Prepare the master
Export the final mix as an uncompressed WAV file — the standard is 24-bit / 48kHz. Listen to the file all the way through, from beginning to end, on headphones and on a phone speaker. Check the start and the end for clicks, and don't leave extra silence at either end.
Cover art that passes review
Your cover art travels with the release to every store. The spec is 3000×3000 pixels, RGB. Keep text minimal and readable at thumbnail size, and avoid platform logos, account handles, prices and links — stores reject cover art that carries them.
Metadata and codes
Metadata is how the world finds you: an artist name spelled the same way on every release, the real title with no decoration, and the correct language and genre tags. The codes — ISRC for the recording and UPC for the release — are assigned during preparation; you don't need to buy them anywhere.
Choose the release date
Give yourself room. A date several weeks out leaves space for review, delivery and pitching before day one. Line the date up with anything you control — a video, a show, a run of posts — so the release lands with support behind it rather than alone.
Request your invite
Mazufa works by invitation only. Completed applications enter a human review queue as capacity allows. Submitting does not create an account; those accepted may receive a dedicated preparation invite.
After acceptance
After preparation, your release is packaged to spec and delivered to every platform, and its data is pitched to the appropriate editorial and algorithmic surfaces. From there, watch your dashboard: streams, saves and playlist adds, per platform and per country.
The fingerprint code every recording carries — it tracks streams and earnings worldwide.
Your release barcode — one per single, EP or album.
Digital service provider — Spotify, Apple Music, Anghami and every store on earth.
Why does changing your artist name confuse so many artists?
Changing your artist name is a big decision, but what worries artists most is one question: "Will I lose my accumulated earnings?" The answer depends on how your distributor handles the change, and on the nature of your artist account on Spotify.
How does Spotify link earnings to the artist?
Spotify does not pay earnings directly to artists; it transfers them to the distributor that delivered the recording, and the distributor in turn transfers them to your account. This means earnings are tied to:
- The ISRC code for each sound recording.
- The artist account (Artist Profile) on Spotify, known as Spotify for Artists.
- The distributor account where your financial details are registered.
If each of these three elements stays intact during the name change, earnings will not be affected technically. The problem arises when the distributor or the platform gets confused.
The most common scenario: the distributor re-uploads the tracks under a new name
Some paid distributors have no option to edit the artist name directly on existing recordings, so they resort to deleting the old distribution and uploading a new version under your new name. This is where the real problem begins:
- Deleting the distribution means the song temporarily disappears from Spotify.
- The new song usually gets a different ISRC and is treated as a new release.
- The plays accumulated on the old release do not transfer to the new release.
- Earnings calculated for the past period stay in the distributor's account, and may be delayed by months before they reach you.
What happens to the held funds?
The earnings you made before the change are tied to the old ISRCs and to your account with the distributor. In theory they should reach you in full even if you change your name, because they are tied to a financial account, not to an artist name. In practice, though, you may face:
- A delay in paying out earnings because of the distributor's monthly or quarterly payment cycle.
- Stuck earnings if you close your account with the distributor before they are paid out.
- Difficulty tracking earnings if you have not kept a record of your releases and the old codes.
The difference between changing your name and changing your artist profile on Spotify
Spotify distinguishes between two things: the name written on the recording, which the distributor controls, and the artist profile (Artist Profile), whose name can be edited through Spotify for Artists relatively independently. If you change the name on your artist profile without editing the recording data, a mismatch between the two names will appear that can confuse listeners and the algorithms.
Practical steps to protect your earnings before changing your artist name
- Ask your distributor clearly: can you edit the artist name on existing recordings without deleting them and re-uploading them?
- Keep your ISRCs: Record every ISRC for every recording before any edit; it is the recording's legal identity.
- Wait for pending earnings to be paid out: Make sure you have received the last payment due before making any substantive change.
- Do not close your account with the distributor too early: Keep the account open until you have received all accumulated earnings, which usually takes two to three months after the last listening period.
- Contact Spotify for Artists: Tell them about the change so the old artist profile can be linked to the new one and a duplicate profile avoided.
Does Mazufa handle this differently?
At Mazufa we give artists the ability to edit release metadata, including the artist name, without having to delete the distribution and re-upload it, in the cases the platforms allow, while preserving the original ISRCs. If you are thinking about changing your name, talk to our support team first before taking any step.
Summary
Changing your artist name does not automatically cost you your earnings, but it can expose them to delay or loss if you do not act carefully. Keeping your ISRCs, not closing accounts too early, and coordinating between your distributor and Spotify for Artists are the three keys to getting through this stage without losses.