In this lesson you will learn: A single source of truth for identifiers before upload. Artwork that passes common DSP rules on first pass. Credits and spellings aligned across distributor, YouTube, and socials. Fewer “stuck in review” cycles and costly re-deliveries.
Before you deliver audio, lock identifiers and visuals. DSPs reject or delay releases when [[Metadata]] conflicts, artwork fails automated checks, or credits disagree across platforms. Treat this lesson as a gate: nothing ships until these items are consistent.
One [[ISRC]] per track, never reused across different recordings; align with your label copy and PRO registrations.. [[UPC]]/EAN for the product (single/EP/album)—match what you print on physical or promo if applicable.. If you use catalog numbers internally, map them to ISRC/UPC in one sheet so collaborators stop guessing.
Square artwork at your distributor’s required resolution; avoid tiny text and busy edges that fail QC.. No URLs, pricing, or social handles baked into art unless your distributor explicitly allows it.. Featured artist and title spelling identical to audio metadata and press kit.
YouTube official audio, [[Content ID]], and distributor metadata should tell the same story to avoid conflicts later.. Decide primary artist name format (solo vs project) and stick to it for a year minimum.
When this is clean, your distributor can push once and updates propagate predictably—saving days of back-and-forth.
IFPI administers the [[ISRC]] system internationally; national ISRC agencies issue codes to rights holders—your distributor may also assign ISRCs depending on your deal.. Product codes ([[UPC]]/EAN) follow GS1 rules; physical retail and many DSP catalogs use the same identifier family.. Between labels and stores, metadata often travels as DDEX ERN (Electronic Release Notification) XML—your upload UI is the human-friendly layer on top.