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 nobody talks about
Many artists sign up with paid distribution platforms such as other distributors, upload their music, then forget to renew the yearly subscription. When the subscription ends they may find themselves facing a worrying question: have their accumulated YouTube Music earnings been lost? The answer differs depending on each platform's policy.
How do your earnings reach YouTube Music in the first place?
When you distribute your song through other distributors, that platform delivers your audio files and song data (ISRC, artist name, album) to YouTube Music. YouTube counts the streams and calculates amounts on them, then transfers them to the distributor (other distributors), which passes them on to you. This means the distributor is the main financial intermediary between you and YouTube.
What exactly happens when the subscription ends?
Based on each platform's published policies, here is what you can expect:
- Another distributor: According to the official help page, if you do not renew your subscription, the distribution of your songs will be withdrawn from the platforms gradually, including YouTube Music. Earnings accumulated before the takedown stay in your account, although access to the dashboard may stop when the subscription ends.
- Another distributor: Another distributor works on a different model; a yearly fee is paid for each release separately. If you stop paying for a particular release, it is taken down from all platforms and its incoming earnings stop. As for earnings already accumulated in your account, they remain withdrawable under their published terms.
The real risk: accumulated earnings you haven't withdrawn
The bigger problem is not just that new income stops, but the older earnings that have not yet been withdrawn. If you have an accumulated balance and did not withdraw it before the subscription ended, you may face:
- Difficulty accessing the dashboard to request a withdrawal.
- Having to renew the subscription first in order to recover your earnings.
- In rare cases, and after long periods of inaction, the risk of losing unclaimed earnings under each platform's policy.
This information is based on the terms published on these platforms' websites, and you are always advised to check the updated terms and conditions pages directly.
Practical steps to protect your earnings
- Withdraw your earnings regularly: Don't leave a large balance accumulating in your account. Make withdrawing your earnings a monthly or quarterly habit.
- Turn on automatic renewal: If you are continuing to use the platform, turn on automatic payment to avoid an unintended interruption.
- Keep your own ISRC: This code is your property; keep it, because you will need it if you move to another distributor.
- Check your subscription expiry dates: Put a reminder in your calendar a month before the renewal date.
- Contact support before cancelling: If you are thinking about cancelling your subscription, contact the support team first to find out how to withdraw your earnings safely.
Is there an alternative that avoids this problem?
Yes. Some distribution platforms work on a commission from earnings instead of a fixed fee, which means your music stays distributed without worrying about a subscription ending. Mazufa, for example, works according to the fees and deductions set out in the offer and the agreement, with no yearly renewal fee, which removes this risk at the root.
Summary
Your YouTube Music earnings are not automatically protected when your subscription ends. The distributor is the financial gateway, and its interruption means your income is held. The solution is simple: withdraw your earnings regularly, renew your subscription before it expires, and study any distribution platform's business model before relying on it.