How to change an artist's name

2 min read

This article covers changing an artist's name (for example, renaming an artist from The Quarrymen to The Beatles) — the name by which they are known to the public.

This is not about changing the artist on a particular release or track. For that, edit your release or track and redeliver to the DSPs.

STEP 1

Decide whether you want the name changed everywhere the artist appears — as primary artist, remixer, producer, etc.

  • If you want the name changed everywhere: Update the artist name in your Catalog.
    • This is the preferred method. It maintains all trends and analytics under one artist profile. If you create a new artist instead, you'll have to filter analytics using both old and new names.
    • Once updated in Catalog, the name automatically changes on all releases and tracks in Hitskope. No need to edit individual releases.
  • If you only want the name changed on certain assets:
    • Create a new artist in your Catalog.
    • Edit the releases and tracks where you want the new name to appear. Replace the old artist with the new one.

STEP 2

Spotify:

  1. Redeliver your releases to Spotify.
  2. Email us with the old name, new name, and the UPC(s) of the releases you sent to Spotify. We need to have Spotify make further updates on their end.

Apple Music:

  • Apple no longer supports changing artist names on existing Apple Artist Profiles. You must create a new Apple Artist Profile and redeliver old releases with the new Apple Artist ID.

Amazon:

  • Email us with the old name, new name, and the current Amazon Artist URL.

All other DSPs (YouTube, SoundCloud, Audiomack, etc.):

  1. You or your artist must log in to each DSP's artist portal and modify the artist name there. If the DSP doesn't support direct name changes, contact their support team.
  2. Once the DSP confirms the name change, redeliver all releases with that artist to all DSPs.
  3. After 48–72 hours, check whether the name change has registered.
  4. If you still see the old name, email us with:
    • The artist's old profile link
    • The artist's new profile link
    • The list of UPCs associated with this artist