Finishing a track is only the start of a professional release. Stores and listeners expect consistent metadata, clean audio, and visuals that meet technical requirements. Walking through a checklist once saves hours of support tickets later
Audio: export a master in the format your distributor specifies (often WAV, 16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1 kHz). Avoid heavy limiting that causes distortion on earbuds. If you are unsure, ask your mastering engineer for a "streaming master" alongside any louder club version
Identifiers: an ISRC ties royalties to a specific recording. Use a new ISRC per distinct recording; re-releases and remasters may need new codes depending on how stores treat them. Your distributor usually helps assign or register ISRCs - follow their flow so reporting stays clean. Check our [music industry glossary](/glossary) if any of these terms are new to you
Before you even start the upload process, make sure your final master has been listened to on multiple playback systems. Check it on earbuds, car speakers, laptop speakers, and studio monitors. What sounds balanced in one environment can reveal problems in another. Catching a harsh frequency or a buried vocal before distribution saves you from the awkward process of replacing a live release
Loudness normalization is another consideration. Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube apply their own loudness targets. If your master is heavily compressed to be as loud as possible, the platform may turn it down, which can make it sound worse than a more dynamic version. Ask your mastering engineer about integrated LUFS targets for streaming if this is unfamiliar territory.
Credits: list primary artist exactly as you want it to appear. Use consistent capitalization. Add "feat." or "with" according to platform guidelines. Producers and sample clearance paperwork should be resolved before upload; stores can reject or delay releases over unresolved rights.
Artwork: square JPEG or PNG, typically at least 3000x3000 pixels, no URLs, social handles, or pricing on the image unless you enjoy takedowns. Keep text legible at thumbnail size; your cover competes with thousands of others on a phone screen.
Title and version fields: mark "Radio Edit," "Acoustic," or "Remix" in the right field - not buried only in the title unless your distributor's style guide allows it. Consistency helps playlist editors and fans recognize your work.
Sample clearance is a step many new artists overlook. If your track uses a sample from another recording, you need written permission from the rights holder before you distribute. This applies even to short loops or vocal chops. Distributors may remove your release if an uncleared sample is flagged, and the rights holder could pursue legal action. Handle clearance paperwork during the production phase, not as an afterthought.
Featuring artists should receive proper credit formatting. Different stores have slightly different rules about whether "feat." goes in the title field or a separate contributor field. Your distributor's upload form will guide you, but preparing the correct names and roles in advance speeds up the process significantly.
Territory and date: choose whether the release is worldwide or limited, and set a go-live date with enough cushion for store review. Fridays are common but not mandatory; what matters is that your promo, presave, and ads align with the moment the link goes live.
After upload, verify the live page on at least one major store: play from the start, check explicit tags, and confirm songwriter and publisher lines if you collect publishing. Fix errors early while stores still propagate the same product ID.
For deeper lessons on rights, royalties, and rollout strategy, [LUCY Academy](/academy) walks through modules in order - use it as your ongoing reference while you grow past your first single. When you are ready, [start distributing with LUCY](https://app.lucysounds.com) and keep 100% of your royalties.
Pre-save campaigns deserve their own timeline. Set up your pre-save link at least two weeks before release day. Share it on social media, in your email list, and on your website. Pre-saves send a strong signal to streaming algorithms that there is demand for your release, which can influence whether you appear in editorial or algorithmic playlists on launch day.
After the release goes live, do not neglect the first 48 hours. This is when stores evaluate initial engagement signals. Share the streaming link widely, ask fans to save the track to their library, and post behind-the-scenes content that gives people a reason to listen. The first few days set the trajectory for how platforms treat your release in the weeks that follow.