Essential Release Delivery Requirements: Guide for Label Services & Management Clients

At 1M Music Group, artists, managers, and independent record labels utilizing our exclusive Label Services & Management solution enjoy a decisive operational advantage: you never have to navigate complicated distribution dashboards or manually enter repetitive metadata track by track. Our Operations and A&R teams handle the entire pipeline—audio file validation, quality assurance (QA), ISRC/UPC assignment, metadata encoding, and direct DSP delivery to over 150 digital stores and streaming services worldwide (including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, TikTok, Instagram, Meta, Tidal, and Deezer).

You can deliver your release assets through whichever file-sharing service you prefer: shared Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox links, or direct email. However, to guarantee an agile, error-free launch that sails through strict platform inspection, it is essential that all assets and metadata are delivered as cleanly, accurately, and completely as possible.

Recommended Lead Time: To secure editorial playlist pitching on Spotify for Artists and flawless DSP ingestion, please submit your complete release package at least 15 to 21 days prior to your target release date.

1. Technical Asset Requirements (Audio & Cover Artwork)

Master Audio File (High-Resolution WAV)

Mandatory format: Uncompressed stereo WAV file. (Streaming platforms strictly reject lossy MP3, AAC, or M4A formats).
Sample Rate: Minimum 44.1 kHz (44.1 kHz or 48 kHz recommended).
Bit Depth: Minimum 16-bit (24-bit studio fidelity recommended).
Final Master Quality: Audio must be the definitive final mix and master. Ensure there are no excessive silent gaps at the beginning or end, and no digital clipping distortion (true peaks must stay below -0.1 dB True Peak).

Technical specifications: Learn more about audio bit depths and sample rates in our guide on audio file formats, quality, and frequencies.

Release Cover Art

Exact dimensions: 3000 x 3000 pixels (perfect 1:1 square ratio).
File format: High-resolution JPG or PNG.
Color profile: RGB (DSPs automatically reject print-based CMYK files).
Design and content compliance:
- Artwork must be crisp and clean, free of blur, pixelation, or cut-off edges.
- Artist name and release title shown on the cover must match your metadata character-for-character.
- Strictly prohibited by DSPs: Third-party streaming service logos (Spotify, Apple logos), barcodes, pricing tags, website URLs, social media handles (@instagram, TikTok), or promotional phrases like "Out Now" or "New Single".

2. Official Metadata Template (Copy & Paste)

To eliminate discrepancies, copy the template below, fill out all applicable fields for your single, EP, or album, and paste it into your delivery email or message alongside your file download links:

Release Delivery Template — 1M Music Group

========================================
RELEASE DELIVERY DATA (LABEL SERVICES)
========================================

Title:
[Exact Song Title]

Version (if applicable):
[Original / Remix / Live / Acoustic / Radio Edit]

Target Release Date:
[MM/DD/YYYY]

----------------------------------------
PRIMARY ARTISTS & COLLABORATORS
----------------------------------------
*Specify exact roles and verified Spotify URLs
to prevent profile duplication:

- Main Artist 1 (Primary):
  Name: [Artist Name 1]
  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/...

- Main Artist 2 (Primary, if co-lead):
  Name: [Artist Name 2]
  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/...

- Featuring Artist (Guest):
  Name: [Artist Name 3]
  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/...

----------------------------------------
CONTRIBUTORS / PERFORMANCE CREDITS
----------------------------------------
- Performing Vocals (Lead Vocals):
  [Full Legal Name of Vocalist]

- Backing Vocals:
  [Full Legal Name]

- Featured Musicians (Guitars, Bass, Keys):
  [Instrument: Full Name]

----------------------------------------
SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS (MANDATORY)
----------------------------------------
*IMPORTANT: Stores require FULL LEGAL NAMES
(First & Last Names). Stage aliases are rejected.

1. Songwriter 1:
   Legal Name: [First Name Last Name]
   Role: [Music / Lyrics / Both]
   IPI / CAE Number: [XXXXXXXXX]
   PRO Society: [BMI / ASCAP / PRS / SESAC]

2. Songwriter 2:
   Legal Name: [First Name Last Name]
   Role: [Music / Lyrics / Both]
   IPI / CAE Number: [XXXXXXXXX]
   PRO Society: [XXXXXXXXX]

----------------------------------------
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
----------------------------------------
- Producer(s): [Name(s) of Music Producer]
- Recording Engineer: [Full Name]
- Mixing Engineer: [Full Name]
- Mastering Engineer: [Full Name]

----------------------------------------
TIKTOK, SOCIAL & STORE SETTINGS
----------------------------------------
- Explicit Content:
  [  ] NO (Clean)   /   [  ] YES (Explicit)

- TikTok & Reels Start Time (Chorus Hook):
  [Minutes:Seconds, e.g. 00:45]

- Primary Genre: [e.g. Latin Urban, Pop, Hip-Hop]
- Subgenre: [e.g. Trap, Reggaeton, Indie Pop]
- Language of Lyrics: [Spanish / English]

----------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT & SOUND RECORDING (℗ & ©)
----------------------------------------
*If you have a registered label or company name
for master recordings, specify it here:

- ℗ Line (Master): [Year] [Owner or Label Name]
- © Line (Composition): [Year] [Publishing Entity]

----------------------------------------
FULL SONG LYRICS
----------------------------------------
[Paste the complete song lyrics here,
structured by sections (Verse 1, Chorus, etc.).
Do not include chords or parenthetical notes].
========================================

3. Why Each Metadata Field is Crucial

Spotify Artist URLs

The digital music ecosystem contains millions of artists with identical or similar names. Providing direct links to verified Spotify artist profiles allows our engineering team to attach exact artist IDs during delivery. This 100% eliminates the risk of your song landing on someone else's profile or generating empty duplicate pages.

Need help finding your URI or URL? Follow our guide on how to find your Spotify artist URIs.

Songwriter Legal Names & IPI Numbers

Many creators confuse master performance credits (stage aliases) with underlying musical composition rights. Streaming services and mechanical collection societies (like The MLC) only recognize full legal names. Including your IPI (Interested Parties Information) number ensures your publishing and mechanical royalties flow seamlessly into your PRO account without unnecessary holds or black-box retention.

Royalties & Publishing: Learn how mechanical and performance royalties work in our guide on music publishing rights collection.

TikTok & Instagram Audio Start Times

If no start time is specified, DSP preview engines automatically start at second 00:00. Selecting the exact start second of your chorus ensures content creators immediately hear your song's highest-energy hook when browsing social sound libraries.

4. Workflow & Next Steps

Asset Submission: Send your folder containing the Master WAV, 3000x3000px Cover Art, and completed Metadata Template via your dedicated 1M Music Group communication channel.
QA & Ingestion: Our team audits your assets, provisions official ISRC and UPC codes, and initiates digital delivery across the global DSP pipeline.
Delivery Confirmation: Once processed, you receive assigned ISRC/UPC codes and confirmed store ingestion timelines.
Pre-Save & Pitching: We deliver your official Pre-Save link and notify you the moment your release surfaces in Spotify for Artists for editorial pitching.