Metadata is the unglamorous part that determines whether you get paid. Here's the checklist:
1. ISRC = the song's fingerprint. It tracks plays and royalties per track. UPC = the release's fingerprint (the single/EP/album). You do NOT get these yourself — your distributor assigns both automatically on upload.
2. What YOU provide: song title, artist name (spelled identically everywhere, forever), genre, release date, songwriter/composer credits, and cover art (3000x3000 px).
3. Songwriter credits are money. List everyone who contributed — including yourself as lyricist. Then register your works with a PRO (ASCAP or BMI in the US) so performance royalties can find you.
4. Artist name consistency is everything. 'Hank Ford' on Spotify and 'HankFordMusic' on Apple = two different artists in the databases. Pick one spelling and never deviate.
5. Keep a release spreadsheet: title, ISRC, UPC, release date, distributor, credits, links. Future you — doing taxes, pitching sync, or disputing a claim — will be grateful.
Good luck! Hank founder of SonorixPG