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 annual subscription model and its effect on your catalogue
A paid distributor is one of the leading music distribution platforms, and it works on an annual subscription model starting at around $23. Its policy on this is clear, even if many overlook it: as soon as you stop paying or cancel your subscription, all your songs are automatically deleted from streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and others.
This is not a penalty; it is a mechanism built into the business model. A paid distributor provides hosting and distribution in return for a recurring fee, and when the fee ends the service ends entirely.
What exactly happens when you cancel the subscription?
The picture is more complicated than many artists imagine. Here is the sequence of events:
- The paid distributor sends takedown requests to all the streaming platforms linked to your account.
- Deletion can take from a week to a month depending on how quickly each platform responds.
- Listening reports and historical data tied to the releases are lost.
- The audience loses access to the songs, and they may be removed from public and private playlists.
- Even if you resubscribe later, you may need to redistribute the songs from scratch, with the possibility that their links change.
Why is the loss bigger than the artist realises?
Many think it is just a temporary deletion, but the actual loss goes deeper:
- Losing algorithmic standing: Platforms such as Spotify need time to rediscover songs and include them in recommendations.
- Losing the links: The share links you posted on social media stop working.
- Losing listening data: Listener, country and demographic statistics may partly disappear.
- Effect on the artist profile: On Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists your music profile may be affected.
Practical steps to protect your catalogue
Whether you are considering cancelling or want to take precautions in advance, these steps protect you:
- Keep copies of your high-quality audio files (WAV/FLAC) on an external drive or separate cloud storage, so you can redistribute at any time.
- Record the release details: Save the ISRC and UPC numbers for every track and album before cancelling; you will need them to maintain continuity when you redistribute.
- Export your earnings reports: Download all payment reports and statistics as CSV before closing the account.
- Move to a distribution platform with no subscription: Platforms such as Mazufa work on a commission under the terms of the current plan and with no annual fee, which means your music stays live regardless of any subscription.
- Move the catalogue gradually: Do not cancel the old subscription before confirming that the songs are live on the new platform, to avoid any interruption.
The alternative: commission-based distribution models
The model that suits independent artists best is commission-based distribution rather than subscription. In this model, the platform only earns when you earn, so it has no incentive to delete your music.
Mazufa uses this model: a commission on earnings under the terms of the current plan, no annual fee, and your music stays live for as long as you want it to.
In short: real ownership starts with choosing the right platform
A paid distributor is an effective tool for anyone who keeps paying the annual subscription, but its model ties your catalogue to your next payment. The careful artist understands the contract terms in advance, always keeps backups, and chooses a distribution platform that does not expose their music to deletion at any moment of financial difficulty. Your music is your creation and your property, and choosing the right platform is the first step to protecting it.