How to Transfer Your Music Between Distributors

Last updated: March 2026 · Digitalent Music

Switching music distributors is one of the most common -- and most stressful -- decisions an independent artist or label faces. Whether you are leaving because of poor service, better pricing, superior features, or a change in your career strategy, the transfer process requires careful planning to avoid losing streams, breaking links, or creating gaps in your music availability. This guide walks you through everything you need to know.

Why Artists Transfer Distributors

There are many legitimate reasons to change your music distributor:

• Better revenue splits: Some distributors take a percentage of your royalties while others charge a flat annual fee. As your catalog grows, the economics can shift significantly.
• Superior analytics and tools: Access to real-time streaming data, pre-save link generators, playlist pitching tools, and marketing features varies widely between distributors.
• Faster payments: Payment schedules range from monthly to quarterly. Some distributors hold earnings for months before releasing them.
• Catalog size and pricing: Some distributors charge per release while others offer unlimited releases for a flat fee.
• Service quality: Slow support response times, delivery errors, or metadata problems can all motivate a switch.
• Strategic partnerships: Signing with a label or entering a distribution deal may require moving to a specific distributor.

Step-by-Step Transfer Process

Step 1: Review Your Current Agreement

Before initiating any transfer, carefully review your distribution agreement. Look for contract term length, exclusivity clauses, termination notice period (typically 30-90 days), post-termination rights, and unpaid royalty policies.

Step 2: Collect Your Metadata

Before leaving, document all metadata: ISRC codes for every track (most critical), UPC/EAN barcodes for every release, original release dates, track metadata (artist names, titles, credits), and high-quality audio master files (WAV or FLAC).

Step 3: Set Up Your New Distributor

Create your account with your new distributor. Upload your catalog using the same ISRC codes and UPC barcodes -- most distributors have fields for entering existing codes rather than generating new ones.

Step 4: Coordinate the Transition

The ideal transfer involves overlapping delivery to minimize gaps:

1. Upload your entire catalog to your new distributor with the original ISRC codes and UPC barcodes.
2. Wait for the new distributor to confirm that your music has been delivered to all stores.
3. Once the new deliveries are live, request takedown from your old distributor.
4. Monitor all platforms to ensure the transition is seamless.

Most platforms handle the overlap gracefully by recognizing matching ISRC codes and updating the delivery source without creating duplicate listings.

Step 5: Verify Everything

After the transfer, check every platform to confirm: music availability, preserved streaming counts, correct artist profiles, working links, and correct search results.

Keeping Your ISRC Codes: Why It Matters

The ISRC code is the key to a seamless transfer. When you deliver your music to a platform with the same ISRC code, the platform recognizes it as the same recording and preserves all associated data: streaming history, playlist placements, saved libraries, and algorithmic recommendations.

If you upload with a new ISRC code, the platform treats your music as a completely new recording. You lose all accumulated streams, your song is removed from playlists, and listeners who saved it will find it gone. This is the single biggest mistake artists make during a transfer.

Avoiding Gaps in Availability

A gap in availability occurs when your music is taken down from your old distributor before it goes live through your new one. Even a few days can cause playlist removals, grayed-out saves, disrupted algorithms, and broken links. Always wait 1-4 weeks for new delivery confirmation before requesting takedown.

Transfer vs. Takedown-and-Reupload

Transfer (Recommended)

A proper transfer uses the same ISRC codes and UPC barcodes. Platforms update the delivery source without affecting streaming data.

Takedown and Reupload

Only do this if you are intentionally starting fresh (new artist name, significantly altered recordings). It destroys streaming history in all other cases.

Timeline Expectations

A typical transfer takes 2-6 weeks:

• Week 1: Set up new account, upload catalog with existing codes.
• Weeks 2-3: New distributor delivers to stores. Monitor for confirmation.
• Week 3-4: Request takedown from old distributor.
• Weeks 4-6: Old distributor processes takedown. Final payment arrives.

What to Tell Your New Distributor

• You are transferring an existing catalog, not releasing new music.
• You have existing ISRC codes and UPC barcodes that must be used.
• The original release dates should be preserved in metadata.
• Ask about their specific transfer process.

Common Transfer Mistakes

• Not preserving ISRC codes: Always carry ISRCs forward.
• Taking down before new delivery is live: Confirm delivery first.
• Forgetting pending royalties: Understand payout timeline from old distributor.
• Not updating artist dashboards: Re-verify profiles on Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists.
• Ignoring contract obligations: Follow proper termination procedures.

Key Takeaways

• Always preserve your ISRC codes and UPC barcodes when transferring between distributors.
• Review your current distribution agreement for termination terms before initiating a transfer.
• Upload to your new distributor before taking down from your old one to avoid availability gaps.
• A proper transfer typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from start to finish.
• Never use new ISRCs for existing recordings unless you intentionally want to start fresh.
• Document all your metadata before leaving your current distributor.