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The Artist’s Business Method · Course map

Lesson 15 / 24 · 45–60 min + production · preparation time

Finish your release package

A finished package keeps the audio, artwork and identifying information aligned. Metadata is the descriptive information attached to a release. Accurate names and version labels help services deliver it correctly and help collaborators receive proper credit.

Terms in this lesson

Master / recording

A specific sound recording of a song or other audio work.

Distributor

A service that delivers recordings to music services and accounts for income under its terms.

Metadata

Information describing music, such as titles, versions, names, credits and identifiers.

ISRC

An identifier for a particular recording. It does not prove copyright ownership.

Work through it

  1. 1
    Confirm the approved master and check it fully, including its beginning and ending. Follow the chosen distributor’s current audio and artwork specifications.
  2. 2
    Prepare the exact artist name, featured artists, titles, versions, writer and performer credits, explicit-content information, language and release date. Check spelling with collaborators.
  3. 3
    Record the ISRC for each recording and the release identifier when supplied. A work identifier and a recording identifier do different jobs. Do not create a fresh identity for an unchanged recording just because you move distributor.
  4. 4
    Check permissions and ownership again. Preview artwork at phone size, confirm image licences and save the approved package. If relevant, prepare instrumental, clean or lyric assets with clear version labels.

You are ready to move on when…

You can leave an application or outside reply pending. Record the next step before moving on.

Approved audio / artwork / metadata / recording identifiers / release identifier / approvals / delivery-ready folder

Resources for this task

Optional videos

Optional watch

PRS Get Paid Guide: codes and credits Video guides · free
Further reading · Passman chapter references

Optional reading · Passman, 11th edition. Chapter 11: producer and mixer agreements; Chapter 10: delivery requirements.

Optional reading from the 11th edition (2023). No purchase needed. US legal context: use current UK sources for local procedures.

Next: Build the budget and release calendar.

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