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 is the minimum payout threshold and how does it affect your money?
The minimum payout threshold is the amount your accumulated earnings must reach before the distributor transfers them to your bank account or e-wallet. For example, if the threshold is ten dollars and you have gathered nine dollars this month, the distributor holds the amount until next month. The idea sounds simple, but when the distributor suddenly raises that threshold from ten dollars to fifty without prior notice, the picture changes entirely.
What actually happens when the threshold changes without notice?
The immediate effect is not just a delay in payment, but a chain of problems that affect your financial planning:
- Accumulated earnings frozen: The amount you were about to receive is held until you reach the new, higher threshold.
- Cash flow disruption: If you rely on these earnings to cover recording or marketing costs, your timeline is affected.
- No transparency: Often you do not know when the threshold will go back to what it was, or whether it will rise again.
- Difficulty making a claim: If the terms were not clearly documented in the original contract, it is hard to challenge the change.
Why are distributors entitled to do this at all?
Most distribution contracts include a clause giving the distributor the right to amend the terms and policies with prior notice, or sometimes without notice. The clause looks marginal when you sign the contract, but it gives the company broad authority over your money. Many musicians do not read the terms carefully enough, and only discover the clause when it affects them directly.
Practical steps to protect your earnings
- Read the policy-change clause before signing: Look for phrases such as "we reserve the right to amend the terms" and understand what they actually mean for your account.
- Turn on email notifications: Subscribe to your distributor's newsletters and policy alerts so you do not miss any updates.
- Withdraw your earnings regularly: Once you reach the current minimum, do not let earnings pile up more than necessary; withdrawing regularly reduces the amount exposed to a freeze.
- Document everything: Keep screenshots of the policy pages, the dashboard and your accumulated earnings, especially near the end of each month.
- Diversify your distribution channels: Relying on a single distributor leaves you fully exposed to its decisions; distributing through more than one party spreads the risk.
- Contact distributor support immediately: If you notice a sudden change, send a written enquiry and keep the reply as an official record.
What do you do if it happens without notice?
First, go through your email and the latest terms of service to make sure the distributor did not send a notice you missed. If you confirm that it did not notify you, contact support and ask for a clear statement of the new policy and its effective date. In some countries the law requires prior notice for any change affecting financial obligations; consult a local lawyer if the amounts justify it.
Mazufa and payout policy: what is the difference?
At Mazufa, payout policies are stated clearly, and there are no hidden deductions on distribution. If you are considering which distributor to choose, make the clarity of the payout policy and transparency in the terms a core criterion, not a secondary consideration.
In short: protecting your earnings starts before you sign
Changing the minimum payout threshold without notice is not merely an administrative nuisance; it is a decision that directly affects your financial position as an artist. The answer lies in reading contracts carefully, documenting continuously, and diversifying your distribution channels. Your music deserves a distributor that respects your time and your money.