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 problem many artists never see
You open your account with your distributor and find numbers lower than you expected. Most of the time the reason is not weak listening, but a small line reading "US Withholding Tax" or "W-8 Withholding". This tax withholding is deducted from your earnings automatically before they reach you, and many Arab artists do not even know it exists.
What is US tax withholding?
The United States taxes income generated from intellectual property rights (Royalties) earned within its territory. Since platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music are registered in the United States, streaming royalties generated from these platforms count as US-source income. US law requires these platforms or their distributors to withhold a percentage of that income and send it to the IRS on your behalf.
The default withholding rate when no documentation is provided is 30% of US streaming royalties. In other words, if you earn $100 from listening in the US, only $70 reaches you.
How does withholding differ from one platform to another?
Platforms usually do not deal with you directly; everything goes through the distributor. So the distributor's policy and how thoroughly it collects tax documentation control the rate actually withheld. Here is the general picture:
- Spotify: pays royalties through distributors. If the distributor has not filed the correct W-8BEN in your name, withholding is applied at 30%.
- Apple Music / iTunes: applies withholding to US streaming royalties at the same rate when documentation is missing.
- YouTube / Content ID: withholds from earnings generated by US viewers, and asks creators for tax information directly through Google AdSense.
- TikTok Music / Amazon Music: follow the same approach, and withholding depends on the documentation the distributor provides.
What is the W-8BEN form and why does it matter?
The W-8BEN is an official document proving to the paying party that you are not a US resident subject to full taxation. Filling this form in correctly lets you benefit from the double taxation treaty between your country and the US, if one exists, and therefore reduce the withholding rate.
Artists from countries with a tax treaty with the United States may pay a reduced withholding rate below 30%, which varies by treaty and country of residence. Check the list of treaties published on the official IRS site (irs.gov) to find out where your country stands.
Practical steps to reduce withholding
- Step 1 – Check with your distributor: Log in to your account with the distributor and look for a "Tax Information" or "Withholding" section. Check whether a W-8BEN has been filed in your name or not.
- Step 2 – Fill in the correct form: Most major distributors let you complete the W-8BEN electronically from inside the dashboard. Make sure to enter your country's foreign taxpayer identification number (Foreign TIN) if it is requested.
- Step 3 – Review your past earnings statements: If you find withholding in an earlier period, talk to your distributor about whether any amounts withheld incorrectly can be refunded.
- Step 4 – Consult a tax specialist: If your earnings are substantial or you are unsure where your country stands, consult a qualified accountant or tax adviser. This article is general information and not tax advice.
What does a good distributor do about this?
A professional distributor alerts you to the tax form requirements from the start, makes filing straightforward, and shows precisely in your statements how much was withheld and from where. The absence of that transparency is a sign worth noting when choosing your distributor.
Summary
Tax withholding on streaming royalties is a fact, not something optional, but it can be reduced if you take the right steps. Start by reviewing your account with your distributor, check the status of your W-8BEN, and go back over your old statements.