THE SHORT ANSWER
Start here
DECISIONS TO MAKE FIRST
Decide these before you shortlist providers.
- 01
Which recording and release identifiers are required, and who assigns them?
- 02
What are the exact artist, release, track and version names?
- 03
Which audio, artwork, booklet, lyric and video assets belong to this delivery?
- 04
Who verifies rights, credits, explicit-content status and final territories?
01 / PRACTICAL STEP
Maintain one approved source record
Do not rebuild credits and titles separately inside every platform, email and manufacturer form.
Names and titles
Lock the spelling and formatting of the primary artist, featured artists, release title, track titles and version names. Record deliberate language and capitalisation choices.
Credits
Collect writers, composers, performers, producers, engineers, artwork and other credits using the names and roles the responsible parties approve.
Dates and territories
Separate original publication information from the planned release date and confirm which territories the delivery covers.
Rights decisions
Record who controls the recording and artwork, plus any samples, licences or contributor approvals that must be resolved. Forge does not determine ownership for you.
02 / PRACTICAL STEP
Use identifiers for the thing they identify
Identifiers help systems distinguish recordings and products, but they do not replace rights documentation.
ISRC
An ISRC identifies a specific sound recording or music video. Keep it attached to the correct title, version, primary artist, duration, type and publication information.
Changed recordings
Do not reuse an identifier by guesswork when audio or version identity changes. Follow the current ISRC rules or ask the assigning organisation.
Product identifiers
A physical or digital release product may require identifiers distinct from its individual recordings. Confirm these with the distributor or manufacturer.
Not copyright registration
Assigning a recording identifier is not the same as registering or proving copyright ownership. Keep those processes separate.
03 / PRACTICAL STEP
Match every asset to an approved version
A technically correct file can still be wrong if it belongs to an older title, mix or artwork revision.
Audio masters
Keep final masters read-only in a controlled delivery location with version names that match the release record.
Artwork
Store the approved master artwork and recipient-specific exports separately. Check logos, credits, text, barcodes and templates at the actual delivery size.
Lyrics and text
Use reviewed text, language and explicit-content decisions consistently. Do not assume one platform’s formatting is accepted everywhere.
Campaign assets
Prepare press images, biographies, links, video and short-form materials as a campaign package without mixing them into the distribution master folder.
04 / PRACTICAL STEP
Run a release-package check before delivery
The check should confirm identity and completeness, not only file dimensions.
Cross-check
Compare every audio and artwork filename with the approved sequence, titles, versions and identifiers.
Recipient specification
Use the current distributor, platform or manufacturer specification. Requirements can change; do not rely on a copied checklist indefinitely.
Decision log
Record who approved the final audio, metadata and artwork and when. If something changes, identify every dependent delivery that must be replaced.
Archive
Keep the final source record, masters, artwork, delivery receipts and relevant agreements together after release.
WORKING CHECKLIST
Is the brief ready?
Use this list before requesting a quote. The chosen provider's current specification and professional advice still take priority.
Artist, release, track and version names are locked.
Track order, durations and explicit-content status are checked.
Credits and contributor names are approved.
Recording and product identifiers map to the correct versions.
Rights, samples and artwork permissions have a responsible owner.
Audio files match the approved metadata record.
Artwork and physical layouts follow the recipient’s current template.
Distribution and campaign packages are separated but consistent.
Final approvals and delivery receipts are archived.
ASK THE PROVIDER
Questions worth asking every shortlisted provider.
- 01
Which fields must be identical across the distributor, manufacturer and campaign?
- 02
Who assigns and records each identifier?
- 03
Which change would require a new audio, artwork or metadata delivery?
- 04
What does the recipient’s current specification require?
- 05
Who performs the final cross-check before submission?
CONTINUE IN FORGE
Find the services named in this guide.
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Sources behind this guide
External requirements can change. Open the current source before relying on a technical, platform or legal detail.
- 01Using ISRCInternational ISRC Registration Authority / IFPI↗
Defines the recording identifier and its reference metadata.
- 02ISRC HandbookInternational ISRC Registration Authority / IFPI↗
Authoritative implementation reference for assigning and maintaining ISRCs.
- 03Apple Music Style GuideApple↗
Current platform rules for music metadata, artwork and credits.