Uploading and Editing Your Music
By Aziz G
By Aziz G
Manage every step of your DistroVibe release.
Transferring Your Music to DistroVibe Without Losing Stream Counts
Moving your catalog from another distributor (such as DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, or Ditto) to DistroVibe is seamless. By properly matching your metadata and ISRC codes, you can transfer your releases across digital streaming platforms (DSPs) while keeping your play counts, playlist placements, and algorithmic momentum intact. Key Requirements to Preserve Stream Counts For streaming services (like Spotify and Apple Music) to automatically recognize and merge your releases, your DistroVibe submission must match the original version across four critical fields: 1. Exact Same ISRC Codes: Re-use the unique 12-character ISRC assigned to each original track. 2. Identical Audio Master: Use the exact same audio file (same length, mix, master, and sample rate). 3. Exact Track Titles & Artist Names: Ensure spelling, capitalizations, feature credits, and version tags match the original release verbatim. 4. Original UPC / EAN (Recommended): Entering your original album UPC ensures seamless cross-platform catalog linking. Transfer Method 1: Automated Catalog Import (Spotify Ingestion Tool) DistroVibe offers an automated import flow to pull your live Spotify metadata directly into your dashboard: 1. Search Your Artist Profile: Go to the Catalog Transfer tool in your DistroVibe dashboard and locate your live artist profile. 2. Select Releases to Import: Choose the singles, EPs, or albums you want to migrate to DistroVibe. 3. Review & Complete Metadata: - Upload the high-resolution, uncompressed original master audio files (.wav or .flac). - Add required genre tags, explicit flags, and contributor credits (songwriters, producers, lyricists). - Confirm the pre-populated ISRC codes match your records. 4. Submit for Distribution: Deliver the releases through DistroVibe. 5. Wait for Ingestion & Merging: Allow 2 to 5 days for DSP algorithms to link the releases and sync play counts. 6. Issue Takedowns with Your Previous Distributor: Once your DistroVibe releases are confirmed live and merged on DSPs, request a catalog takedown from your old distributor. Transfer Method 2: Manual Release Recreation If you prefer to set up your releases manually: 1. Create a New Release: Start a standard upload from your DistroVibe dashboard. 2. Input Existing ISRCs & UPC: In the release details, select "I already have my own ISRC / UPC" and enter your existing codes. 3. Mirror All Details: Match the original cover artwork (minimum 3000x3000px), title casing, and full contributor credits. 4. Publish Release: Deliver the project to all stores. 5. Monitor Stream Linking: Verify that the stream counter on Spotify and Apple Music displays your existing metrics across both active versions. 6. Request Previous Distributor Takedown: Once the stream counts are visibly unified, trigger the takedown from your previous distributor's control panel. Step-by-Step Takedown Guidelines For instructions on issuing safe takedown notices across common distributors without causing catalog downtime, refer to our dedicated guide: How Do I Take Down My Music from My Previous Distributor?
How to Take Down Your Music from Your Previous Distributor
Once your transferred releases are live on DistroVibe and your stream counts, playlist placements, and algorithmic data have successfully merged across major DSPs (such as Spotify and Apple Music), you can safely issue takedown requests through your former distributor. Important Pre-Takedown Checklist - Confirm Dual-Delivery Status: Ensure your DistroVibe release is fully ingested and visible on digital platforms alongside your old version. - Verify Metadata & Stream Linking: Confirm that stream counters have linked on Spotify and Apple Music before taking down the old release to prevent any gap in availability or loss of playlist placement. - Do Not Delete Too Early: Initiating a takedown before the new version goes live and merges can result in temporary catalog downtime and playlist removal. Distributor-Specific Takedown Instructions Below are step-by-step instructions for requesting takedowns across major distribution platforms: Amuse 1. Log in via the mobile app or web portal at amuse.io. 2. Go to My Music and click on the release you want to remove. 3. Select Take down release and confirm. AWAL 1. Log in to the AWAL Workstation and navigate to Support. 2. Submit a support ticket including the UPC(s) and release titles for the projects you are removing. 3. AWAL processes takedowns manually; monitor your registered email for confirmation from their support team. CD Baby 1. Log into your CD Baby account. 2. Navigate to Albums & Singles (or View All Releases). 3. Click View/Edit next to the specific release. 4. Click Distribution, then select Cancellation Options. 5. Complete the cancellation form and submit. DistroKid 1. Log in to your DistroKid account. 2. Select the release you wish to remove from stores. 3. Click Edit Release. 4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Remove this release from all stores. Ditto Music 1. Log into your Ditto Music dashboard. 2. Navigate to My Releases under the My Music tab. 3. Click the dropdown menu next to the target release and click Takedown. LANDR 1. Log in to your LANDR account and open the Distribution dashboard. 2. Click Manage on the release you want to remove. 3. Select Pause under the release title to initiate the store takedown. Stem 1. Email support@stem.is from your registered account email (or contact your dedicated Account Manager) with the following details: - Artist Name - Release Title - UPC - Reason for takedown (e.g., "Catalog transfer to DistroVibe") Symphonic 1. Log in to SymphonicMS. 2. Go to Catalog > Releases. 3. Select the release and click Take Down. TuneCore 1. Log into your TuneCore account. 2. Navigate to Manage Subscriptions (or Discography). 3. Select the release and choose Takedown All Stores. UnitedMasters 1. Log in to your UnitedMasters account. 2. Go to the Music section and click the Live tab. 3. Select the release, click the three dots (...) on the right-hand side, and choose Takedown Release. Ingestion Timeline Once submitted, store-level takedowns typically take 2 to 7 business days to process across global DSPs. Because your DistroVibe version is already live with identical ISRC metadata, your listeners will experience zero interruption in playback.
Why You Must Take Down Duplicate Releases After Migrating to DistroVibe
When transferring your catalog to DistroVibe, it is essential to request a takedown from your previous distributor as soon as your DistroVibe releases are confirmed live and merged across digital service providers (DSPs). Leaving duplicate versions of the same release active across multiple distributors introduces severe catalog conflicts and disrupts royalty accounting: Key Risks of Duplicate Catalog Deliveries - Metadata & Storefront Conflicts: Having duplicate deliveries of the same single, EP, or album creates catalog indexing collisions on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. This can result in broken artist discographies, missing track credits, or DSP algorithms hiding the release entirely from search results and release radars. - Rights Management & Fingerprinting Collisions: Automated fingerprinting systems—such as YouTube Content ID and Meta Rights Manager—strictly prohibit duplicate active deliveries. Dual deliveries trigger automated ownership collisions, leading to copyright strikes between distributors, administrative account holds, and DSPs placing your master royalties into escrow pending dispute resolution. - Stream Splitting & Audience Confusion: Duplicate listings across digital storefronts split playlist adds, save rates, and algorithmic momentum. Fans may stream unlinked versions, diluting your release metrics and complicating performance analytics. Best Practice Workflow 1. Upload to DistroVibe: Deliver your releases using your original ISRCs, exact audio masters, and matching metadata. 2. Verify Dual-Delivery & Merging: Wait for the DistroVibe version to go live and confirm that stream counts and playlist placements have unified on Spotify and Apple Music (typically 2–5 business days). 3. Trigger Previous Distributor Takedown: Once the stream counters are visibly linked, immediately request a store takedown from your former distributor to clean up redundant listings. For distributor-specific removal instructions, refer to our guide: How to Take Down Your Music from Your Previous Distributor.