Lil' Drummaboy Recordings' Blog
25 Years of Excellence
How to Prepare Your Track for Distribution After Recording
by illiad | March 24, 2025
After months (or even years) of hard work in the studio, your track is finally recorded and ready for the world to hear. But before you can get your music on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, there's a crucial step that every artist needs to take: preparing your track for distribution.
At Lil’ Drummaboy Recordings, Philadelphia’s trusted recording studio and audio engineering school, we guide artists through every step of the recording process. In this post, we'll walk you through the essential steps to ensure your track is ready for a smooth distribution journey.
1. Final Mix and Mastering.
Before you even think about uploading your track, make sure it’s been mixed and mastered properly. This is the most crucial step in making your track sound professional and polished.
Mixing: This is where you balance all elements of your song—vocals, instruments, effects, etc. Make sure everything sounds clean, balanced, and cohesive.
Mastering: Mastering is the final step in making it sound polished and ready for distribution. It involves refining the mix, adjusting levels, equalizing frequencies, and optimizing it for various listening environments (headphones, cars, speakers).
2. Choose the Right File Format.
Once your track is mixed and mastered, you need to export it in the correct file format.
WAV or AIFF: These are the most commonly accepted file formats for music distribution. They’re high-quality, uncompressed formats that ensure your track maintains its full sound.
Resolution: Make sure your track is in a resolution of 16-bit or 24-bit, with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz (the standard for most streaming platforms).
Bitrate: For streaming, aim for a 320 kbps MP3 for the best balance between quality and file size.
3. Prepare Your Metadata
Proper metadata is essential for ensuring your track is correctly attributed across streaming platforms. This includes details like:
Song Title: Ensure it matches the official release title.
Artist Name: Double-check spelling and add featured artists.
Album Art: Meet size/resolution requirements (3000x3000 pixels, JPG or PNG).
ISRC Code: This helps track royalties. Get one from your distributor if needed.
At Lil’ Drummaboy Recordings, we help artists prepare tracks with all necessary metadata for smooth distribution.
4. Choose Your Distribution Platform.
There are multiple ways to distribute your music digitally. Some popular music distribution services include:
TuneCore
DistroKid
CD Baby
Symphonic Distribution
These services will help you get your music on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal. Each platform has its own submission process and fees, so take the time to research which option best suits your needs and goals. Whether you're distributing a single track or an entire album, choosing the right distributor is crucial for getting your music in front of listeners.
5. Set Your Release Date and Pre-Save Links
Once your track is ready for distribution, it’s time to plan your release. Set a release date that gives you enough time to market your song properly. We recommend a 2-4 week lead time to allow for pre-release promotion and pre-save links. Pre-save links help generate buzz and allow fans to save your track to their libraries ahead of the official release.
6. Promote Your Track Before and After the Release
Even before the song is released, start building excitement around it. Share teasers, behind-the-scenes content, and countdowns on your social media. Engage with your audience to create anticipation.
After the release, continue promoting your music through email newsletters, live streams, interviews, and social media campaigns. The more you engage with your audience, the more your chances are of gaining traction on streaming platforms.
6. Track Your Royalties and Analytics
Once your track is live, use your distributor’s platform to monitor how your song is performing. Most distribution services offer analytics tools to help you track streams, downloads, and revenue. This information is essential for understanding your audience and adjusting your marketing strategy for future releases.
Lil' Drummaboy Recordings, LLC.
818 South Street, Ste. B
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Tel: (215) 574-1400
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