Changes you can and cannot make once your release is distributed

2 min read

Three scenarios for what you can change once your release has been delivered to the DSPs. This applies whether your release is live or not — if it's been delivered, these rules apply.

1. CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE ON YOUR OWN BY SIMPLY SENDING AN UPDATE

You can make these changes yourself and redistribute your release without taking it down.

What you can change:

  • Release cover image and title (image text must match the metadata)
  • Language localization for artist names, submissions, and original/public domain tracks
  • Additional artist names & roles
  • Record label name — if your release is managed by a label on your behalf, the label updates the name from their own account. Otherwise, edit and send the update yourself.
  • Track title and additional artist names & roles
  • Genre
  • P and C lines
  • Publishing information
  • Preview clip start time
  • Explicit lyrics
  • Distribution territories
  • Pricing tier
  • Sale start date
  • Corrections for audio errors (blank space, static, corruption)
    • You're keeping the same track/song (same ISRC) and only replacing the audio file. Your new audio file must be close in duration. The more the track length differs, the less likely DSPs will accept it. If you have time to wait and see if DSPs accept or reject the update, you can try redelivering your release with the new audio file by following these instructions. If you don't want to risk it, see case #3 below.

PROCEDURE

Edit your release and send the update to the DSPs.

2. CHANGES THAT REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FROM SUPPORT (BUT DO NOT REQUIRE A TAKEDOWN)

What you can change:

  • Original release date (this is the historical release date, not the date you want your release to go live when distributing it)

PROCEDURE

Email us with the release ID or UPC and the release date. We'll make the change.

3. CHANGES THAT REQUIRE A TAKEDOWN OF YOUR RELEASE

You cannot change these items without taking down your release. This is true even if your release isn't live yet.

  • Track order
  • Track count
  • UPCs / ISRCs
  • Audio changes that don't correct an audio error and/or significantly change the track length
  • For Apple:
    • The release catalog ID
    • The track catalog ID
    • Exceptions:
      • If you're using the Merlin Apple deal
      • If you first distributed your release through us after November 2024

In these cases, DSPs require that you redeliver your release with a new UPC.

PROCEDURE

  1. Create a new release with the changes
  2. Distribute the new release
  3. Take down the old release
  4. Add " - DO NOT DISTRIBUTE" to the name of your old release so you don't redistribute it by mistake. Do the same for the old track if you had to change the audio file.