Distribution basics: master, metadata, rights, delivery
Treat release delivery as four separate checks: audio artifact, metadata, rights record and distributor status.
Diagnosis
- Verify the exact master file and checksum when the release is critical.
- Compare metadata with the canonical record.
- Confirm rights and splits are resolved enough for your release context.
Decision
- Upload once from the controlled source.
- Review the distributor preview before submission.
- Archive the submitted version and confirmation.
Measurement boundary
Distributor rules and platform policies change; verify current requirements at the point of delivery.
Common failure: A clean master cannot compensate for wrong ownership or metadata.