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 a distributor close your account?
When your music distributor receives an ownership rights dispute notice (a Content ID Claim or a DMCA Takedown) against one of your tracks, many distribution companies move quickly to avoid legal liability. The first step is usually to pull the track from the platforms, and the second may be to freeze the account entirely or close it in cases of repeat notices or major disputes. The problem is that this closure does not mean Spotify has actually returned your money to the distributor.
The journey of the money from Spotify to your pocket
To understand what happens to your earnings, you need to know the full path the money takes:
- Spotify Monthly streaming earnings are collected and held for a settlement period that usually runs from several weeks to a few months, and its length varies from one distributor to another.
- After settlement, the amounts are transferred to The distributor pooled together with other artists' earnings.
- The distributor allocates the shares to each artist according to the streaming data it holds.
- The artist receives the amount in their digital wallet or bank account.
When the account is closed at any point along this path, the money stops at the last completed link. The earnings that have not yet reached your wallet are the most at risk.
The possible scenarios for your earnings
- Earnings already withdrawn: If you withdrew your earnings before the closure they are safe, and no one has the right to reclaim them from you unless it is proven in court that they were based on an infringement.
- Earnings pending in your wallet: Many distributors freeze the balance during an investigation. This money exists but is temporarily not withdrawable.
- Earnings not yet received from Spotify: This is the hardest case; the distribution company may hold them until the dispute is settled, and the platform may reclaim them if a decision goes against you.
- Earnings transferred to the rights claimant: Where an infringement is proven, some or all of the earnings are transferred to the original rights holder.
Practical steps to recover your money
If your account has been closed and your money is on hold, follow these steps in order:
- Document everything immediately: Keep screenshots of your balance, your streaming records, and any correspondence with the distributor before your access is cut off for good.
- Read the termination policy in your contract: Most distribution contracts state explicitly how long the distributor holds pending earnings after closure.
- Send a formal written objection: Write to the support team by email demanding a detailed statement of account and a written explanation of the reason for the closure.
- File an appeal against the rights claim if it is false: If you are the true owner of the content, submit your documents (production contracts, project files, recording receipts) to rebut the claim.
- Consult a lawyer specialising in intellectual property rights: If the amount on hold is large, legal advice may save you bigger losses.
How do you protect yourself in future?
- Withdraw your earnings regularly: Do not leave a large balance building up in the distributor's wallet.
- Register your works with copyright bodies: Registering in advance gives you legal documentation in any dispute.
- Choose a distributor with a clear disputes policy: Read the termination and earnings transfer clauses before signing.
- Do not rely on a single distributor only: Spreading your career across more than one platform limits your losses if one account is closed.
Summary
Having your account closed by the distributor does not necessarily mean losing all your earnings, but it does mean you are in a race against time to recover what is rightfully yours. The artists who document their work in advance and withdraw their earnings regularly are the least affected in these scenarios. Know your rights well before signing any distribution contract.