Some DSPs have very specific requirements regarding writer/contributor/performer credits. In some cases, submissions may be rejected if these requirements are not met. This guide will help you avoid these issues and ensure all desired DSPs accept your submission.
Please note, this will not affect any tracks that you have already created. Your changes will affect your future releases.
\uD83D\uDCD8Â Instructions
Include all individuals who contributed to the creation of the music and assign an appropriate role. These roles must be defined at the artist level to ensure successful distribution.
When creating a new artist profile, be sure to include the artist's legal name and define an associated songwriter/contributor role - not a pseudonym or artist handle.
Each track must include a songwriter/composer credit. If these roles are properly defined at the artist level, their songwriter or contributor role will populate a track credited to that artist.
Songwriting roles & Performance roles
Songwriting Roles
This is used to note that this person has an active role in writing or composing the music that appears on the recordings. This is different from a performance role. A song-writing role includes writing lyrics, authoring the musical ideas, and composition, which is unrelated to the actual recording or production process.
Can a person have both a song-writing role and a performance role?
Yes, just select all relevant roles on both fields
Music
Major role in writing or composing the music or musical ideas
Lyrics
Major role in writing the words used in the lyrical content, but not how it is presented musically.
Performance and Other Roles
This section defines performance roles as well as studio roles. A performance role includes any person or instrumentalist that can be heard on an album, song, or music video. Studio roles can include a person who did the mastering on the track.
Select all appropriate roles from the dropdown menu for performers and other roles.
Can a person have both a song-writing role and a performance role?
Yes, just select all relevant roles on both fields.
Artist
General category for a person carrying a major performance role.
Producer
Major role in the production of the final recordings.
Vocalist
Major role in singing, speaking, rapping, or vocalizing on the final recordings.
Member
General category for someone who is a resident member of a band, group, duo etc.
Display Credits
For artists' credits, specify the desired artist name in the field below.
Example 1
Let's say "John Smith" is the lead vocalist on this track.
You may choose to customize how the DSP displays this credit in the following way: "John as lead-singer" or "Johnny on lead-vocals"; or if John performed various roles, you might enter "John: Music, Vocals and Guitar". The format and text you choose is up to you and the performer.
Example 2
Let's say John's instrument is a violin, but the band prefers to use the term "fiddle" instead of violin. In this case, you may customize the display credit to say "Johnny on the fiddle".
Do not enter display credits unless you have the need to customize how your credits are displayed.
Performing Rights Organization (PRO) details
If this person is a member of a PRO, be sure to enter their name exactly as it appears in their PRO
registration. It is also a good idea to gather their IPI number so that we have complete details about their PRO registration and can communicate them to DSPs when necessary.
Aliases
Many songwriters, composers, and performers use aliases or stage names for various purposes. If this person uses aliases, enter them here.
This information is currently only for internal use. We do not send this information to DSPs, but the information may be useful for publishing administration later.
Do not enter any aliases irrelevant to this band, group, or artist name. If the artist has aliases that they want to be treated as a completely separate entity unrelated to the music under this artist’s name, do not enter it on this form.