One thing I’ve noticed with many independent artists in Nigeria is that they want to distribute their music, but they don’t fully understand what is required before they can even upload a song.
They hear about Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and YouTube Music, and they rush to upload without preparation. From my experience distributing songs like Money No Dey, Fine Girl from Waterside, Ife Mi, and God Abeg, I can tell you that distribution is not just about uploading a file.
It is a structured process that requires specific elements to ensure your music is accepted, monetized, and paid out correctly.
What Are the Requirements for Music Distribution?
The requirements for music distribution include a properly mixed and mastered audio file, high quality cover art, complete metadata such as artist name and song details, a distributor account, a release date, and a payout setup for receiving royalties. Without these, your music cannot be properly distributed to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and TikTok, and even if it is uploaded, you may not get paid correctly.
- Final audio file
- Professional mixing and mastering
- Cover art
- Song metadata
- Artist name and branding
- Distributor account
- Release date
- ISRC code
- Payout or payment account
- Internet access and submission device
Understanding the Role of These Requirements
Before I break each one down, you need to understand something clearly. These requirements are not just random things platforms ask for. They are what make your song professional, trackable, and profitable. When I submit a song for an artist through music distribution, every single one of these elements plays a role in whether the song gets approved fast, whether it appears correctly on platforms, and whether the artist gets paid.
Final Audio File
This is the most obvious requirement, but many artists still get it wrong. Your audio file must be the final version of your song. Not a rough mix, not a demo, not something you plan to adjust later.
From my experience, once a song is submitted to a distributor, you cannot just edit it easily. If there is a mistake, you may have to take it down and reupload, which can affect your streams and momentum.
To get this right, always confirm that:
- The song is complete
- No missing vocals or instruments
- No background noise or distortion
- The file is exported in high quality format
This is the foundation of everything. If your audio is poor, nothing else will save the release.
Professional Mixing and Mastering
This is where many upcoming artists struggle. They record songs, but they don’t invest in proper mixing and mastering.
Streaming platforms have standards. If your song is too loud, too quiet, or unbalanced, it will not perform well. In some cases, it may even be rejected or sound bad compared to other songs.
When I worked on songs like Money No Dey and God Abeg, we made sure the audio was properly balanced before submission. That is one of the reasons those songs were able to perform well across platforms.
To solve this:
- Work with a sound engineer
- Use professional studios if possible
- Test your song on headphones and speakers
Good sound increases streams. More streams means more money.
Cover Art
Your cover art is not just for beauty. It is part of your distribution requirements.
Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music require:
- 3000 by 3000 pixels
- Clear image with no blur
- No copyrighted images
- No unnecessary text like “download now”
I’ve seen songs delayed just because of poor cover art. That is why I always make sure every artist I work with gets this right before submission.
Think of your cover art as your first impression. It influences whether people click on your song or ignore it.
Song Metadata
This is one of the most important parts of music distribution that many artists overlook.
Metadata includes:
- Song title
- Artist name
- Featured artists
- Producer name
- Genre
- Release year
If this information is wrong, your song may appear incorrectly on platforms or your royalties may not be tracked properly.
From my experience, I always double check metadata before submission. It saves a lot of stress later.
Artist Name and Branding
You need to decide your artist name before distribution. You cannot keep changing it.
Your name must be consistent across all platforms. If you use different spellings, your music may be split into different profiles.
This affects your streams and visibility.
When I help artists distribute their songs, I always make sure their name is clean, consistent, and ready for long-term branding.
Distributor Account
This is where many people get confused. You cannot distribute your music without a distributor.
A distributor is what sends your song to all platforms and collects your revenue in one place.
From my experience, using Taculia Records makes this process easier for Nigerian artists because everything is handled locally and payments are made in Naira.
If you want to understand where your songs will appear and how you get paid, you can read this guide: Where to Upload Your Songs and Get Paid.
Release Date
Your release date is when your song will go live on all platforms.
This is important because:
- It allows you to plan promotion
- It gives platforms time to review your song
- It helps you build anticipation
I usually advise artists to set their release date at least one to two weeks after submission.
This gives enough time for approval and proper rollout.
ISRC Code
This is a unique code assigned to your song. It helps track your streams and royalties globally.
Without an ISRC code, your song cannot be properly tracked across platforms.
The good thing is that most distributors generate this code for you automatically.
This is another reason why you cannot skip using a distributor.
Payout or Payment Account
This is where your money will go.
After your song starts generating streams, platforms send money to your distributor, and your distributor pays you.
If your payout setup is not correct, you will not receive your earnings.
This is why I always recommend using local solutions like Taculia Records, so artists can receive payments in Naira without complications.
Internet Access and Submission Device
This may sound simple, but it is still important.
You need a stable internet connection and a device to upload your music, fill metadata, and track performance.
Distribution is a digital process. Without proper access, you will struggle.
How to Put Everything Together
Once you have all these requirements, the process becomes simple.
This is how I personally handle distribution:
- Prepare the final audio
- Confirm mixing and mastering quality
- Design and review cover art
- Gather all metadata
- Upload through the distributor
- Set release date
- Submit and monitor approval
If you want a deeper breakdown of this process, you can also read The Cheapest Music Distribution Platform to understand how cost and setup affect your release.
Common Mistakes Artists Make
From my experience, these are the mistakes that delay or ruin distribution:
- Uploading unfinished songs
- Wrong metadata
- Poor cover art
- Rushing the release date
- Trying to distribute without a distributor
Avoid these mistakes, and your distribution process becomes smooth.
Conclusion
Music distribution is not complicated, but it requires preparation. The requirements are simple, but each one plays a critical role in ensuring your music is accepted, distributed, and monetized properly. From my experience distributing songs for Nigerian artists, getting these requirements right is what separates successful releases from failed ones. Once you understand and apply everything explained here, you will not only distribute your music correctly, but you will also position yourself to earn consistently from your streams.