Before you release a single: ISRC, UPC, pre-save and release date

Article photo: Before you release a single: ISRC, UPC, pre-save and release date

The song is ready, the mix and master are done, you have the cover art. That’s where a part of the work begins that many artists discover at the last minute: codes, metadata, deadlines. Done right, nobody notices them. Done wrong, the song comes out under the wrong name, without credits, or misses its chance at a playlist.

ISRC: the recording’s “ID number”

The ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a 12-character code that identifies one specific recording. It’s how platforms and organisations know which song was played and who is owed the income.

  • It consists of the country and the registrant code (5 characters), the year (2 digits) and a sequence number (5 digits).

  • One ISRC per recording. A remix, a live version or an acoustic version is a different recording and gets its own code.

  • If the same song is re-released on a compilation, it keeps the same ISRC.

  • It’s usually assigned by the label or the distributor. In Greece, prefixes for producers are allocated by IFPI Greece.

UPC: the code of the release

The UPC (or EAN) is the barcode of the release, meaning the single, EP or album as a whole. An album with ten songs has one UPC and ten ISRCs. It’s usually assigned by the distributor.

Keep both codes somewhere you can find them. You’ll need them for registrations with organisations, for corrections on platforms, and for any question that comes up later.

Metadata: the most boring part and the most important

Along with the audio file, you send the distributor a set of details. This is where most mistakes happen:

  • Artist name identical everywhere. If you write “Maria” once, “Maritsa” once and once in Greek characters, platforms may create three different profiles.

  • Title as it should appear, with correct accents and capitals.

  • Credits: lyrics, music, performance, production. Platforms show them more and more, and collaborators look for them.

  • A genre that genuinely matches the song, because it affects which playlists it gets suggested for.

  • Cover art in the dimensions your distributor asks for, with no links, platform logos or prices on it.

How far ahead to deliver to your distributor

The earlier the better. A practical target is three to four weeks before the release date. You need time for review, for it to reach every platform and, above all, to make the Spotify pitch in time. Each distributor has its own deadlines, so check them before you lock a date.

Pitching to Spotify playlists

Through Spotify for Artists you can pitch an unreleased song to playlist editors. Two things to know:

  1. The song must already have been delivered by your distributor and show under “Upcoming”.

  2. The pitch must be made at least 7 days before release. That also puts the song in your followers’ Release Radar.

A pitch doesn’t guarantee a playlist spot, but without it the chances are much lower. Write specific things in the description: style, mood, instruments, the story behind the song.

Pre-save: warming up before release

A pre-save is a link that lets listeners “save” the song before it comes out, so it appears in their library on release day. It isn’t a pitch and won’t get you on a playlist. It’s a way to activate the people who already follow you. Share the link in stories, your bio and messages one to two weeks before.

Why Friday

Since 2015 the music industry has set Friday as the global release day. Platforms refresh their big new-release playlists then, and listeners are used to looking for new music on Fridays. Unless there’s a specific reason, release on a Friday.

A short pre-release checklist

  • Final master and cover art approved

  • ISRC for every recording, UPC for the release

  • Artist name, title and credits checked

  • Delivery to the distributor three to four weeks ahead

  • Spotify for Artists pitch at least 7 days ahead

  • Pre-save link and a social media plan

  • Release date: Friday

Conclusion

A good song deserves a good release. Codes and metadata aren’t bureaucracy, they’re what makes a song findable, paid and recommended. To see the whole journey from the start, read From demo to Spotify. If you’re looking for a label to handle all of this, get in touch.