AFEM and CI have teamed up to create a “Meta Data Best Practice Guide”, and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Why you need to know about the Meta Data Best Practices Guide:
Metadata is not always talked about by musicians, but it’s extremely important that musicians understand why it should be entered correctly prior to distribution and why it matters at all.
In terms of Symphonic, whenever you upload and register an album with us, all the information that you input is considered metadata. Simply, metadata is a set of data that describes and gives information about other data.
AFEM says that “understanding metadata is crucial to getting tracks discovered by fans and paid for by broadcasters, streaming platforms and stores.” and this new guide aims to make sure that every stream, play, and download is accounted for.
Why is Metadata so important?
When you release music into the world, it’s out there forever. Whether it’s available legally or illegally, for download or stream, it can make it across the globe in an instant. Many countries (like the US) have laws in place to regulate commercial music use. But without song identification and verification, which uses metadata, this is not always an accurate process.
Ever notice how your release information automatically populates in iTunes after a sale? Or how streams from Spotify and sales through Amazon both show on your Symphonic account? Or how all registered songwriters receive compensation from a PRO when their music is licensed?
Metadata is the driving force for all these scenarios. Without metadata, none of this is possible and means you may not be receiving the royalty payments you have earned from commercial use of your music.
Releasing music without accurate metadata is like writing a book report and not signing your name. Without accurate metadata, you don’t just miss out on royalties, sales, play counts and more, you miss out on well-deserved credit for your hard work.
CI’s Tomas Paliūnas adds, “Being in the digital music market for more than fifteen years, CI has accumulated the best knowledge and expertise in the independent music market when it comes to digital music and metadata. We are very happy to work with AFEM and share some of the best and most effective metadata management practices that will help our community and beloved dance music thrive in the digital environment”.
To download the guide, click here.
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