6 Things to Do After You Sign Up for Music Distribution With Symphonic

Getting your music uploaded is only the start. After you sign up for music distribution with Symphonic, the next steps you take can help your release show up correctly, reach more listeners, collect more of the royalties you are owed, and give your music a stronger chance of getting support.

Use this checklist to make sure your artist profiles, lyrics, rights, YouTube monetization, SoundExchange setup, and release marketing are ready before your next release goes live.

Your Post-Signup Music Distribution Checklist

Before your next release, gather your artist name exactly as it appears on DSPs, official profile links, final artwork, final audio, lyrics, songwriter and publisher details, ISRCs if applicable, release date, marketing plan, and any story points that make the release stand out.

Once you have those pieces ready, work through the six steps below.

1. Claim and Update Your Artist Profiles

Your artist profile is often the first place fans, playlist editors, DSP teams, and potential partners go to understand who you are. A complete profile can help your music look more professional and make it easier for listeners to connect with you after they hear a song.

Start by claiming and updating your profiles on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, TIDAL, Deezer, Beatport, SoundCloud, Audiomack, and Pandora where applicable.

Before every release, double-check that your profiles include:

• A current artist image or logo
• A short, clear artist bio
• Correct social links and website links
• Accurate artist name styling
• Recent releases appearing on the correct artist page
• Profile tools like Artist Pick, featured playlists, tour dates, or merch where available

Need a platform-by-platform walkthrough? Read Symphonic’s guide on how to claim and update your artist page on major music platforms.

2. Submit Lyrics During Release Setup

If your tracks include vocals, lyrics should be part of your release prep. Accurate lyrics improve the listener experience, help platforms display the right words, and keep your release assets organized in one place.

When creating your release, submit lyrics exactly as they are performed in the audio. That means checking spelling, line breaks, featured vocal parts, clean versions, explicit wording, and any repeated hooks before you send the release in.

Symphonic currently supports static lyric delivery to Apple Music through the release setup process. If you are looking for synced lyrics, you can review the current guidance for Musixmatch.

For more details, check the Symphonic Help Desk article on lyrics on Apple Music and the guidelines for submitting lyrics.

3. Make Sure You Are Collecting Publishing Royalties

Music distribution royalties and publishing royalties are different. Distribution royalties are tied to the sound recording. Publishing royalties are tied to the composition, which includes the underlying song, lyrics, and melody.

If you are a songwriter, producer, composer, or publisher, you may need more than distribution to collect everything your music earns. At a minimum, make sure your songs are registered with the right Performing Rights Organization, often called a PRO. If you want help collecting publishing royalties from societies around the world, publishing administration can help.

Symphonic offers Publishing Administration through Songtrust to help songwriters and publishers collect publishing royalties globally. This is especially important if your music is being streamed, performed, broadcast, used in video, or earning outside your home territory.

Learn more about Symphonic Publishing Administration and read our guide on how to register with a PRO and collect performance royalties.

4. Apply for YouTube Content ID if Your Music Qualifies

YouTube Content ID helps identify uses of copyrighted audio across YouTube. For eligible music, it can help rightsholders monetize or manage fan-uploaded videos that use their sound recordings.

Not every track is a good fit for Content ID. Music that uses non-exclusive beats, royalty-free loops, unlicensed samples, public domain recordings, covers, remixes, meditation loops, or sound effects may not qualify. If the same audio elements are used by many creators, Content ID can create incorrect claims, so eligibility matters.

Before applying, make sure you control the rights needed to claim and monetize the recording. You should also understand how claims, allowlisting, disputes, and copyright policies work.

Start with Symphonic’s YouTube Content ID FAQs. You can also review YouTube Channel Administration if you want support with channel strategy, monetization, rights management, and reporting.

5. Register or Opt In for SoundExchange and Neighboring Rights

SoundExchange royalties are separate from the royalties you earn when your music is streamed on interactive platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. SoundExchange collects statutory digital performance royalties for sound recordings in the United States from non-interactive services and satellite radio, including services like SiriusXM, Pandora Radio, and iHeartRadio digital.

Symphonic can collect SoundExchange royalties on behalf of sound recording owners and rightsholders. Symphonic also offers U.S. and international royalty collection through SoundExchange where applicable.

One important note: Symphonic can collect for sound recording owners and rightsholders, but the featured artist portion must be handled by the artists themselves through SoundExchange. If you are both the artist and the sound recording owner, make sure both sides are covered.

To get started through Symphonic, enroll under your Account badge in SymphonicMS, then go to Enrollments. You can learn more in the Symphonic Help Desk articles on SoundExchange and neighboring rights.

6. Submit Marketing Drivers and Build Your Release Campaign

Marketing drivers are the details that help explain why your release matters. These can include your focus track, release story, artist background, genre, mood, press plans, tour dates, social media plans, content strategy, collaborations, notable supporters, and other momentum around the release.

For Symphonic Partner clients, marketing drivers can be submitted directly in SymphonicMS after a release is created and submitted. In SymphonicMS, go to Marketing, then DSP Pitching, then Marketing Drivers. Marketing drivers are currently available in English and are not available for Starter clients.

Lead time matters. Submit your marketing drivers at least four weeks before release day. For stronger release planning, five weeks is the minimum recommended lead time for Symphonic’s marketing team, and six weeks is ideal for delivery of the release and marketing drivers.

Even if marketing drivers are not available for your plan, you can still use Symphonic’s Release Campaign Builder to create an actionable release strategy. The tool is available for Starter and Partner accounts.

Learn more about Marketing Drivers, Release Campaign Builder, and best practices for marketing your release.

Quick Checklist Before Your Next Release

• Claim your artist profiles on key DSPs.
• Update your artist photos, bio, links, and profile tools.
• Confirm your release is appearing under the correct artist name.
• Submit accurate lyrics if your tracks include vocals.
• Register songs with your PRO if you are a songwriter or publisher.
• Review Publishing Administration if you want help collecting publishing royalties worldwide.
• Apply for YouTube Content ID only if your music qualifies.
• Enroll for SoundExchange collection if you own or control sound recordings.
• Create a release campaign plan before your release date.
• Submit marketing drivers early if your plan includes DSP pitching access.

Keep Building After Your Music Goes Live

Once your release is live, keep your momentum going. Share smart links, post short-form content, track analytics, update your profiles, follow up with fans, review playlist activity, and use performance data to plan the next release.

Symphonic gives artists, labels, managers, and distributors tools for music distribution, analytics, royalty splits, catalog transfers, marketing, rights management, YouTube services, publishing administration, and more.

Ready to distribute your music and build a stronger release plan? Explore Symphonic Starter and Partner plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first after signing up for music distribution?

Start by claiming your artist profiles and checking that your artist name, image, bio, links, and existing releases are correct across major platforms. This helps fans, curators, DSPs, and marketing teams find the right information about you.

Do I need SoundExchange if I already have music distribution?

Yes, you may still need SoundExchange. Distribution royalties and SoundExchange royalties are different. SoundExchange collects certain digital performance royalties for sound recordings from non-interactive services and satellite radio in the United States.

Does every release qualify for YouTube Content ID?

No. Content ID is best for music where you control the needed rights and the audio is unique enough to avoid incorrect claims. Tracks with non-exclusive beats, common loops, unlicensed samples, covers, remixes, or royalty-free audio may not qualify.

How early should I submit marketing drivers?

Submit marketing drivers at least four weeks before release day. For a stronger campaign, aim for five to six weeks so there is enough time for release delivery, review, pitching, and partner consideration.

Are publishing royalties included with music distribution?

No. Publishing royalties are separate from distribution royalties. If you write or publish songs, make sure your compositions are registered properly and consider Publishing Administration if you want help collecting publishing royalties globally.