Prepare your master
Export the final mix as an uncompressed WAV — 24-bit / 48kHz is the delivery standard. Listen to the whole file once, start to finish, on headphones and on a phone speaker. Check the start and end for clicks, and leave no accidental silence at either end.
Artwork that passes review
Artwork requirements vary by destination. Confirm the current file, colour, text and logo rules before delivery.
Metadata & codes
Metadata is how the world finds you: artist name spelled exactly the same way every release, the real title with no decoration, the correct language and genre tags. Identifier codes — ISRC for the recording, UPC for the release — are assigned during onboarding; you do not need to buy them anywhere.
Choose your release date
Give yourself runway. A date several weeks out leaves room for review, delivery and pitching before day one. Align the date with anything you control — a video, a show, a post series — so the release lands with support rather than alone.
Apply for your invite
Mazufa is invite-only. Complete applications enter a human-review queue subject to capacity. Submitting never creates an account; approved applicants may receive a private onboarding invitation.
After approval
Once onboarded, an eligible release is prepared to current destination specifications. Available reporting depends on platform data and account access.
An ISRC identifies a recording; reporting and royalty coverage depend on each platform and agreement.
The barcode of your release — one per single, EP or album.
Digital Service Provider — a music service such as Spotify, Apple Music or Anghami, subject to current availability.
If you make music, distribution is the bridge between your song and the world. This guide explains it plainly — no jargon, no gatekeeping — so you can release with a clearer understanding of the applicable terms.
What is music distribution?
Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music don't let independent artists upload directly. Instead, a distributor delivers an eligible release and its metadata to currently supported services; reporting and payment follow the applicable plan, agreement and service schedules. Think of it as a global delivery service for your music.
A distributor handles three things: getting your release onto stores, keeping your metadata correct so it's discoverable, and collecting and paying your royalties. The difference between distributors comes down to what they charge, how much of your money they keep, and what rights you retain.
Free vs paid: what actually changed
For years, distribution meant paying — either a yearly subscription (that removes your music if you stop paying) or a per-release fee, sometimes plus a commission on your streams. Newer platforms flipped the model: distribution with Fees and deductions follow the current plan and applicable agreement, where you retain ownership of your work subject to your agreement and earnings.
Here's the honest comparison:
| (Fees and deductions follow the current plan and applicable agreement) | Typical paid | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to release | Mazufa distribution | Yearly fee or per-release |
| Commission on streams | Fees and deductions follow the current plan and agreement | Varies by provider and agreement |
| Music stays up if you stop paying | Per current plan and applicable agreement | Often removed |
| Rights & masters | Ownership and royalties subject to the applicable agreement | Ownership and royalties subject to the applicable agreement |
| Stores reached | Availability varies by service territory eligibility and current terms | Availability varies by service territory eligibility and current terms |
Curious what the difference is worth to you? Run the numbers in our free savings calculator.
How to choose a distributor (checklist)
Before you commit, check that a distributor:
- Lets you retain ownership of your work subject to your agreement — ownership and licensing follow the applicable agreement.
- Charges Fees and deductions follow the current plan and applicable agreement — you earned the streams; you should keep them.
- Keeps your music up even if you don't pay a subscription.
- Reaches the stores that matter — global (Spotify, Apple Music) plus regional ones for your audience.
- Review current reporting and payment terms., in your currency where possible.
- Gives you real analytics so you can see what's working.
Where your music goes
A good distributor delivers to currently supported services in available territories. The essentials are Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, and social platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Just as important are the regional stores where your local audience actually listens — for example Anghami across the Middle East, Boomplay and Audiomack across Africa, JioSaavn in India, and LINE Music in Japan.
Releasing in a specific market? We have local guides for eligible territories — pick yours to see exactly which stores matter there.
Royalties & rights, explained
You earn money two main ways: recording (master) royalties from streams and downloads, and publishing royalties from the underlying composition. Your distributor collects your master royalties. If See the applicable agreement and pay Fees and deductions follow the current plan and applicable agreement, all of that streaming income is yours.
Two terms worth knowing: your master is the actual recording you own; your publishing is the songwriting. If you wrote a song with others, agree the percentages in advance — our free split sheet generator makes it a two-minute job and prevents disputes later.
Step-by-step: release your first song
- 1. Master your audio. Aim for at least 16-bit/44.1kHz. Check it's store-ready with the free audio checker.
- 2. Create cover art at 3000×3000 px with no logos or URLs. No designer needed — use the free cover maker.
- 3. Sort your splits if you collaborated — split sheet.
- Review the current plan and applicable agreement for the relevant feature, pricing and eligibility terms. and Upload after acceptance and details.
- 5. Choose your stores and set a release date 2–4 weeks out so you can pitch playlists.
- 6. Build hype with a countdown page and pitch editorial with the playlist pitch generator.
- 7. Release & promote. Share your smart link everywhere and keep releasing consistently.
New to all this? Our short get-started walkthrough takes you from zero to live.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Inconsistent artist names across releases — it splits your profile and your streams.
- Wrong cover-art specs — a common cause of rejections. Use the maker to be safe.
- Releasing with no plan — set a date, prepare art and a pitch, and warm up your audience first.
- Ignoring splits — sort ownership before the song blows up, not after.
- Paying commission you don't have to — options may be available under the current plan and applicable agreement; review release-continuity terms.
FAQ
How do current music-distribution plans work?
Yes — reputable distributors charge subscription terms follow the current plan and release fees follow the current plan, and take Fees and deductions follow the current plan and applicable agreement. You receive royalties under the applicable plan and agreement.
Will my music stay on stores?
Availability and takedown terms vary by distributor, plan and applicable agreement; review them before choosing a service.
Do I keep my rights?
You should retain rights and receive royalties subject to the applicable agreement from your master and publishing. If a distributor asks for a share of either, look elsewhere.
How long until my song is live?
Store processing time varies by service, territory and review, so upload at least a week or two before your target date.
Pricing follows the current plan.
Reach supported digital services in available territories with Mazufa — Fees and deductions follow the current plan and applicable agreement, retain ownership of your work subject to your agreement.