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 should this worry you?
Many artists sign with a distributor, pay the annual subscription fee, and forget about it. But when the distributor raises its prices — which does happen in this market — the artist faces a different equation: the same tracks, but a smaller profit margin or a higher cost taken out of their income.
Understanding how this works is essential for any artist who relies on music as a source of income.
How exactly does a price rise affect your earnings?
Most digital distribution platforms work on one of two basic models:
- The fixed annual subscription model: You pay a set amount each year and keep a large share of your earnings, or all of them. When the distributor raises that amount, the break-even point rises — that is, the amount you need to earn before you actually start making money.
- The percentage commission model: The distributor takes a percentage of every dollar you earn. If that percentage is raised, your net income falls automatically without you selling any less.
In both cases, the greatest harm falls on mid-income artists — those who earn enough to care, but not enough to absorb a cost shock easily.
The practical scenarios you face
- Annual fees rise at renewal: You may not notice the difference until the renewal invoice arrives. At that moment, your old calculations of expected return become inaccurate.
- New fees added that did not exist before: Some distributors start charging fees for services that were free, such as a withdrawal fee or an annual update fee for each release.
- Changes to contract terms without direct notice: A change published on an internal page that applies to your account automatically unless you object.
Practical steps to protect yourself
- Read the change clauses in the contract: Look for wording such as "the company may amend prices with X days' prior notice". That sentence defines how much legal protection you actually have.
- Turn on email notifications: Make sure the email address registered with your distributor is active and that you check it, since most notices are sent to it.
- Calculate your break-even point regularly: Divide the annual cost by your average monthly earnings. That number tells you how many months you work to cover your distributor's fees before you start actually earning.
- Spread your catalogue sensibly: Relying on a single distributor means full exposure to any decision it makes. Distributing different releases through more than one company — where the terms allow — reduces how fragile your position is.
- Document your earnings yourself: Keep a spreadsheet recording the monthly income of each release, so you can compare before and after any price change.
- Know your right to cancel: Before automatic renewal, check whether you can withdraw your catalogue and move it. Some distributors impose notice periods or restrictions, and this is information you should have in advance.
Why should a zero-fee model matter to you?
One structural solution to this problem is moving to a distributor that works on a revenue-share model offered after your application is reviewed and according to the fees and terms set out in the offer and contract, like Mazufa's model. When no fee is charged at the point of applying, there is no increase to affect your earnings. This does not mean every option suits every artist, but it does mean the cost structure should be a main criterion in your decision.
Summary
A price rise by your distributor deserves a considered move, not a late reaction. Watch your contracts, do your numbers, and make sure the company you trust with distributing your music has a transparent, stable pricing structure — or charges no fee at the point of applying.