Prepare the master
Export the final mix as an uncompressed WAV file — the standard is 24-bit / 48kHz. Listen to the file all the way through, from beginning to end, on headphones and on a phone speaker. Check the start and the end for clicks, and don't leave extra silence at either end.
Cover art that passes review
Your cover art travels with the release to every store. The spec is 3000×3000 pixels, RGB. Keep text minimal and readable at thumbnail size, and avoid platform logos, account handles, prices and links — stores reject cover art that carries them.
Metadata and codes
Metadata is how the world finds you: an artist name spelled the same way on every release, the real title with no decoration, and the correct language and genre tags. The codes — ISRC for the recording and UPC for the release — are assigned during preparation; you don't need to buy them anywhere.
Choose the release date
Give yourself room. A date several weeks out leaves space for review, delivery and pitching before day one. Line the date up with anything you control — a video, a show, a run of posts — so the release lands with support behind it rather than alone.
Request your invite
Mazufa works by invitation only. Completed applications enter a human review queue as capacity allows. Submitting does not create an account; those accepted may receive a dedicated preparation invite.
After acceptance
After preparation, your release is packaged to spec and delivered to every platform, and its data is pitched to the appropriate editorial and algorithmic surfaces. From there, watch your dashboard: streams, saves and playlist adds, per platform and per country.
The fingerprint code every recording carries — it tracks streams and earnings worldwide.
Your release barcode — one per single, EP or album.
Digital service provider — Spotify, Apple Music, Anghami and every store on earth.
The problem nobody talks about
Many artists focus on uploading tracks and choosing distribution platforms, but overlook a fundamental question: what happens to their tracks on Spotify, Apple Music and elsewhere if their credit card expires or the bank account is closed? The answer differs from one service to another, and the consequences can go as far as your tracks being deleted without sufficient warning.
How the payment model works with subscription-based distributors
Before we understand the risk, we have to understand the business model:
- Another distributor relies on an annual subscription paid in advance. If the subscription does not renew automatically because the payment fails, the account enters a limited grace period, and then the tracks are at risk of deletion.
- Another distributor charges an annual fee on every album or single. If the payment renewal fails, overdue releases are deleted from the platforms in line with their published policy.
In both cases, renewing payment on time is the condition for your music to stay distributed.
What exactly happens when a payment fails?
- The notice stage: The service usually sends an email informing you that the payment has failed. Always make sure the email address you registered is active and that its messages reach you.
- Grace period: Both services give a limited period to put things right, and it is subject to change under each service's policies.
- Deletion from the platforms: If the grace period ends without the payment being settled, the service sends a takedown request to Spotify, Apple Music and others. Carrying out that deletion usually takes days to weeks.
- Impact on cumulative data: Listener counts, library saves and play statistics may all be affected after deletion and re-upload.
Can the songs be restored after deletion?
Yes, but there are consequences. If you renew your subscription or settle the overdue fees, you can re-upload the tracks. There are two important points, though:
- The re-uploaded track may get a new Spotify URI, which means anyone who saved it to a playlist will lose the link.
- Previous play statistics will not come back in most cases.
Practical steps to protect your songs
- Turn on payment notifications: Make sure the distribution service is linked to an email address you check regularly.
- Use a dedicated card: Open a virtual or prepaid card dedicated to music distribution subscriptions, and check its balance before the renewal date.
- Record the renewal dates: Put them in your calendar with a reminder at least two weeks ahead.
- Keep copies of your files: Save the original audio files and the ISRC and UPC data for every release somewhere safe.
- Consider services that do not require an annual subscription: Some distribution services work on a commission on earnings instead of a fixed fee, which reduces the risk of a sudden takedown because of a payment problem.
Mazufa: distribution without subscription worries
At Mazufa we work on a different model: the terms of the current plan apply, and there is no risk of your tracks being deleted because of an expired card. We distribute your music and take a commission on your earnings, which means your tracks staying on the platforms is not tied to a subscription renewal date.
Summary
A late payment problem is not just an administrative annoyance; it can mean your releases are deleted within days. The answer: watch your renewal dates, keep a dedicated card with enough balance, and always save your files. Better still, choose a distribution model that does not hold the fate of your tracks hostage to an annual payment.