FAQ

A DSP is an online music store or streaming service where listeners can access music, such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, Beatport, TikTok, Instagram, SoundCloud, and similar partners.

Mechanical royalties are royalties generated by the reproduction of copyrighted musical works in digital or physical formats. Songwriters and publishers may earn them when a song is downloaded, streamed, reproduced, or otherwise mechanically used according to local rules and platform reporting.

A song normally has two rights layers: the composition, which covers the songwriting and publishing side, and the master recording, which covers the specific recorded version. Distribution mainly delivers and monetizes masters, while publishing administration handles composition rights.

A UPC or EAN identifies a release, while an ISRC identifies each individual recording. These codes help DSPs, reporting systems, royalty tools, and rights databases track music accurately across stores and territories.

Many download stores and platforms retain a platform share before paying the distributor or rightsholder. The exact split, reporting schedule, currency, and deductions depend on each DSP and territory.

Cover art should be square, high quality, correctly aligned, and free from pixelation or mismatched visuals. A safe standard is 3000 x 3000 px in JPG, PNG, or TIFF, RGB color mode, with no store logos, website addresses, misleading references, or unrelated promotional text.

Prepare professional masters in WAV or FLAC at minimum 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo. Higher resolution masters may be accepted when available. Audio should be clean, mastered, and free from noise, excessive silence, glitches, or unwanted cuts.

DSPs classify releases using their own rules. In general, one to three short tracks are treated as a single, four to six short tracks may be treated as an EP, and seven or more tracks or longer total duration is normally treated as an album.

Cover songs may be accepted, but Orbit Elements may recommend or request a valid license depending on the DSP, territory, rights situation, and whether the release is streaming-only or also available for download.

If a release contains a cover, the quality control team may recommend a license so the release is properly documented for download stores, international territories, and any rights-owner review. A license can be a publisher permission, custom license, compulsory license, or another valid rights document.

Unofficial remixes are usually not eligible unless the original rights owner has authorized the use. Remixes using third-party material, uncleared samples, open-license material, public-domain recordings, or non-exclusive content may be rejected by quality control or DSPs.

Samples must be cleared or supported by valid proof of rights. If a sample came from an owner, sample pack, instrument, subscription service, or producer, keep the license, invoice, permission, or other evidence showing that the sample may be commercially distributed.

Audio analysis compares uploaded tracks against known copyrighted audio. If a match is detected, the platform or quality control team may request proof of rights before approving delivery, especially when a track appears to contain samples, third-party masters, or previously distributed material.

The Orbit platform supports a broad genre list including Alternative, Ambient, Blues, Children Music, Classical, Comedy, Country, Easy Listening, Electronic, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jazz, Latin, Pop, R&B/Soul, Reggae, Rock, Soundtrack, World, and many subgenres.

Whenever possible, provide existing artist profile links or IDs for Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud. Existing profile information helps DSPs place releases on the correct artist page and reduces duplicate-profile issues.

Add existing artist identifiers before delivery whenever possible. SoundCloud can use the artist profile URL, Apple Artist ID is the number at the end of the Apple Music artist page URL, and Spotify Artist ID can be taken from the Spotify artist URI or profile link.

If SoundCloud creates a new topic profile while you already manage an artist profile, Orbit Elements can request a merge. Send both profile links and clearly indicate which profile should remain the main managed profile.

Send the release UPC, the incorrect profile link, and the correct artist profile link to support. Some DSPs let artists request profile moves directly, while others must be handled through the distributor.

Artists can usually request access directly through Spotify for Artists or Apple Music for Artists using their artist profile, release information, and identity or role verification requested by each platform.

TikTok may restrict public-domain content, generic sounds, unauthorized samples, or content that does not meet its music-use rules. TikTok monetization is usually based on videos using the sound rather than only traditional stream counts.

YouTube Content ID is a fingerprinting system that identifies matching audio or video on YouTube. Eligible rightsholders can use it to track, monetize, block, mute, or manage matched content according to YouTube policy and distributor approval.

YouTube Shorts availability can depend on publisher data and platform eligibility. Official Artist Channels organize an artist catalog on YouTube and usually require a Topic Channel, an owned artist channel, matching artist identity, and eligible music video delivery.

Apple Music is a subscription streaming service, iTunes is a download store, and Shazam identifies music and links listeners to services. Delivery to Apple services may also support Shazam recognition, but some releases can enter Apple internal review and take longer to go live.

Audiomack supports artist profile claiming, profile updates, authentication, verification, editorial pitching, and duplicate profile merges. Artist teams may need to provide profile URLs, account emails, UPCs, photos, banners, social links, and release information depending on the request.

Royalty reporting usually arrives after DSPs deliver usage data and payments. Estimated reports may appear before confirmed reports. Because DSPs often report and pay with a delay, visible balances may take several months after release delivery.

When an account balance reaches the applicable payout threshold, the user can request payment through the royalties or balance area of the platform. Thresholds, payment timing, and available methods may depend on the account setup.

Lyrics availability depends on each platform and its lyric partners, such as Musixmatch, LyricFind, or Genius. For the best chance of display, register and sync lyrics with the relevant lyric provider before or close to the release date.

A strong pitch usually explains the release story, target audience, artist momentum, campaign plan, social activity, press or playlist support, previous performance, and why the release matters now. DSPs often prefer concise points rather than long paragraphs.

New artists should prepare their profile details, release metadata, audio masters, cover art, rights information, artist IDs, marketing notes, and contact details before submitting music for distribution.

Orbit Elements is preparing distribution and promotion support across major streaming, download, recognition, video, and social music services. Availability can vary by territory, rights status, content type, and channel approval.

Verification is usually handled directly through each DSP artist portal, such as Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, YouTube Official Artist Channel, Audiomack, or similar channel tools.

A release normally requires artist and label details, title, metadata, audio files, cover art, release date, territories, genre, contributors, rights information, and DSP selections. After submission, quality control reviews the release before delivery.

Track-level information should include the exact title, version, primary artists, featuring artists, contributors, explicit status, language, ISRC when available, publishing details, audio file, and any rights or lyric data required by the release.

Credits describe who contributed to the recording or composition, such as primary artist, featured artist, remixer, producer, composer, lyricist, publisher, performer, engineer, and other participant roles. DSPs may display or process roles differently.

A contract area may show commercial terms, service permissions, plan details, revenue share, payout settings, territories, or documents connected to the user or label account.

Channels or DSPs are enabled according to the account setup, territory, service plan, content eligibility, rights status, and any channel approval that may be required.

The support center gives artists, labels, and account teams quick answers about release preparation, profile issues, royalties, rights, fraud, DSP rules, and operational troubleshooting.

Invoices may need correct legal name, tax or company information, address, invoice number, payment details, currency, payable amount, and any information required by the contracting entity or local rules.

Labels or account administrators should use their approved payout process, confirm payable balances, collect valid payment information, and keep invoice or tax documentation before paying artists or collaborators.

Specific pricing or revenue-share settings may be possible depending on the platform configuration, agreement, user type, and administrative permissions.

Currency availability depends on the account, contracting entity, payout setup, and platform configuration. Currency changes may affect reporting, invoices, and payout handling.

User status can indicate whether an account is active, pending, incomplete, suspended, rejected, blocked, or under review. Status affects access, release delivery, payouts, and support handling.

An administrator may create an end-user account by entering the user details, email, role, permissions, pricing or plan settings, and any required contract or profile information.

Administrative credentials should only be added by authorized account owners or platform administrators. Access must be limited to the correct role and removed when no longer needed.

A release should normally be managed from the account that owns or administers the content. Creating related releases from multiple accounts can create rights, ownership, reporting, and support conflicts.

Yes, a single can usually be distributed before an album when metadata, ISRCs, release dates, and album strategy are handled correctly. Reusing tracks later may require careful matching so DSPs connect the versions properly.

Submit releases as early as possible. For standard releases, allow at least three to four weeks for quality control, DSP ingestion, profile mapping, pitching, and correction time. For priority campaigns, editorial pitching, videos, or complex rights, prepare even earlier.

Review time depends on metadata quality, audio and artwork readiness, rights documentation, queue volume, and DSP rules. A clean release can move quickly, while covers, samples, profile conflicts, fraud checks, or missing data can add extra review time.

Yes, release delivery can usually be configured by DSP, territory, format, and content type when the account setup allows it. Some channels may require approval or may reject content that does not meet their specific rules.

No. Changes usually require an update request and redelivery. DSP processing times vary, and some edits may be rejected or require takedown and redelivery depending on the type of change.

Content updates may include metadata corrections, cover changes, rights updates, price changes, or DSP changes. Submit only accurate updates and allow time for each DSP to process them.

A takedown request removes content from selected DSPs or territories. Processing time depends on each channel, and royalty reporting may continue for past usage after content is removed.

Yes, but the move should be planned carefully. Keep the same ISRCs where possible, confirm UPC strategy, avoid overlapping takedowns that break links, check artist profile mapping, and schedule the transition so streams, playlists, and metadata continuity are protected.

Music video distribution may be available when the video file, metadata, thumbnail, label copy, rights, and technical specs meet channel requirements. Video delivery usually requires more preparation than audio delivery and may have separate review rules.

Orbit Elements can support distribution readiness, release guidance, catalog operations, and campaign preparation. Promotion outcomes such as playlists, editorial placement, audience growth, or social performance are never guaranteed because DSPs and audiences make their own decisions.

A smart link is a landing page that gathers store and streaming links for one release. It helps fans choose their preferred platform and gives marketing teams one URL for bios, ads, QR codes, emails, and social campaigns.

After music is live or profile pages exist, use the DSP share menu or artist portal to copy the artist URL, release URL, Spotify URI, Apple Artist URL, TikTok sound link, Facebook or Instagram artist URL, and any other channel links needed for support or marketing.

Download services can include permanent downloads, album purchases, track purchases, pre-orders, price bands, bundles, and territory-specific store features depending on the channel.

A distribution menu usually shows releases, delivery status, DSP selections, errors, updates, takedowns, territories, validation notices, and actions required before delivery.

A professional music platform usually separates work into catalog management, rights ownership, distribution delivery, finance controls, and royalty reporting. This keeps metadata, ownership, channel delivery, accounting, and statement review organized.

Validation errors point out missing, inconsistent, or invalid metadata, audio, cover art, contributor, rights, date, or channel requirements. Fix each error before submitting the release again.

DSPs choose how and when they display credits. Even when credits are delivered correctly, some platforms display only certain roles, delay updates, or show credits in limited surfaces. Keep contributor data complete and consistent anyway because it supports metadata quality and rights clarity.

Yes, the release and track language should match the main sung or spoken language. Instrumental content, multilingual content, explicit lyrics, and localized titles should be handled carefully because language can affect DSP display, search, and validation.

Royalty recipients may need to provide tax or invoice information before payment. Orbit Elements can request documentation, but artists, labels, and companies remain responsible for their own tax obligations and local filings.

Payment depends on DSP revenue, territory, subscription type, ad revenue, exchange rates, taxes, refunds, platform deductions, distributor terms, and any collaborator splits or recoupments. Stream counts alone do not determine a fixed royalty amount.

Support replies can be delayed if the request is missing account details, UPCs, artist names, links, screenshots, or a clear description. Send one complete request with all evidence and avoid opening duplicate tickets.

Collect links, screenshots, ownership evidence, release details, and a clear description of the misuse. Orbit Elements can review the case and guide the correct takedown, claim, dispute, or rights process.

Fraud can include artificial streaming, fake engagement, misleading metadata, impersonation, unauthorized uploads, duplicate abuse, rights misrepresentation, or any activity intended to manipulate DSP systems or payments.

Yes. Fraud reviews, suspicious activity, repeated rejections, or risky account behavior can slow down approvals, trigger extra checks, or affect delivery timing for related content.

A DPID is a DDEX identifier used for distribution companies and delivery partners. Artists and labels usually do not need one unless they operate as a technical distributor.