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 an artist care about merger news?
The digital music distribution industry is seeing a rising wave of mergers and acquisitions. When your distribution company announces a merger deal, it may seem far removed from your day-to-day life as an artist, but the real impact can reach your bank account, your contracts and your rights in your music. Understanding what happens behind the scenes helps you protect your income.
What actually changes after a merger?
Legally, when a distribution company merges with another or is acquired, existing contracts usually transfer to the new entity automatically, so the new company becomes the party bound to carry out your original agreement. That transfer, however, may come with changes affecting:
- Payment schedules: Payments may be delayed while the technical systems are being merged.
- The dashboard and reporting: Interfaces and the way data is presented may change.
- The support team: The people you used to deal with may change or leave the company.
- Policies and fees: Terms may be reviewed once the merger is complete, although under most contracts any material change requires advance notice to you.
Do your earnings stay safe?
The earnings owed to you before the merger do not disappear in theory; they are a financial obligation of the company that transfers to the new entity along with the rest of its obligations. In practice, though, you may go through a period of delayed payment while accounting systems are consolidated. The real risk lies in bankruptcy rather than a healthy merger, since pending earnings then become a claim on the list of creditors.
The practical steps you should take
- Pull your full earnings report: As soon as you hear of any merger, download the latest statement of account and archive it. This protects you if the numbers differ later.
- Review your contract: Look for a clause called "Change of Control" or its equivalent. Some contracts give you the right to terminate the agreement if ownership of the company passes to a third party.
- Check ownership of the recordings: Make sure the new entity is not claiming any rights in your recordings beyond what your original contract provided for.
- Follow the official communication channels: Subscribe to the distributor's newsletters and watch its updates; many changes are announced by email before they take effect.
- Do not wait to ask for support: If you notice an unusual delay in earnings, contact the support team and send a documented written enquiry.
When is the right time to think about changing?
Not every merger is reason enough to leave your current distributor. But there are signs worth stopping at:
- Earnings delayed for more than a full payment cycle without a clear explanation.
- A change in terms not in your favour without sufficient advance notice.
- No support team, or nothing but automated replies to your enquiries.
- Difficulty pulling your music or moving it to another distributor.
How do you protect yourself from the start?
The best time to prepare is before any crisis hits. Choose a distributor that gives you full access to your track data and lets you leave without obstacles. Avoid contracts that tie you up for years or charge exit fees.
Summary
Mergers are a normal part of a developing market, not an inevitable danger. But the artist who keeps track of their contract and documents their earnings is always in a stronger position. Watch, document, ask, and act if you need to.