Getting your music onto streaming platforms is the first step in building a career as an electronic music artist. Whether you're releasing your debut single or your tenth EP, understanding the distribution process is critical to maximizing your reach and revenue.
Choosing a Distribution Partner
The first decision you'll make is choosing how to get your music onto DSPs (Digital Service Providers) like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Deezer. There are two main paths:
Working with a label — Labels like Red Star Media handle distribution as part of the deal. Your music gets delivered to 150+ platforms, and the label manages metadata, release scheduling, and quality control. This is ideal if you want hands-on support and marketing behind your releases.
Self-distribution — Services like DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby let you upload directly. You keep more control, but you're responsible for everything from artwork specs to metadata accuracy.
Preparing Your Release
Before you submit anything, make sure you have these elements ready:
- •Final master — WAV file, 16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1kHz sample rate minimum
- •Artwork — 3000x3000 pixels, JPEG or PNG, no text that could be cut off
- •Metadata — Track title, artist name, featured artists, genre, subgenre, ISRC codes, UPC/EAN
- •Release date — Plan at least 3-4 weeks ahead for editorial playlist consideration
Metadata Matters More Than You Think
Metadata is the information attached to your release that tells platforms how to categorize and display it. Getting this wrong can mean your track doesn't show up in the right genre searches, doesn't get recommended by algorithms, or worse — gets rejected entirely.
Key metadata fields to get right:
- •Genre and subgenre — Be specific. "Electronic" is too broad. "Progressive House" or "Melodic Techno" will get you in front of the right listeners.
- •ISRC codes — International Standard Recording Codes uniquely identify each track. Your distributor or label will assign these.
- •UPC/EAN — The barcode for your release. Required for every single, EP, and album.
- •Credits — Producer, songwriter, mixer, mastering engineer. Proper credits improve your discoverability and ensure everyone gets paid.
Release Timeline
Here's a recommended timeline for a single release:
| Timeframe | Action |
|---|---|
| 6-8 weeks before | Finalize master, artwork, and metadata |
| 4 weeks before | Submit to distributor / label |
| 3 weeks before | Pitch to Spotify editorial playlists |
| 2 weeks before | Launch pre-save campaign |
| 1 week before | Tease on social media |
| Release day | Push across all channels |
| 1-4 weeks after | Pitch to independent playlists |
Pre-Save Campaigns
Pre-saves are one of the most powerful tools for a new release. When fans pre-save your track on Spotify or Apple Music, the song automatically appears in their library on release day — and it signals to the algorithm that there's demand.
Tools like Feature.fm, Linkfire, and Toneden make it easy to create pre-save landing pages. Your distributor or label may also provide these.
After Release: Don't Stop
Distribution doesn't end on release day. Monitor your streaming numbers, track which playlists pick you up, and keep promoting. The first 7 days are critical for algorithmic performance on Spotify — the more saves, streams, and playlist adds you get early, the more the algorithm will push your track.
Working With Red Star Media
At Red Star Media, we handle the entire distribution process for our artists. From metadata to editorial pitching, we make sure your music reaches every major platform with the best possible chance of discovery. If you're interested in releasing with us, submit a demo.