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.
The starting point: how does the free plan work at a distributor that relies on an upgrade model?
Some distribution platforms offer a free plan, but they tie that offer to conditions relating to streaming volume and revenue. According to the policies these platforms publish on their official sites, they reserve the right to move accounts that exceed certain thresholds onto paid plans or to restrict their services. That means your song's success can turn into a problem if you are not prepared.
What exactly does “exceeding the limit” mean?
These platforms do not publish a fixed, transparent figure for the limit allowed on their free plans, and that in itself is a genuine source of concern for artists. What is publicly documented is that the platform monitors distribution performance and sends notices to artists who exceed a certain level of commercial performance, asking them to upgrade to a paid plan.
The possible outcomes of exceeding the limit or refusing to upgrade include:
- Freezing the distribution of your new songs while keeping the old ones temporarily.
- Sending a notice requiring an upgrade within a set deadline, otherwise the account is suspended.
- In cases reported by users on public forums, some releases were pulled from streaming services.
The bigger risk: your music being deleted from streaming services
The most serious scenario an artist faces is having their music pulled from Spotify, Apple Music and others without adequate notice. This does not only mean that streaming stops; it also means:
- Losing the song's cumulative data such as stream counts and playlists.
- The end of any promotional plan that relied on the track's link.
- Difficulty re-uploading the same song later because of a potential conflict in ISRC or UPC codes.
- The possibility of losing unremitted revenue after the account is closed.
Practical steps to protect your music now
Whether you currently use a free plan or are thinking of signing up for one, these steps protect you:
- Keep the ISRC and UPC codes for each song somewhere safe outside the platform, because they are permanently yours and you will need them when you move your distribution.
- Export your performance data regularly from your distributor's dashboard, because these figures may disappear along with the account.
- Watch the email address linked to the account for notices; the platform usually gives a short window before taking any action.
- Check the revenue policy: what is the minimum payout threshold? And what happens to the balance when the account is closed? Review the platform's official terms page directly.
- Don't rely on a single platform as a long-term solution, especially if your music is on an upward trend.
Is upgrading to a paid plan the answer?
Upgrading solves the immediate suspension problem, but it means recurring financial commitments. Before you pay, compare what you actually get with what other platforms offer. For example, Mazufa offers full distribution according to the fees and deductions set out in the offer and the contract, which makes it an option worth comparing before committing to recurring fees.
How do you move your music safely if you decide to leave?
- Gather all release data: ISRC, UPC, release dates and contributor names.
- Wait for your last outstanding payments to arrive before requesting deletion.
- Upload your music through the new distributor before deleting it from the other distributor, coordinating the release date to avoid a gap.
- Contact customer support at the new distributor and tell them you are moving existing tracks, so they can help you handle the ISRC codes correctly.
Summary
The plan available under its current terms at any distribution platform always comes with conditions, and ignoring those conditions can cost an artist production work and an audience they have built a relationship with. Knowing in advance and documenting carefully are the first line of defence. Before you reach the crisis moment, review your options and choose a distribution platform that spells out the terms for keeping music up and taking it down regardless of how successful it becomes.