How far ahead should I deliver an album to my distributor?

Aim for 6 to 8 weeks before release day. Editorial playlist pitching on Spotify generally needs at least 4 weeks of lead time on an unreleased track, and stores need time to ingest and process your files and artwork.

What are ISRC and UPC codes?

An ISRC identifies a single recording and is what streaming and radio plays are counted against. A UPC identifies the release as a product — the album as a whole. Distributors normally issue both for free when you upload.

Should I release singles first or drop the whole album at once?

Most independent artists do better releasing two or three singles in the 6 to 10 weeks before the album, then the full record. Each single is a separate promotion moment and a fresh chance at playlists.

Do I need a label to publish an album?

No. A distributor will place your album on every major streaming service and store. What a label adds is money, staff, and relationships — not access to the shelves.

Why does my album show up split into separate releases?

Almost always inconsistent metadata: the artist name spelled differently across tracks, or a different album title or release date on one file. Fix the metadata at the distributor and ask them to re-deliver.

How to Publish an Album

Getting an album onto streaming services is the easy part. Doing it in the right order, with the right metadata and enough lead time, is what decides whether anyone hears it.

Build your release page

The Timeline, Working Backwards

Everything below hangs off one date. Pick release day first, then work backwards — most failed independent releases were simply delivered too late to be pitched.

12 weeks out: masters finished and approved, artwork commissioned, release date chosen
8 weeks out: splits confirmed, samples cleared, credits finalised, distributor chosen
6 weeks out: deliver to distributor, register works with your PRO, set the first single
4 weeks out: pitch editorial playlists, open pre-saves, publish the release page and EPK, start press outreach
2 weeks out: lead single out, email your list, book the release show
Release day: album live, links updated everywhere, personal note to your list
After: keep promoting for 6 to 8 weeks — videos, live clips, continued pitching

Sort the Rights Before You Deliver

Distributors will not check any of this for you, and fixing it after release is expensive. Before you upload a single file:

Confirm songwriting splits in writing with every co-writer
Clear every sample — both the master and the composition
Secure a mechanical licence for any cover songs on the record
Be clear on who owns the masters — the band, or whoever funded the sessions
Register your works with your PRO, and consider registering the album with the copyright office as a group
Make sure you have the rights to the artwork, including any photography

Choose a Distributor

A digital distributor delivers your album to Spotify, Apple Music, and everywhere else. You do not need a label for this. The main services — DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Ditto, Amuse and others — differ mostly on pricing model and extras.

Compare on:

Pricing model — flat annual fee, per release, or a revenue share. Do the maths on your actual catalogue size.
Royalty split — what percentage you keep, and when they pay out.
What happens if you leave — whether your music stays up, and whether you keep your ISRCs and stream counts.
Included services — publishing administration, YouTube Content ID, pre-save tools, store coverage.
Turnaround time — how long delivery and any corrections actually take.

Whichever you pick, the distributor is a service you rent. Your website, your mailing list, and your fan relationships are the parts you own — keep them independent of this choice.

Get the Metadata Right the First Time

Metadata is the boring part that decides whether you get paid and whether your album appears as one release. Corrections after delivery can take weeks to propagate.

ISRC

International Standard Recording Code. One per recording — a unique fingerprint for that specific master. Plays and royalties are tracked against it. Your distributor issues these free; never reuse one across a remix or a re-record.

UPC / EAN

One per release — the barcode that identifies the album as a product. You need a separate one for a deluxe edition or a physical version with a different track list.

Check every one of these:

Artist name spelled identically on every track — this is the single most common cause of a split album page
Consistent capitalisation in track titles, and features credited in the format your distributor specifies
Writer, producer, and performer credits on every track
Explicit flags set accurately — getting this wrong can block editorial placement
Artwork at 3000×3000 px, square, with no URLs, social handles, or logos that stores prohibit
Audio delivered as high-resolution WAV, not MP3
Track order and any gapless or continuous-mix settings confirmed

Set Up Pre-Saves and Your Home Base

Once the album is delivered, you have roughly four weeks of runway. Use it to build demand and to make sure there is somewhere to send it.

Claim and update Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists — bio, photos, and the pitch for your lead single
Open a pre-save campaign and put the link everywhere: site, bios, email signature
Publish a release page on your own site with the artwork, tracklist, credits, and streaming links
Update your EPK with the new record so press has something current to work from
Book the release show and any supporting dates while there is still time to promote them

A release page you own is the one link that keeps working after the campaign ends — and the one you can update when a service changes its URLs.

Release Day, and the Weeks After

Most independent albums are promoted for about five days and then abandoned. The record has a much longer shelf life than that.

Check every store on release morning — wrong artwork, missing tracks, and split artist pages are common and fixable
Update the links on your site, bios, and email footer to point at the live album
Email your list a personal note, not a press release
Keep pitching playlists and press for 6 to 8 weeks; release a video or live session a few weeks in
Watch your distributor and PRO statements to confirm royalties are actually landing

For the promotion side in detail, see how to promote a song release and the music marketing calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far ahead should I deliver an album to my distributor?: Aim for 6 to 8 weeks before release day. Editorial playlist pitching on Spotify generally needs at least 4 weeks of lead time on an unreleased track, and stores need time to ingest and process your files and artwork.
What are ISRC and UPC codes?: An ISRC identifies a single recording and is what streaming and radio plays are counted against. A UPC identifies the release as a product — the album as a whole. Distributors normally issue both for free when you upload.
Should I release singles first or drop the whole album at once?: Most independent artists do better releasing two or three singles in the 6 to 10 weeks before the album, then the full record. Each single is a separate promotion moment and a fresh chance at playlists.
Do I need a label to publish an album?: No. A distributor will place your album on every major streaming service and store. What a label adds is money, staff, and relationships — not access to the shelves.
Why does my album show up split into separate releases?: Almost always inconsistent metadata: the artist name spelled differently across tracks, or a different album title or release date on one file. Fix the metadata at the distributor and ask them to re-deliver.

Give Your Album a Home Page

Artwork, tracklist, credits, streaming links, and tour dates — on a site you own, live before release day.

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