Releasing music is exciting.

It can also get complicated quickly.

Before you send a release to your distributor, take a little time to make sure the music, business, metadata and marketing are actually ready.

This music distribution checklist will help you catch problems while they are still easy to fix.

1. Is the music ready for the marketplace?

Take off your artist hat for a minute and listen objectively.

Does the production fit the song? Does the performance hold up? Is the message clear? Is there anything in the lyrics or presentation that could create a reaction you are not prepared for?

If you cannot judge it objectively, find somebody you respect who can.

The question is not simply whether you finished the song.

It is whether you are ready to put that version of the song into the world permanently.

2. Do you know who the audience is?

Your target audience is the group of people most likely to connect with your music and what you have to say.

Have you played the music for people who actually resemble that audience? If you perform live, how have people responded?

Feedback does not mean letting a committee rewrite your music.

Instead, it gives you information before you build an entire campaign around assumptions.

Our guide to defining your target audience can help you work through that process.

3. Do you have enough time?

At Syntax, we recommend delivering priority releases at least eight weeks before the release date whenever possible.

That gives your distributor time to review the release, deliver it to the digital service providers (DSPs), resolve problems and work the marketing opportunities available around it.

DSPs are services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora and YouTube Music.

Lead time also gives you room to build pre-save links, prepare content and coordinate the rest of the campaign.

Our guide to the best time to release music explains why those eight weeks can make such a difference.

4. Is there a reason to release it right now?

Finished does not automatically mean ready to release.

Sometimes there is a genuine reason to move quickly. Maybe the artist suddenly has a major opportunity, a song is gaining attention or something happening in the culture gives the music unusual relevance.

Most of the time, though, waiting long enough to prepare the release properly is more useful than rushing because everybody is excited.

Ask why this date makes sense.

If there is no good answer, you probably have some flexibility.

5. Does the timing fit the music?

Some music has an obvious seasonal or cultural window.

A summer song may make more sense heading into warm weather than in November. Christmas music has an annual season of its own. A breakup song might even make Valentine’s Day interesting if the campaign has the right sense of humor.

There are no universal rules here.

Still, think about the environment your song will enter instead of choosing a date in a vacuum.

If you are working seasonal music, our guide to building recurring streams from holiday music explains why timing and catalog strategy can work together.

6. Have you handled the music business?

This is the part that is much easier to deal with before release than afterward.

Make sure you know who owns the recording and the composition. Confirm songwriter splits. Clear any samples or other third-party material. If you recorded somebody else’s song, make sure you understand the licensing requirements that apply.

Also make sure the appropriate royalty and rights organizations have the information they need.

Depending on the rights you control, that can include:

• your performing rights organization
• The Mechanical Licensing Collective
• SoundExchange
• the U.S. Copyright Office

A performing rights organization (PRO) collects and distributes certain public-performance royalties for songwriters and publishers.

The exact registrations you need depend on which rights you own and how the music is being used.

Our Academy article on the six exclusive rights of a songwriter provides a useful starting point for understanding the copyright side.

7. Is the metadata correct?

Metadata is the information attached to a music release, including artist names, song titles, writers, contributors, genre, release dates and identifiers.

Check it carefully.

Make sure:

• artist names are spelled and formatted correctly
• song and release titles are final
• songwriters and other contributors are credited correctly
• explicit content is marked accurately
• the release date is correct
• the artwork meets your distributor’s requirements
• existing recordings reuse the correct identifiers when appropriate

An ISRC, or International Standard Recording Code, identifies a particular sound recording. A UPC, or Universal Product Code, identifies the release as a product.

Your label or distributor can usually provide those identifiers when needed.

Once everything is final, keep a copy of the release information somewhere you can find it later.

8. Do you have an actual marketing plan?

“Get on a playlist” is not a marketing plan.

A real plan can include:

• DSP promotional tools
• social media content
• user-generated content
• paid advertising
• publicity
• radio
• live performances
• music videos
• email marketing
• artist and fan communities

You do not need to do everything.

Choose the opportunities that fit the artist, audience, budget and release.

If you need somewhere to start, our guide to choosing the right social media platforms can help you decide where your time makes sense.

9. Are the marketing materials ready?

Do not wait until somebody asks for a photo or biography to discover you do not have one.

For a priority release, your team should have:

• a current artist biography
• high-quality press photos
• a useful song narrative
• final cover artwork
• the basic release story and marketing information

We already have Academy guides on writing an artist bio, creating strong press photos and writing a useful song narrative.

Get those pieces ready before the campaign starts.

10. Why should somebody care?

There is more music available than any listener could possibly hear.

So before you release yours, answer one simple question:

Why this song?

Maybe the answer is the story. Maybe it is the artist. Perhaps it is an incredible performance, a unique collaboration or a message that connects with a particular audience.

The answer does not need to be revolutionary.

It does need to exist.

If your own team cannot explain why somebody should care about the release, asking strangers to care will be considerably harder.

Do the work before release day

Distribution is not the finish line.

It is the point where the music becomes available for everything else you planned to do with it.

Make sure the recording is ready. Handle the business. Check the metadata. Give your distributor enough time. Prepare the marketing materials. Know who you are trying to reach.

Then release the music with a plan instead of simply hoping something happens.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Copyright, licensing and royalty-registration requirements can depend on the music, rights involved and territory. If you are unsure about your legal rights or obligations, consult a qualified attorney.