Release Checklist

Everything in the correct order. Foundation steps are one-time; pre-release steps repeat per project. Set a release date to see deadlines.

Target release date

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Foundation

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Lock your artist name & metadata standard

critical

Pick ONE exact spelling/casing of your artist name. Every platform and registration must match it or your royalties fragment across duplicate profiles.

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critical

Collects the writer's share of performance royalties for your compositions. For most artists that means choosing ASCAP or BMI — SESAC and GMR are invitation-only.

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Set up your publisher entity & register it with the same PRO

critical

Captures the publisher's share of performance royalties — commonly ~50% that most artists never collect.

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critical

Collects U.S. mechanical royalties on streams/downloads — the mechanical half of your streaming publishing money. Don't double-register if an admin does it for you.

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critical

Collects U.S. digital-performance royalties on the master. Not collected by anyone else.

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Set up neighboring-rights collection (if you have international plays)

International master-performance royalties SoundExchange doesn't cover.

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Pre-Release

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Sign a split sheet for every song — BEFORE release

critical

Determines who owns what. Free, and the #1 thing that prevents ownership disputes and frozen royalties. Everyone signs.

✓ verifiedDo it as songs are finished — ideally well before delivery. This is not a hard platform deadline, just the right sequence.

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Get producer agreements / work-for-hire in writing

critical

Clarify ownership and any producer points BEFORE release. Verbal deals cause disputes.

Clear any samples (if applicable)

Samples require clearing BOTH the master and the composition. Uncleared samples can get a release pulled or expose you to liability.

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Bounce sync-ready deliverables (instrumental, clean, stems)

Sync placements move fast, and supervisors commonly ask for an instrumental, a clean version, and often stems — though every placement is different (some want radio edits or alternate lengths). Export the common ones while you're still in the session so you can deliver whatever's asked; going back later is painful and costs you opportunities.

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Get a mechanical license for any cover songs

Releasing a cover of a song you didn't write requires a mechanical license (Harry Fox, Easy Song).

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Required before you can sue for infringement; timely registration unlocks statutory damages. Use PA (song) and/or SR (recording).

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Distribution

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Submit your master to your distributor

critical

Distribution to streaming platforms usually goes live in a few days, though it can occasionally take up to ~2 weeks to appear everywhere (varies by distributor/platform). Submit ~3–4 weeks ahead, so it's safely live and your upcoming release is showing in Spotify for Artists with enough lead time to pitch editorial 2–3 weeks out (next step).

⟳ verify current — as of Jul 2026Distribution itself usually takes a few days, occasionally up to ~2 weeks to appear everywhere. The ~3–4-week submission window here is safety margin so the release is live in time to pitch editorial — not the actual processing time. Verify current turnaround with your distributor.

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Confirm ISRC (per recording) and UPC (per release) are assigned

critical

These identifiers track plays and sales back to you. Keep a master list so every registration references the same codes.

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Pitch the unreleased track to Spotify editorial

critical

Claim Spotify for Artists / Apple Music for Artists, then submit the upcoming track for editorial playlist consideration. This is a SEPARATE deadline from distribution go-live. Best practice is to pitch 2–3 weeks out so editors have the most lead time; pitch as soon as the release appears in your dashboard.

⟳ verify current — as of Jul 2026Best practice: pitch ~2–3 weeks before release so Spotify's editors have maximum lead time. Spotify's stated hard minimum is 7 days before release (Spotify for Artists help) — treat 7 days as the floor, not the target. Earlier is better. Verify current timing.

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Registration

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critical

Register the works with the agreed splits so performance royalties actually pay out. Use the Bulk Registration Helper for multi-song projects.

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So U.S. mechanical royalties match and pay out. Skip if your publishing admin registers on your behalf.

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Enable YouTube Content ID (one partner only)

Collects ad revenue from every video using your recording. Never let two partners claim the same catalog.

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Ongoing

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Re-run the Money You're Missing audit each release

Every new song/version needs its ISRC, splits, and registrations. Re-check the audit so nothing slips.

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Verify name/metadata consistency across all platforms

Catch fragmented profiles and misspelled credits before they cost you matched royalties.

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