The Bottom Line Up Front: When the same song is uploaded to different distributors, streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music use the ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) to identify the duplicate. If the ISRC is the same, the platforms will attempt to “link” the tracks to preserve play counts. However, if two different people claim 100% ownership through different distributors, royalties are often frozen in a “black box” until the legal dispute is resolved.
1. The Metadata Conflict: ISRC vs. UPC
Every song has two digital fingerprints. When these conflict, the system breaks:
- The ISRC (The Song’s DNA): This identifies the specific recording. If two uploads have the same ISRC, the platform knows they are the same song.
- The UPC (The Product Code): This identifies the “package” (the single or album). If two different distributors use different UPCs for the same ISRC, it creates a “Version Conflict.”
2. The Three Likely Scenarios
Depending on how the metadata was entered, one of three things will happen:
| Scenario | What Happens on Spotify/Apple | What Happens to Your Money |
| Identical ISRC | Tracks “link.” Play counts merge into one total. | Royalties may be split or sent to the first uploader. |
| Different ISRC | The song appears twice on your profile as two separate releases. | Royalties are collected separately by each distributor. |
| Ownership Dispute | The song may be taken down entirely (“DMCA Takedown”). | Royalties are frozen by the PRO/MLC until a split is agreed upon. |
3. Why This “Freezes” Your Revenue
The music industry operates on a “clean data” policy. If Distributor A says Artist X owns 100%, and Distributor B says Producer Y owns 100%, the total claim is 200%.
- The Black Box: Since it’s mathematically impossible to pay out 200%, the money is held in a “suspense account.”
- The Audit Trap: Shady publishers often rely on these messy conflicts to hide royalties or delay payments for years while “investigating” the claim.
4. How Audiobulb Solves the Duplicate Dilemma
We specialize in cleaning up “messy” catalogs. If you find your song has been uploaded by someone else, or you are trying to move your catalog to a more transparent home:
- ISRC Verification: We ensure your existing ISRCs are preserved so you don’t lose your millions of streams when moving to our platform.
- Active Conflict Tracking: Our technology scans for duplicate ISRCs across the web. If someone unauthorized uploads your work, we flag it immediately so you can take action before royalties are lost.
- Exclusive Administration: By paying a flat $19.99/year, you designate Audiobulb as your official administrator. This “paper trail” is your strongest evidence when telling a streaming platform which upload is the legitimate one.
- 0% Commission = Faster Resolution: We don’t profit from your money sitting in a “black box,” so we work faster than traditional publishers to resolve metadata conflicts.
5. Step-by-Step: How to Fix a Duplicate Upload
If you’ve discovered a duplicate version of your song:
- Gather Your Evidence: Find your original ISRC, UPC, and a timestamped file of the song.
- Contact Your Primary Distributor: Ask them to issue a “Metadata Update” or a “Takedown Request” for the unauthorized version.
- Check the “Track Linking”: On Spotify, see if the play counts are merged. If not, the ISRCs are likely different, and you are losing data.
- Use an Admin Service: Having an administrator like Audiobulb can help you file official claims with the MLC and PROs to unfreeze any royalties held in suspense.
Summary
Duplicate uploads aren’t just a visual mess on your profile; they are a financial leak. Whether it’s a mistake during a distributor switch or an unauthorized upload by a former collaborator, you need a single “Source of Truth” for your metadata.
Your Next Step: Is your catalog scattered across different distributors? Consolidate with Audiobulb for $19.99/year and let us help you clean up your ISRC data so every stream is accounted for and every royalty is paid to you.