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.
What are collection rights in music distribution?
Collection rights are the legal authority to collect the earnings generated by your music being played on streaming platforms, radio and listening stores. When you sign a distribution contract, you are in most cases giving the distributor a mandate to collect those earnings on your behalf and then pass them on to you. But some contracts contain clauses that let the distributor assign that mandate or sell it to another collection company without coming back to you.
What exactly happens when these rights are sold?
When a distributor assigns collection rights to a third party without your explicit permission, several practical problems follow one after another:
- Your payments stop or are delayed: The new third party has no direct relationship with you, and setting up your account with them can take weeks or months.
- You lose transparency: You will not know who actually holds the collection right, nor the channels your earnings pass through.
- The possibility of double deductions: Both the original distributor and the third party may take their commissions, which reduces your income.
- Termination becomes more complicated: When you want to leave the distributor, you find yourself bound by another contract with a party you never agreed to in the first place.
- The risk of losing accrued earnings: In some cases the accrued earnings sit in the account of the original distributor, which may have closed or declared bankruptcy.
Is this legal?
It depends on the wording of the contract you signed. If the contract contains a clause allowing the distributor to assign its rights and obligations to any third party without needing prior consent, then the action is contractually legitimate even if it seems unfair. That is why reading every clause of a distribution contract is a non-negotiable necessity before signing.
How do you find out your rights have been sold to a third party?
- You receive a message from a company you do not know asking for your bank details or account information.
- The name of the paying entity on your bank statement changes suddenly.
- Payments drop without explanation or stop for a while.
- When you check your dashboard you find the collection details point to a different company.
Practical steps to protect yourself
- Read the contract before signing: Look for words like "assignment" or "transfer of rights" or "sub-licensing", and if you find them without clear limits, that calls for negotiation or refusing to sign.
- Ask for a clause that prevents assignment without your consent: It is known as a "non-assignment clause", a clause requiring the distributor to obtain your written consent before transferring any rights.
- Register your music with performing rights organisations: Registering directly with organisations such as ASCAP or BMI gives you an extra layer of protection, since these organisations contact you directly as the rights holder.
- Keep copies of every contract: Official documents are your first tool in any dispute.
- Choose a distributor that offers full transparency: Look for distributors that do not assign collection rights to outside parties without your knowledge.
What do you do if you discover your rights have already been sold?
Read your contract again carefully, then send a formal written communication to the distributor asking for a full explanation of the legal status of your rights. If you do not get a clear answer, consult a lawyer specialising in intellectual property law before taking any step. You can also file a complaint with performing rights organisations if there are earnings on hold.
Summary
Your music is a financial and creative asset that deserves full legal protection. Understanding the clauses of a distribution contract before signing is the simplest thing you can do to avoid disputes and lost payments. A good distributor is one that puts your rights and the transparency of your payments first.