General FAQs

Once your release has been approved and delivered to music services, it will typically take 1-2 days for most services to process the delivery and make your release live.

Please note, though, that we cannot guarantee that your release will become live within this timeframe, as it may take some services longer to process deliveries.

That said, we recommend providing your content with at least 3 weeks lead time to ensure your release will go live on all stores on the release date you select and allow proper time for DSP pitching.

Given you have no existing agreements in place that prevent you from moving your catalog, the next steps are as follows:

1) Upload your Release through the TLR Distribution Dashboard EXACTLY the same as it is through the prior distributor. 

2) Ensure the releases are merged (ISRC, UPC, etc)

3) Issue takedown through the old distributor.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need assistance 

To retain your play count stats and for re-releases, please ensure that you're following the below guidelines: 

1. All visible metadata must be a 1:1 match across both releases. This includes track titles, album titles, ISRCs, UPC, artist name & featured artist, etc.).
2. The audio must be the same.  
3. The track must be delivered to Spotify with 5 days lead time to allow their systems to recognize the duplicative content, and map over the play counts.

Additionally, you'll want to first wait until your release is live through TLR Distribution before requesting takedowns from your previous distributor.

It is required that you have the proper license and/or any necessary agreements in place for your release. The artist and/or their team must provide this information if requested. 

Producers may offer non-exclusive leases for instrumentals. You must make sure you have the proper licenses to distribute your music. 

To find your track's ISRC code, follow these steps:

• In your dashboard, go to Content > Audio Content
• Search for your release and either click on it or click "View Tracks" under "Actions"
• Click the track and click "Show More" under "Metadata" and you will be able to see your song's ISRC code.

You can view the status of each release through your dashboard by going to the bottom of the page > "Scheduled Releases" and clicking on it in your Release Calendar.

Yes, you can add multiple primary artists to a release during the track upload process. Please note, if you add 4 or more primary artists to a release, it will default to "Various Artists" on most platforms.

You retain 100% ownership of your music rights. As your technology partner, TLR Distribution manages the delivery and licensing of your music to our extensive network of digital music platforms. We ensure your music distribution reaches the right digital stores while you maintain full control of your music's rights.

We do offer customized deals to select partners through our funding and label related opportunities - however, that is on a very select basis, requires additional agreements, and is not standard to our platform. By default, any artist who is on our platform owns 100% of their music.

An ISRC code is a unique identifier assigned to your music tracks, essential for digital music distribution. This code helps in tracking sales, streams, and downloads across digital platforms. By using an ISRC code, you ensure your music is easily identifiable, facilitating accurate royalty payments and detailed analytics. 

A UPC code is a unique identifier for your music releases, essential for tracking and managing them across digital platforms.

Note: Tracks get ISRC Codes and Releases (Albums) get UPC Codes

Since platform processing times vary, releases cannot be scheduled officially for less than a week out. We may be able to make exceptions for select artists.

Different stores have varying content ingestion models and moderation processes, resulting in some being faster than others.

For optimal results, set your release date 2-4 weeks in advance. This timeframe allows you to pitch your song on Spotify for Artists for editorial curation and effectively promote your release across all DSPs and social media platforms.

Major store live time averages:

Amazon Music: 3-7 business days after delivery

Spotify: 24-48 hours after delivery

Apple Music & iTunes: 24-27 hours after delivery

Tidal: 1-3 business days after delivery

Pandora: 3-7 days after delivery

Deezer: 3-5 business days after delivery

YouTube Music: 3-7 days after delivery

YouTube Content ID: 2-5 days after delivery *(varies)

Yes! 

For the language option, check off "No Lyrics/Instrumental" whenever prompted

A primary artist is a main performer responsible for the track or album and shows up as a full release on their profile and to their fans. 

A featured artist is typically listed after "feat." or "featuring" and contributes to a specific part of the song. The track is often shown on the featured artist's profile in a different section. It does not typically show up as a full release for the featured artist. 

Both Singles and Albums have separate criteria that must be met in order to be considered "Gold" or "Platinum". Here is an overview:

Requirements:

Gold – 500,000 Units 

Platinum – 1,000,000 Units 

Multi-Platinum – 2,000,000 Units 

Diamond – 10,000,000 Units 

For a Single, units are defined as:

• Each permanent digital download counts as 1 Unit for certification purposes. 
• 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams will count as 1 Unit for certification purposes.

For an Album, units are defined as:

• Each permanent digital album or physical album sale count as 1 Unit for certification purposes. 
• 10 permanent track downloads from the album count as 1 Unit for certification purposes. 
• 1,500 on-demand audio and/or video streams from the album count as 1 Unit for certification purposes.

Requests for certification may be made by email to the RIAA. The following information is among what must be made available: 

Record Company 

Label 

Artist 

Title 

Configuration (single/ album details) 

Level (Gold, Platinum and/or specified levels of Multi-Platinum) 

Selection or Catalog Number 

Release Date 

Genre

You can find more information directly from the RIAA for Singles here and Albums here.

Yes! We have an easy to understand roadmap to collect ALL your royalties here!

To collect all your music royalties, you need to register with multiple organizations including your distribution service, PROs, SoundExchange, and the MLC. Additionally, you should ensure your music metadata is accurate and track your royalties diligently.

For more details, visit the full post here.

Exclusive Rights in Copyrighted Works

1. to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords;
2. to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work;
3. to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale, rental, lease, or lending;
4. in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works, to perform the copyrighted work publicly;
5. in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, to display the copyrighted work publicly; and
6. in the case of sound recordings, to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of a digital-audio transmission.

Master-generated royalties are payments made to the owner of a song's master recording. Whenever your song gets streamed on platforms like Spotify, used in movies, commercials, or TV shows, the owner of the master recording (often a record label or independent artist) earns these royalties. These are distinct from songwriter royalties and ensure the creators are compensated for the actual recording of their music being used.

Master royalties are collected by a music distributor, such as TLR Distribution. The distributor handles the collection of recording royalties from stores and streaming platforms for the master recording owner. They then distribute these royalties back to the label or artist directly.

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, like inventions, artistic works, designs, and symbols, that are legally protected from unauthorized use by others. It's important because it gives creators exclusive rights to their creations, encouraging innovation and creativity by allowing them to benefit financially from their work. This protection helps ensure that creators and inventors are motivated to develop new ideas, which can lead to advancements in technology, culture, and overall societal progress.

For more details, you can refer to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) definition.

A PRO, or Performing Rights Organization, is a company that helps songwriters and music publishers get paid when their music is played publicly. This includes performances on the radio, TV, live venues, and streaming services. PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in the U.S. collect performance royalties on behalf of music creators and ensure they receive compensation for their work.

Cover Song

A cover song is when you perform and record a song written by someone else. That's perfectly fine, and we can help you get the necessary license in your User Portal.

Sampling

Sampling involves using a part of another artist's actual recording. For example, using Ariana Grande's original "Dangerous Woman" track requires written permission. While possible, clearance can be challenging and costly, especially for smaller artists. Unauthorized samples can lead to legal issues, so always ensure you have the rights or proper clearances. If unsure, email our support team for help.

For more on songs in the Public Domain, click here.

Spotify has made it easy to see and share lyrics, thanks to their partnership with Musixmatch. Now, you can see song lyrics directly in the app for most tracks in their massive library.

Lyrics are available to everyone, whether you're using Free or Premium, on iOS, Android, desktops, gaming consoles, and TVs.

How can I add my lyrics to Spotify?

If you're an artist and want your lyrics on Spotify, you'll need to add them through Musixmatch. Musixmatch also offers a service called Musixmatch for Music Creators, where artists and labels can sign up to upload and sync their lyrics.

If you see "Lyrics aren't available for this song," it means they haven't been added yet. The Facebook Rights Manager team is adding new lyrics daily with help from Musixmatch.

Want your lyrics to show up in Instagram Stories? Make sure to let your music publisher know, or you can register them directly with Musixmatch. 

As your trusted partner, we want to alert you about some misleading ads we've seen for fake music promotion services.

Third parties promising playlist placements or a set number of streams for a fee are likely using shady practices. These can jeopardize your hard work, potentially leading to withheld streams, lost royalties, or even the removal of your catalog from streaming services.

Our streaming partners work hard to ensure streams are genuine, reflecting real listener intent. If they find that you, or someone you've hired, have used bots, click farms, or paid for playlist spots, your entire catalog could be permanently removed.

When looking for a music promotion service, always do thorough research.

Learn more here: Spotify's guide on third-party services and Artificial streaming explained.

TikTok now lets artists directly request their Music tab. You can easily do this by following this link: https://www.tiktok.com/m-c/music_artist_certification_h5/index.html?enter_from=ops_one_one

Artist Relationship Concerns

If an artist raises a genuine complaint about how their content is used on a channel, the channel may remove the content to maintain a good relationship with the artist. This decision is at the channel's discretion, and they will notify our support team about the removal. If the content was provided for legitimate reasons, no strike will be applied against the artist or label.

Content Damaging a Channel's Brand

Channels can remove any content that might harm their brand or users. They can also issue a strike against the label or artist if they find it justified. If content is removed, the channel will usually inform our support team, explaining the reason for the removal and whether it resulted in a strike.

Manipulation of Streams and Charts

If tracks show suspicious streaming activity or potential artificial manipulation, the provider or user will be notified, and the tracks may be removed pending an investigation by the channel's legal team in consultation with the content provider.

You can't upload songs with uncleared materials like samples or remixes unless you have permission from all parties involved.

However, you're welcome to upload remixes of your own work without any issues.

If your remix involves another artist's song or any part of their original recording, you'll need to get permission from the original artist before uploading.