Why Do I Have to Enter Information Twice — for the Release and for Each Track?
Question:
I already entered the title, artist name, and contributor roles at the release level. Why do I have to repeat everything again under the “Tracks” tab?
Because a release and a track are not the same thing.
Platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) don’t publish individual tracks — they publish releases, which are containers that include one or more tracks.
Think of it like a CD: the CD has its own title, cover art, and artist. But each track inside can have different writers, roles, copyrights, and release dates.
Digital distribution systems strictly follow this structure. It comes from the physical era and is still globally standardized.
Data Belonging to the Release:
- Release title
- Cover artwork
- Label
- EAN / UPC code
- Overall list of artists and contributors
- Global metadata: genre, release date, description
Data Belonging to Each Track:
- Track title
- ISRC code
- Individual contributors and their exact roles (vocal, instrument, producer, etc.)
- Copyrights and publishing info
- Territory settings (e.g. different tracks available in different countries)
- Original track release date (can be different from the release date)
What If the Release Only Has One Track?
Even if your release includes just one track, it’s still required to:
- Make the release and track titles identical
- Ensure artist and contributor info matches at both levels
- Fill in all the track-level fields — no exceptions
Can This Be Automated?
Yes! On the release page, there's a button called “Copy artists and contributors to all tracks”.
This will transfer your release-level data directly into every track, saving you time and effort.
But editing tracks individually is still necessary because:
- Different tracks may have different contributors
- Rights and licenses may vary per track
- In compilations, remasters, and collections — this is absolutely required
Why Is This So Complicated?
Because it’s how the industry works.
The structure of releases vs. tracks comes from physical formats and has been inherited by digital systems.
For example:
- Apple Music and Spotify receive your release as a whole
- But collecting societies (RAO, ASCAP, PRS, etc.) need data per track
So What Should I Do?
- Use the “copy to tracks” button to save time
- Fill in per-track details where needed
- Ask our support team if anything is unclear
This ensures your release will:
- Appear correctly on platforms
- Be legally protected
- Receive proper royalties
Thanks for releasing music with us. We see your work — and we’re here to make it easier.