What Tools Help Independent Artists Track Royalties and Metadata?
You cannot rely on a single app to manage your entire music business. You need a specialized ecosystem: a Centralized Database for your credits (Metadata), a Distributor for your audio files (Masters), and an Administrator, like Audiobulb, for your rights (Publishing). 1. Metadata Management: Your Digital Fingerprint Metadata is the “SEO” for your music. If […]
Who Owns the Copyright in AI-Assisted Music?
Under current global law, copyright can only be granted to human beings. If you use AI to assist your process—such as for mixing, mastering, or generating a baseline—you own the copyright only to the portions you creatively controlled. If the AI generates the lyrics and melody entirely on its own, those elements are uncopyrightable and […]
How Do I Add Songwriter Credits on Spotify or Apple Music?
You cannot add credits directly through Spotify for Artists or Apple Music for Artists. Credits are delivered as metadata by your music distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.). To add them, you must enter the full legal names of all contributors into the “Songwriter” or “Composer” fields during the upload process. As of 2025, Spotify […]
How Do I Make Sure My Publishing Credits Show Up Correctly?
Credits on streaming platforms are pulled directly from the metadata you provide to your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.) during the upload process. To ensure they show up correctly, you must use full legal names (not stage names) in the “Songwriter” and “Composer” fields. Once the song is live, Spotify and Apple Music “map” these names […]
How Do I Claim My Official Artist Channel on YouTube?
To get an Official Artist Channel (OAC), you must own and operate a YouTube channel that represents you or your band, have at least three official music releases delivered to YouTube by a distributor (like DistroKid or TuneCore), and have no policy violations. Once these criteria are met, you can request the OAC through your […]
Why Can’t Others Hear My Uploaded Songs on Some Streaming Platforms?
If your song is missing, the most common reason is processing lag. Different stores have different “ingestion” speeds; while Apple Music might go live in 24 hours, YouTube Music and Pandora can take up to 2 weeks. Other culprits include metadata errors (typos in your name), territory restrictions (your song isn’t licensed for that country), […]
How Do I Get Verified on Spotify as an Artist?
Verification on Spotify is now automatic once you gain access to Spotify for Artists. You no longer need 250 followers or a separate application. Once you claim your profile through your distributor or the Spotify for Artists portal, the blue checkmark appears. However, while verification gives you control over your profile, it does nothing to […]
Is it Better to use DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, or RouteNote?
There is no “perfect” distributor, only the one that fits your current career stage. DistroKid is built for high-volume release schedules; TuneCore offers a balanced suite for growing professionals; CD Baby is the “set it and forget it” choice for legacy artists; and RouteNote provides a low-barrier entry for those on a tight budget. However, […]
What’s the Best Distributor for Independent Artists?
The “best” distributor depends on your release frequency and budget, but an ethical distributor must meet three criteria: it should allow you to keep 100% of your royalties, grant you full ownership of your ISRC/UPCs, and have zero hidden fees for essential services like YouTube Content ID or Shazam. While companies like DistroKid and TuneCore […]
How Do I Get My Music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube?
To get your music on streaming platforms, you must sign up with a Digital Distributor (such as DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby). You upload your high-quality audio files (WAV or FLAC), your square cover art (3000x3000px), and your metadata. The distributor then sends your music to “Digital Service Providers” (DSPs) like Spotify and Apple Music. […]