How to Prepare a Song for Distribution

Preparing a song for distribution takes a few hours, not a few days, if the release is complete before it is submitted.

Step one: master files are in final form. The mix has been reviewed, the master is playable, and the file is a format the platform can use.

Step two: artwork is checked. It passes the screen, it is above 3000 pixels, and it has no text too small to read on a phone.

Step three: metadata is written. The title, artist, featured artists, genre, track number, and rights are written down and checked against the credits.

Step four: identifiers are assigned. ISRCs for every track, and a UPC if a product is planned.

Step five: the release is submitted with a day of buffer. It is never a good idea to submit a release the same day as the planned release date. Buffer is what catches the small problems.