can sound muddy on earbuds or harsh in a car. The three tests that catch the most issues:

1. Consumer earbuds — where most streaming listeners will hear your music. If the low end is overwhelming or the vocals disappear, fix it here first.
2. Car speakers — tests how the mix translates to the most common active listening environment. Cars emphasize low-mids; if your mix sounds boomy in the car, it needs adjustment.
3. Phone speaker (mono) — tests mono compatibility and whether your core elements (vocals, melody) survive in minimal conditions. Any phase issues in your mix become immediately obvious in mono.

Artwork Preparation: Why This Is the Most Common Rejection Cause

Artwork rejections delay more releases than audio issues — because artists consistently underestimate how specific platform requirements are. The most frequent rejection reasons, in order:

1. Resolution too low. 3000×3000 is the minimum — not a suggestion. Many artists design at smaller sizes and scale up, producing blurry results. Design at 3000×3000 from the first pixel.
2. URLs or social handles in the artwork. @handles and website addresses are considered promotional content and violate platform guidelines. Keep artwork purely visual.
3. Copyrighted imagery. Using stock photos without commercial licenses, incorporating third-party logos, or using images from the internet without explicit rights creates both rejection risk and legal liability.
4. Text mismatched with metadata. If your artist name appears in the artwork as «the artist» but your metadata says «The Artist,» this discrepancy triggers review and sometimes rejection. Match exactly.
5. CMYK colour space. Platforms require RGB. Files exported from print design workflows often default to CMYK — check your export settings before submitting.

Tools for artwork creation: Canva (free tier works for basic designs), Adobe Express, or any professional design tool. Minimum investment for professional-quality custom artwork from a designer: $50–$200. Always preview your artwork at thumbnail size (50×50 pixels) before submitting — it needs to be readable at that scale, not just at full resolution.

Metadata: The Details That Determine Your Success

Metadata errors are the most consequential mistakes in music distribution because they’re the hardest to fix after the fact. Changing a track title or artist name after release requires taking the release down and re-uploading — which resets streaming history. Getting metadata right before upload is far less painful than correcting it afterward.

Artist name: the most critical metadata field

Your artist name must be identical across every release, every platform, and every profile. «The Artist,» «the artist,» and «TheArtist» are three different artist identities on streaming platforms. Even a single character difference creates a separate profile that fragments your follower count, streaming history, and algorithmic momentum across multiple identities. Before your first release: decide on your exact artist name including capitalisation, spacing, and punctuation. Write it down. Use it identically every time, everywhere.

Genre: affects algorithm, not just categorization

Genre tags are how Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music determine which algorithmic playlists your track is eligible for. Wrong genre tags don’t just miscategorize your music — they reduce your chances of appearing in relevant playlists and reaching listeners who would genuinely connect with your sound. Be specific and accurate: «Indie Folk» is better than «Folk,» which is better than «Alternative,» which is better than leaving it blank.

Explicit flag: non-negotiable

If your track contains explicit language anywhere — including the intro, outro, or featured vocals — check the explicit content flag. Platforms remove releases where explicit content wasn’t flagged during submission. This is not a grey area: when in doubt, flag it explicit. You can always release both explicit and clean versions with separate ISRCs.

Release Date: The Strategic Decision Most Artists Rush

Your release date determines which promotional tools you can use. Here’s what each week of lead time unlocks:

Weeks before release	What becomes available	Why it matters
Week 1 (minimum)	Distributor delivery to platforms	Music must be live on Spotify before you can pitch or set up pre-save
Week 2	Spotify editorial pitch (7-day minimum)	Even without placement, pitching guarantees Release Radar delivery
Week 3–4	Spotify pitch (optimal 14–28 day window)	2x better editorial placement odds at 14+ days vs 7 days
Week 3–4	Pre-save campaign duration	More time to accumulate pre-saves = larger release-day engagement spike
Week 2–3	Independent curator pitching	Curators need time to review and schedule playlist adds
Week 2–4	Press and blog outreach	Music blogs need 2–3 weeks lead time for reviews

Always release on Friday. Spotify’s Release Radar updates every Friday — a Friday release reaches all your followers’ Release Radar playlists the same day it goes live, adding algorithmic reach without any extra effort.

PRO and Royalty Registration: Do This Before Upload

Many independent artists distribute music and collect master recording royalties through their distributor — while leaving publishing royalties uncollected because they never registered with the relevant collection organizations. These are separate royalty streams that require separate registration:

• Performing Rights Organization (PRO): ASCAP or BMI in the US (free to join), PRS in the UK, SOCAN in Canada. Collects performance royalties when your music is played publicly — on radio, TV, in venues, and on some streaming platforms. Register before your release to avoid losing royalties from performances that occur before registration.
• Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC): themlc.com — free registration. Collects mechanical royalties from US streaming platforms separately from your PRO.
• SoundExchange: soundexchange.com — free registration. Collects digital performance royalties from internet radio services like Pandora and SiriusXM. Often overlooked but meaningful for artists with growing catalog streams on these platforms.

Register with all three before your first release. Royalties from performances that occur before your registration may be permanently lost — retroactive collection is not guaranteed.

Cover Songs: Additional Preparation Required

If you’re distributing a cover song — your recording of someone else’s composition — one additional preparation step is required: mechanical licensing. This is the legal authorization to reproduce and distribute the copyrighted composition. Additional information you need for a cover song upload:

• The exact title of the original song
• The original songwriter’s name (the composer — not the performing artist if they’re different)
• The cover song flag checked during upload

Globex Music handles mechanical licensing automatically when you flag the release as a cover and provide the original songwriter’s name — no separate licensing service, no extra fee, no additional delay. The process is identical to distributing an original, at the same $1 per single price.

Common Pre-Distribution Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Uploading an MP3 instead of WAV or FLAC. Platforms convert your audio for delivery — converting an already-compressed MP3 degrades quality further. Always export lossless from your DAW regardless of source quality. Setting a release date less than 2 weeks from upload. Eliminating the Spotify editorial pitch window is the most damaging consequence. This window is the most valuable free promotional tool available — missing it on every release compounds over a career. Inconsistent artist name across releases. Even one character difference creates a new artist profile on streaming platforms. Check your exact artist name against every previous release before submitting. Forgetting PRO registration until after the release. Royalties from plays that occur before registration may be lost. Register with ASCAP or BMI before submitting your first release — it takes less than 30 minutes. Not noting your ISRC codes before switching distributors. Changing distributors without preserving ISRCs resets your streaming history to zero on the new distributor’s releases. Find your ISRCs in your current distributor’s dashboard before initiating any transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to prepare music for distribution?

For a single with all assets ready (final mix, artwork, metadata), the upload process takes 15–30 minutes. The preparation before that — finalizing the mix, mastering, creating artwork, completing metadata, PRO registration — typically takes several days to a few weeks depending on how much is already done. Allow 6 weeks from finished recording to release date for a properly executed campaign.

What audio format should I use for music distribution?

WAV or FLAC, 16-bit minimum, 44.1 kHz. If your session was recorded at 24-bit/48 kHz or higher, upload the full-resolution file — Apple Music Lossless, Amazon Music HD, and Deezer HiFi all support higher-resolution audio. Master to -14 dB LUFS with a -1 dBTP true peak ceiling as your universal loudness target.

Do I need to master my music before distributing?

Yes. Mastering optimizes your audio for streaming playback — specifically the loudness normalization that every platform applies. An unmastered track will sound quieter or duller than competing tracks after platform normalization. Professional mastering costs $50–$300 per track. AI mastering services (LANDR, eMastered) cost $5–$20 and produce professional-quality results for most genres.

How far in advance should I upload my music before the release date?

Upload 5–6 weeks before your release date for a fully executed campaign — 1 week for distributor moderation and delivery, 4–5 weeks for Spotify editorial pitch, pre-save campaign, curator outreach, and press. The absolute minimum is 2 weeks — less than that and you lose the Spotify editorial pitch window entirely.

What information do I need to distribute a cover song?

Original song title, original songwriter’s name (the composer — often different from the performing artist), cover song flag checked during upload. With Globex Music, this is all you need — mechanical licensing is handled automatically as part of the standard $1 per single distribution. No separate licensing service, no extra fee, no additional delay.

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Ready to distribute? Once your audio, artwork, and metadata are prepared, Globex Music gets your music to 150+ platforms in days — from $1 per single, no annual fee, cover song licensing included automatically.