Metadata in its simplest form is data that describes information about other data. In terms of distributing your music, this refers to the individual parts of information that make up your release, such as the artist names, release/track titles, language, release date, genre, unique identifiers, rights-holder information, and more.
How We Use Metadata for Your Releases:
When submitting your releases through contact us regarding a specific release, always ensure to include the UPC so that we can efficiently locate your release and solve your query faster.
Key Detail: ISRCs and ISWCs
ISRC stands for International Standard Recording Code. This is the identifier that refers to the specific master copyright recording of a track. ISRC’s are used to identify a specific audio file, i.e the master copyright recording. So if you had 5 tracks on a record, each of these would be assigned their own individual ISRC. Horus Music provide ISRCs for free for our distribution clients which are generated automatically upon your submission by leaving the field blank. If you have already been assigned an ISRC, make sure to enter these in the required fields before submitting your release for distribution.
ISWC stands for International Standard Musical Work Code. This is the identifier that refers to the composition of a track. A Performance Rights Organisation (PRO) such as PRS in the UK usually provide these. If you are not registered with a PRO, you can still distribute your music without an ISWC. However it is always advisable to make sure you are signed up with a PRO to maximise your royalty collection.
What’s the difference between an ISRC and an ISWC?
As mentioned previously, ISRCs and ISWCs identify different elements that make up a track.
For example, if you released a studio version of a track and an acoustic version of the same song, both releases would have the same ISWC because you’re playing the same song (i.e. same lyrics, melody). It’s important to note even if you are slightly altering the original track to accommodate the acoustic version, it is essentially the same composition and therefore falls under the same ISWC. However, each track would be assigned an individual ISRC as they are separate recordings, one studio and one acoustic. This rule applies no matter how many versions of the same song you do. Every separate audio file must have a different ISRC.
This also applies for cover songs too. For example, if you cover Ed Sheeran’s ‘Lego House’, your recording will generate a new ISRC, but the ISWC will be the same as Ed Sheeran’s because you’re using the same lyrics and fundamental composition.
Why is metadata important?
Music distribution would not be possible without metadata as it is the basis for storing, organising and finding your music. Without metadata, distributors such as Horus Music or DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music would not be able to identify releases.
Similarly, metadata is paramount for marketing. The marketing services we offer at Horus Music rely on the identification and description of tracks not only for ourselves, but for the teams we work with including radio stations, editorial playlist curators and PR campaign leaders.
Metadata is used in registrations of not only master recordings, but for publishing purposes too. Performance rights organisations such as PRS will provide ISWCs, and these will be linked to any streams on DSPs so that you can be paid publishing royalties. Whilst Horus Music collects royalties generated by the master copyright directly from the DSPs identified by the ISRC; the ISWC is vital for the efficient flow of publishing royalties also owed to you from streaming. Without metadata, you may be losing out on important income streams.
If you wish to transfer your releases to us from another distributor, it is vital that you submit the same metadata to us as any previous deliveries. Stream counts and playlist placements are linked to the track ISRCs, and therefore these are important parts of metadata to have on record. For more information on transferring your music over to Horus Music from another distributor, click here.
If you have any further questions regarding metadata or the upload process, our team will be happy to help on alr@horusmusic.co.uk.
