So, you’ve read the standard roundups. You know the names: DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby. Maybe you even read our article about the best music distribution service for independent artists. 

But what happens after you click “distribute”? That’s where most guides go silent.

This post covers the real logistics behind switching distributors, preserving your royalty streams, avoiding playlist losses, and protecting your career from preventable technical mistakes. Whether you're releasing your first single or managing a growing catalogue, understanding these backend details can save you thousands of streams (and dollars).

What is a Music Distributor? 

A distributor handles:

• Delivery to DSPs (Digital Service Providers) like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TikTok, Instagram, etc.
• Metadata like ISRCs and UPCs that track your royalties
• Royalty collection from streams and downloads
• Optional tools like YouTube monetization, TikTok delivery, or publishing admin (depends on the platform)

They don’t promote your music. They don’t pitch you to playlists unless they offer editorial tools. And they don’t collect every royalty type unless you’ve registered elsewhere.

But your distributor doesn’t just get your song on Spotify and call it a day, either. It pushes your release to a whole web of DSPs with different timelines, formatting rules, and payout structures.

Not every distributor delivers to every DSP. Before signing up, check their DSP delivery list, and whether they support new platforms like TIDAL Rising, Audiomack, or Instagram Music in your region.

What Happens When I Switch Distributors?

Let’s say you upload your new single to CD Baby. A few months later, you decide to switch to DistroKid for faster turnaround and lower fees.

You re-upload the same track, thinking everything will transfer. But when you check Spotify, your song’s streams are reset to zero, playlist placements are gone, and your algorithmic momentum has disappeared.

What happened? The answer lies in the metadata and identifiers tied to your track, specifically your ISRC and UPC codes.

The ISRC Code: Your Track’s Digital DNA

The ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique 12-character code that identifies your individual recording worldwide. It’s how platforms track:

• Streaming history
• Playlist placements
• Royalty payouts
• Algorithmic engagement
  

If you change your ISRC when switching distributors, even for the same song, DSPs like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube will treat it as a completely new track.

Here’s what you lose with a new ISRC:

• All prior streaming stats and play counts
• Placement on editorial and algorithmic playlists
• Saved tracks and likes from your listeners
• Any Discover Weekly, Release Radar, or autoplay boosts
  

For example, I knew a peer (let’s call him “Ted”) who had over 150K streams on a single release via CD Baby. After switching to TuneCore and accidentally generating a new ISRC, he lost every playlist slot, and the track started from scratch, even though the song was identical.

Sounds like a nightmare, right? 

Learn from Ted’s mistake. Do your research before switching.

What About UPC Codes?

If you’re releasing EPs or albums, the UPC (Universal Product Code) acts as the identifier for the collection. Like ISRCs for individual tracks, changing a UPC can split your data.

What can go wrong with a new UPC?

• Your album appears twice on platforms
• Playlists that featured your album vanish
• You miss out on consolidated analytics and sales reports

How To Switch Music Distributors Without Losing Everything

For most artists, it’s worth holding off on distributor changes until it fits a broader strategy. That’s because it’s less of a file swap and more of a rights and revenue handoff. You want to make sure you’re in full control before making the move.

That being said, changing distributors doesn’t have to mean starting from zero. If done right, your streams, playlist placements, and algorithmic traction can stay intact. 

Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music use track-linking systems that recognize when the same song is delivered from a new source, as long as the metadata matches exactly.

Here’s how to make sure that process goes smoothly. 

Step 1: Export Your ISRCs and UPCs

Request or download your full release metadata from your current distributor. This should include:

• ISRCs for every track
• UPCs for albums/EPs
• Release dates
• Original metadata (genre, credits, etc.)

Here’s a guide on how to do this for TuneCore and DistroKid.

Step 2: Manually Reuse Your ISRCs and UPCs

Not every distributor lets you do this. Some, like DistroKid and TuneCore, let you input ISRCs manually during the upload process. 

Others, like the Amuse music distributor (free tier), auto-generate new codes unless you upgrade.

Step 3: Confirm with Support

Even if you can enter codes manually, always contact support to confirm your ISRCs and UPCs will be preserved correctly. Ask if they support ISRC reuse when switching distributors.

Step 4: Avoid Re-Uploading Alternate Versions

Uploading slightly tweaked versions (e.g., radio edits or remixes) with the same ISRC is not a great idea. Use a new ISRC for alternate versions only if you're prepared to promote them separately.

To sum up, here’s what matters:

• ISRC and UPC codes must stay the same
• Song titles, artist names, release dates, and even audio files should be identical
• Don’t unpublish the old release too early. Leave a 48-72 hour overlap so platforms can merge the data behind the scenes

That overlap window is where the platforms detect duplicates and begin consolidating streams, saves, and playlist placements.

What If Your New Distributor Won’t Allow ISRC Reuse?

This happens more than you’d think.

Some platforms (especially free ones) won’t let you manually enter ISRCs. If that’s the case:

• Contact support before uploading and ask for a workaround
• Delay switching until the current release cycle is complete
• If you must reset, plan a relaunch with updated cover art, a new marketing push, and social media buzz to regain lost momentum

Do You Lose Playlist Placements When Switching?

Unfortunately, yes. If the ISRC changes, your track is treated as new, and playlist placements are dropped.

Here’s what happens based on the situation. 

How to Protect Your Playlists

• Don’t switch distributors mid-release
• Maintain ISRC consistency
• Contact user-curators if switching is unavoidable
• Re-pitch to Spotify via Spotify for Artists
• Use editorial pitching tools at least 7 days before release

How to Recover Algorithmic Momentum After a Reset

Let’s say the worst happens: you have to re-upload with a new ISRC and lose your traction. All is not lost, but you’ll need to jumpstart the algorithm again.

Here’s how to rebuild quickly:

• Drive immediate activity: In the first 48 hours post-release, encourage your fans to save, share, and stream. High engagement signals early momentum to Spotify.
• Use Marquee or social ads: Paid tools like Spotify Marquee (if available) can trigger re-engagement from lapsed listeners.
• Pitch again: Use Spotify for Artists to re-submit your track at least 7 days in advance of your re-release date.
• Email your mailing list or fanbase: If you lost saved songs, ask fans to re-add them manually with direct links.
• Collaborate: Cross-promo with other artists or influencers to give the song a second life.
  

It’s not as powerful as maintaining your original metadata, but if you have to start over, this gives you a fighting chance.

How Long Until Music Hits DSPs?

Once you click “distribute,” there’s a delay while your distributor pushes your song to each DSP, which then processes it internally.

Here’s what DSPs check before making your track public:

• Metadata validation
• Audio format and quality
• Copyright or duplicate conflicts
• Editorial review (for playlists)

Though roadblocks can delay your track, here are the lead times you can expect by distributor and platform.

To land on Spotify editorial playlists, submit your track at least 7 days before release using Spotify for Artists. Ideally, build in 3-4 weeks for rollout and promo.

If you want to know more about how to get on Spotify playlists, read our post about editorial playlists here.

Which Distributor Gets To TikTok And Reels?

Your distributor should push your music to more than just Spotify. For modern discovery, you need to be on:

• TikTok
• Instagram Reels
• YouTube Shorts

Distributor	Social Delivery	Notes
DistroKid	✅ TikTok & IG Reels	Good metadata, fast social delivery
TuneCore	✅ TikTok & IG Reels	Steady delivery, searchable
CD Baby	✅ TikTok & IG Reels	Reliable, slightly slower
Amuse (Free)	❌ TikTok & IG Reels	Only delivers to TikTok on paid tiers
AWAL	✅ TikTok & IG Reels	High quality, selective onboarding
RouteNote	⚠️  TikTok & IG Reels	Delivery depends on licensing agreements

Ensure your distributor:

• Sends clean, consistent metadata.
• Uses proper genre tags and artist names.
• Provides full songwriting credits (helps with sync licensing).
  

Always double-check this so you’ll get good social searchability. Bad metadata = invisible tracks on TikTok. 

How Do I Collect My Royalties Globally?

Many artists think their distributor collects all royalties. Nope.

Distributors primarily collect streaming royalties from DSPs but do not handle everything. 

Many indie artists lose out on mechanical and performance royalties by not registering with a PRO (like SOCAN or ASCAP) and a publishing admin (like Songtrust or Sentric).

If you want to know more about how to collect 100% of your royalties, see our post here. 

For Music Distribution Services, Think Long-term

Digital music distribution isn’t magic, and it isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal. Your choices about ISRCs, UPCs, timing, metadata, and royalties determine whether your music gets heard and paid for years down the line.

If you want to treat your music like a business (because it is), you need to know these backstage details.

Quick Checklist Before Your Next Re-release or Distributor Switch

✅ Save your current ISRCs and UPCs.

✅ Research distributor’s ISRC reuse policy.

✅ Submit music 3-4 weeks ahead for editorial pitching.

✅ Register with PRO and a publishing admin for royalty collection.

✅ Confirm TikTok and Instagram delivery options.

✅ Prepare metadata carefully.

✅ Back up all release info and contracts.