Switching distributors can feel like stepping into the unknown. Even if you’re not happy with your current distributor, the idea of making the switch to someone new can be intimidating. What if something goes wrong? What if your streams reset? What if your playlist placements disappear? And the truth is, these fears are valid… switching can be risky, but with the right tools (and the right distributor), it doesn’t have to be! In this post, we’re breaking down what nobody tells you about switching distributors and how to do it right, no stress necessary.
What No One Tells You About Switching Distributors
Let’s break it down…
Switching distributors isn’t just about uploading your tracks to a new platform and calling it a day. Behind the scenes, your catalog is tied to an intricate web of metadata, codes, and connections that platforms like Spotify and Apple Music use to track your streams, saves, playlist placements, and more.
What no one tells you is how fragile those connections can be… and how easy it is to lose them if things aren’t done right. If your metadata changes even a little, or if your new uploads aren’t linked correctly, you could unintentionally wipe out years of algorithmic history. And once that data’s gone, there’s no guarantee it’ll come back. That’s why understanding the process (and using the right tools) is the difference between a smooth switch and a total nightmare.
To help you do that, let’s clear up some of the most common myths about switching distributors…
Myth #1: “My Streams Will Just Follow Me”
One of the biggest misconceptions about switching distributors is that your streams will carry over automatically if you re-upload the same songs. Unfortunately, that’s not quite how it works.
Streaming platforms don’t track your audio; they track your ISRCs (International Standard Recording Codes). These unique identifiers are what tie your streams, playlist placements, and algorithmic history to each track. If you reupload a song with a new ISRC or inconsistent metadata, it’s treated like a brand-new release. That means starting from zero…. Zero streams, zero saves, zero playlist adds.
This is where Symphonic’s TransferTrack comes in handy. With TransferTrack, you can preserve your original ISRCs, UPCs, release dates, and metadata to make sure your streams stay intact. Even better, the tool pulls this info directly from your Spotify artist profile or UPC, so you don’t have to dig through old files or guess at what info to carry over. Once everything is matched up correctly, DSPs like Spotify will link the new delivery to the original, keeping your streaming history, playlist placements, and fan saves right where they belong.
Myth #2: “I’ll Just Re-upload Everything Manually”
On paper, re-uploading everything yourself may seem like the easiest route. You’ve got the files, you know the songs… how hard could it be? Actually, this is where a lot of artists run into trouble.
Manual re-uploads leave a lot of room for small mistakes that can cause big problems. Things like a slightly different artist name, a missing songwriter credit, or even a wrong release date can prevent the new version from linking properly to the original. And if you assign a new ISRC or UPC, platforms like Spotify will treat it as a completely new release, meaning your play counts, playlist placements, and fan saves won’t carry over. It’s also easy to accidentally create duplicates, which can confuse listeners, mess with your algorithmic performance, or even get flagged by DSPs.
Long story short, manually rebuilding your catalog is not impossible, but it is a risky and time-consuming process. If you’re going to switch, it’s in your best interest to make sure there’s a system in place to handle the technical details for you. Plus, no matter what, you should always double-check that your metadata matches exactly. (That’s music biz 101 right there!)
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Myth #3: “All Distributors Offer the Same Support”
At first glance, a lot of distributors seem pretty similar. They all get your music onto DSPs, offer some analytics, maybe even have a few promotional tools. But when you dig a little deeper (especially during a catalog transfer), that’s when the differences really start to show.
Some distributors provide bare-minimum delivery. Others go the extra mile to help you keep everything intact and set you up for long-term success. Things like built-in royalty splits, recoupment tracking, detailed UGC analytics, and hands-on support can make a huge difference. And not just during the switch, but in how you manage your career moving forward, too.
For example, what if after your catalog is moved over, you want to track how your music is performing on TikTok and YouTube? Or maybe you need to split royalties with multiple collaborators and want to avoid the headache of doing it manually. Having access to tools like automated royalty splits, recoupment features, and UGC tracking shouldn’t be considered extras; they’re part of what makes a distributor truly work for you.
Think you’re ready to make the switch?
If you feel like you aren’t getting enough from your current distributor, it may be time to level up. The right distributor should help you grow, not hold you back. That means offering clear, timely royalty payments, giving you access to helpful tools and features, providing real support when you need it, and actively helping you build your career.
If you’re tired of lackluster support, a little planning goes a long way in making sure everything transfers over smoothly. Here’s what you can do:
- Back up your metadata and audio files. Even if your new distributor can pull data from DSPs, it’s smart to have your own copies of ISRCs, artwork, credits, lyrics, and release dates.
- Use a catalog migration tool instead of re-uploading manually. If your new distributor offers something like TransferTrack, use it! Tools like this are designed to carry over all the metadata that matters, so your streams, playlists, and release history stay connected.
- Time your switch carefully. Avoid switching during a rollout or right before a major release. It’s best to move your catalog during a slow period, giving platforms time to update and link everything correctly.
- Double-check everything before hitting submit. Make sure the metadata matches the original release exactly: ISRCs, titles, contributor names, release dates… everything. Even a small mismatch can cause issues.
- Loop in your collaborators. If you’re using a tool like SplitShare, set up royalty splits ahead of time so payouts stay on track post-transfer. Bonus: they’ll get their own login and visibility into earnings.
- Invite your team to the platform. Whether it’s a manager, publicist, or label partner, tools like User Roles in our SymphonicMS let you assign access to different parts of your account without sharing passwords or overwhelming them with info they don’t need.
Considering coming over to Symphonic? 👀
We’d love to have you! We are also incredibly proud of the tools we’ve created to ensure the switch is as smooth as possible, ensuring you don’t lose your playlists, stream counts, or followers in the process. Here’s how it works:
- Create your Symphonic account. Sign up and get approved at symphonic.com to start the process.
- Use TransferTrack to re-deliver your catalog using the original metadata. This tool imports your releases automatically with the exact same ISRCs, track titles, artist name, release date, and more, telling DSPs it’s the same release, just coming from a new distributor.
- Wait for the new version to go live. Give platforms time to match everything correctly. This usually takes a few days, depending on the DSP.
- Check that everything looks right. Make sure streams, saves, playlists, and other data have carried over correctly. (Don’t worry, our team can help if anything looks off.)
- Take down the old version from your previous distributor. This helps avoid duplicate listings and keeps your analytics clean moving forward.
If anything gets tricky for you, our team is here to support you every step of the way with personalized onboarding, real-time updates, and hands-on help. You focus on the music, and we’ll handle the heavy lifting. 💪
And if you want to dive deeper into the tools we have to offer, check this out…
It’s time to take your music career to the next level… and we can help you get there.
Here at Symphonic, we pride ourselves on providing established and thriving artists, record labels, managers, and distributors with the team, music marketing, and business intelligence they need to grow revenue and brand awareness through music promotion and distribution to over 200+ digital music stores and streaming services.
Whether you’re just starting out or an established act, we have a plan tailored to your specific needs. Click the links below to check out our two available plans for artists at each level below…
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