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 is an account frozen in the first place?
When a service such as Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music receives a copyright report (a Copyright Claim or a Takedown Notice) against a piece of music distributed through your distributor, it automatically takes two actions: it stops the track from playing, and it freezes the earnings tied to it, or to the whole account in repeat cases. The purpose of the freeze is to protect the service from potential legal liability until the dispute is settled.
The main problem is that this action is usually automatic and fast, while recovering the money can take weeks or months.
Where exactly does the frozen money go?
The money does not disappear, but it moves into one of three states:
- Withheld by the service: The service places it in a withheld account until the dispute is decided or the appeal window expires.
- Transferred to the claimant: In the Content ID system on YouTube specifically, the earnings are transferred automatically to the claimant as long as the claim has not been lifted.
- Withheld by the distributor: Some distributors stop paying out the amounts tied to the disputed track until their internal procedures are complete.
The practical steps to recover your money
Act quickly and methodically; delay lengthens the period the money is withheld.
- Step 1 – Document everything immediately: Keep screenshots of the freeze notice, the claim number, its date, and the amounts shown in the dashboard before any change.
- Step 2 – Identify the source of the claim: Check your mail from the service or from your distributor to find out who filed the claim; is it a third party or an internal error by the distributor itself?
- Step 3 – Contact your distributor in writing: Send a formal message asking for a written explanation of the reason, the expected length of the hold, and the action being taken. Keep a copy of every reply.
- Step 4 – File a counter-notice if you hold the rights: If you are the rights holder and the claim was mistaken, you have the right to file a formal Counter-Notice under the DMCA or the service's policy. A good distributor helps you with this step.
- Step 5 – Review your contract with the distributor: Look in the contract for clauses relating to "disputes", "withholding" and "the maximum period for settlement". These clauses define your rights vis-à-vis the distributor.
- Step 6 – Escalate the complaint if necessary: If the distributor does not respond within the period stipulated in the contract, you can escalate the matter to the consumer protection bodies in your country or consult a lawyer specialising in intellectual property.
What if the mistake is the distributor's own?
It sometimes happens that the cause of the claim is an error in the distribution data from the distributor itself, such as registering the wrong ISRC code or a conflict in ownership data. In that case the responsibility lies with the distributor, and it must be the one to correct the error with the service, recover the withheld money and return it to you. Ask for that explicitly in writing and set a clear deadline.
How do you protect yourself in future?
- Register your works with the performing rights society in your country before distribution.
- Keep the original project files (stems) as proof of ownership.
- Choose a distributor that provides a clear, written policy for handling copyright disputes and the length of holds.
- Don't use unlicensed samples.
- Review the dashboard regularly so you spot any notice early.
Summary
Having your account frozen over a copyright dispute is an unpleasant experience, but it can be resolved if you act quickly and with clear documentation. In most cases the money has not been lost; it is held pending a decision. Your distributor is your first partner in this matter, so before signing with any distributor make sure it provides real support in disputes like these.