Guide on Mastering Music Metadata for Streaming Success

Did you know that music metadata could be the key to unlocking hidden royalties? For artists, music professionals, and venues, metadata isn’t just a collection of technical details — it’s the lifeblood of your digital music career.

Music metadata ensures your tracks are discoverable, properly credited, and accurately paid on streaming platforms.

Let’s explore how you can master music metadata and boost your earnings.

What is Music Metadata

The term metadata sounds technical, but really it is just information (data).

From a music perspective, metadata is simply information about your album, your songs, and your mixes that you plan to include with your release by embedding the information right into the music files.

What Music Metadata Does

Identifies your song title, artist name, and album details.
Credits contributors like producers, writers, and featured artists.
Communicates rights and ownership information.

When metadata is missing or incorrect, it can lead to significant revenue loss. For instance, a track without proper ownership details might leave royalties unclaimed — or worse, paid to the wrong person.

Why Music Metadata Matters for Streaming Royalties

Accurate and comprehensive metadata plays a pivotal role in the music industry, serving as more than just organizational details.

Metadata provides streaming platforms with the information they need to identify and distribute your music.

For listeners, it simplifies the process of locating specific tracks or albums. For music supervisors, metadata is indispensable when sourcing tracks for sync projects in visual media.

Music Journalist Bill Kopp writes for GRAMMY.com:

“When Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ was featured on a May 2022 episode of the popular Netflix streaming series ‘Stranger Things,’ the response was staggering. First released in 1985, ‘Running Up That Hill’ re-entered the UK singles chart, eventually reaching the No. 2 spot. In the U.S., the song peaked at No. 3. Meanwhile, Spotify streams for the 37-year-old song increased by 9,900 percent in the U.S. alone.”

This underscores the critical role metadata plays in securing licensing opportunities that can lead to monumental song growth and revenue.

Types of Music Metadata You Need to Get Right

To maximize royalties, you must focus on three key types of metadata:

Descriptive Metadata: Includes song name, album title, genre, and mood — essential for discoverability.
Ownership Metadata: Details every contributor’s role, from producers to lyricists, along with publisher information and performance rights data.
Technical Metadata: Covers unique identifiers like ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) and UPC (Universal Product Code) for tracking your music across platforms.

input.fm makes it simple to organize and manage these metadata types. With intuitive tools, you can ensure that your data is complete and ready for distribution.

Common Challenges in Metadata Management

Many artists struggle with metadata management, often due to:

Data Errors: Typos, missing details, or inaccurate ownership records.
Collaborative Confusion: Difficulty tracking who contributed to what in group projects.
Manual Processes: Using spreadsheets or outdated systems that are prone to errors.

input.fm addresses these challenges head-on with tools designed to streamline metadata tracking. Our project management features let you assign roles to contributors and centralize project data to avoid costly mistakes that lead to missed royalties.

Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Music Metadata

Step 1: Catalog Your Music

Begin by creating a comprehensive catalog of your music library. This should include:

Track Details: Song titles, album names, release dates, and genres.
Contributor Information: Credits for all contributors, including songwriters, producers, featured artists, and session musicians.
Rights Information: Ownership data for publishing, performance, and master rights.

Organizing this information in one central location ensures that you always have easy access to your metadata. Tools like input.fm’s project management features can simplify this process by allowing you to assign roles and track contributions within a unified platform.

Step 2: Use Standard Identifiers

To ensure your music is identifiable and traceable across platforms, assign standard identifiers to every track:

ISRC (International Standard Recording Code): A unique identifier for individual tracks, essential for tracking usage and royalties.
UPC (Universal Product Code): A barcode for albums, which is crucial for distribution and sales tracking.

Both codes are critical for ensuring that your music is properly credited, especially when distributed to streaming platforms. Many distributors provide these identifiers, or you can register them through industry organizations.

Step 3: Ensure Accuracy

Errors in metadata can lead to lost royalties, legal disputes, or poor discoverability. Double-check all information for:

Spelling Errors: Ensure names, titles, and credits are spelled correctly.
Ownership Discrepancies: Verify that publishing and master rights data are accurate and reflect all contributors’ agreements.
Consistency Across Platforms: Ensure metadata is uniform across streaming services, digital distributors, and performance rights organizations.

input.fm’s metadata tracking tools allow you to verify and cross-check details, reducing the risk of errors that could impact your revenue or visibility.

Step 4: Review Regularly

Metadata isn’t static — it evolves with your music career. Regular reviews are essential to keep your data up to date:

New Releases: Add new tracks and contributors as you release music.
Revised Ownership: Update rights information when contracts change or collaborations shift.
Error Correction: Periodically audit your catalog to identify and fix any inaccuracies.

By staying proactive, you ensure that your music remains properly attributed and discoverable, safeguarding your income and reputation.

Tools for Managing Metadata and Contributors

Project Management Tools

Track every contributor’s role to ensure proper credit and avoid disputes. Learn more about managing your music projects and credits on input.fm here.

Integrated Contracts

Link metadata directly to platform-generated contracts for seamless management of rights and payments. Learn more about contracts on input.fm here.

Conclusion

Music metadata might seem technical, but it’s your ticket to fair recognition and payment in the digital music world. With input.fm, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Start managing your metadata and contributors effortlessly with input.fm. Take control of your music career, boost your royalties, and focus on what you do best—creating great music.