Why This Glossary
Music distribution has its own vocabulary, often technical and sometimes intimidating. Understanding these terms helps you negotiate better with your distributor, protect your rights and maximize your income. This glossary gathers the 60 essential terms every independent artist should know in 2026, organized by theme.
At Wiseband, we have supported independent artists since 2007, and we see every day that artists who master this vocabulary make better decisions for their careers.
Codes and Identifiers
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)
The ISRC is the unique identifier assigned to each sound recording. It tracks streams, sales and broadcasts of a track worldwide. A song that is re-recorded receives a new ISRC, because it is a different recording. This code links your streams to your history, which lets you switch distributors without starting over.
UPC (Universal Product Code)
The UPC is the unique barcode assigned to a complete release (single, EP or album). Where the ISRC identifies an individual recording, the UPC identifies the product as a whole. It is essential for distributing a release on streaming platforms and digital stores.
EAN (European Article Number)
The EAN is the European equivalent of the UPC, made up of 13 digits instead of 12. Both systems are compatible and serve the same purpose: uniquely identifying a music release. Most distributors, including Wiseband, generate this code automatically for your releases.
ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code)
The ISWC identifies a musical work (composition and lyrics), not a specific recording. It is managed by collective management organizations and is used to distribute songwriting royalties between composers and authors. The same song performed by several artists keeps the same ISWC but receives different ISRCs.
GRid (Global Release Identifier)
The GRid is an identifier used for purely digital releases. Less known to the general public than the ISRC or UPC, it is mainly used by platforms and distributors to track releases in data exchanges.
Rights and Royalties
Copyright
Copyright rewards the creation of a work: the musical composition and the lyrics. It is distinct from the rights linked to the recording, which is why an artist can earn several types of income for the same track. To understand how distribution works end to end, read our definitive guide to digital music distribution.
Neighbouring Rights
Neighbouring rights reward the people who take part in the recording: the performing artist and the producer of the master. They are distinct from copyright and concern the recording itself rather than the composition. They are collected by dedicated organizations that vary by country.
Master (Master Rights)
The master refers to the original recording of a track. Owning the master rights means owning the recording and collecting the royalties generated by its distribution. A digital distributor like Wiseband collects master royalties without ever claiming ownership: you remain 100% the owner.
Mechanical Royalties
Mechanical royalties are generated each time a work is reproduced, including during a stream or a download. They reward the composer and the publisher. This income stream is often overlooked by independent artists, even though it represents a significant part of potential earnings.
Performance Royalties
These royalties are generated when a work is played in public: on the radio, in a bar, at a concert or in streaming. They are collected by performing rights organizations and paid to authors and composers. You must be registered with such an organization to collect them.
Sync (Synchronization Rights)
Synchronization rights apply when music is paired with an image: film, advertising, series, video game or YouTube video. They are negotiated directly and can represent a major source of income. A sync license requires the agreement of the owner of the master rights and of the work.
Publishing
Publishing concerns the management and exploitation of a work’s copyright. A publisher helps collect royalties, place tracks in synchronization and protect rights. An independent artist can self-publish or sign with a publisher depending on their goals.
Split (Royalty Split)
The split defines the percentage of royalties assigned to each person who contributed to a track: artists, producers, composers. A well-managed split avoids conflicts during collaborations. Wiseband includes an automatic split tool that pays each collaborator their share directly.
Distribution and Platforms
DSP (Digital Service Provider)
A DSP is a legal streaming or download platform: Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music, YouTube Music. Your distributor sends your music to these platforms. The term DSP is the industry standard for these services.
Digital Distributor
The digital distributor is the intermediary that delivers your music to DSPs and collects your royalties to pay them out to you. It holds no rights to your music, unlike a label. Wiseband, DistroKid, TuneCore and CD Baby are digital distributors. To compare the main options, read our 2026 distributor comparison.
Aggregator
Aggregator is a synonym for digital distributor. The term emphasizes the intermediary role that gathers (aggregates) access to dozens of platforms through a single interface, saving the artist from contacting each platform individually.
Label
A label is a structure that invests in an artist’s career and generally holds part of their rights in exchange for services (production, promotion, funding). Unlike a distributor, a label takes a share of rights or revenue. Wiseband offers a dedicated plan for labels while leaving artists the owners of their rights.
Take-down
A take-down is the removal of a release from streaming platforms. It can be voluntary or result from ending a subscription with certain distributors. Be careful: with some services, a take-down also erases your stream history and algorithmic presence. Wiseband never deletes your catalog automatically.
Pre-save
Pre-save lets fans save a track in advance, before its release, so it automatically appears in their library on release day. It is an effective promotional lever that sends a positive signal to platform algorithms right from release.
Delivery
Delivery refers to the technical sending of your music and its metadata to platforms. Delivery time varies by distributor and platform, generally from a few hours to a few days. A short delivery time helps you plan your releases better.
Metadata and Files
Metadata
Metadata is the information attached to a track: artist name, title, composers, genre, release date, language. Correct and complete metadata is essential to be well indexed on platforms and to collect all your rights. A metadata error can delay a release or block a payment.
WAV
WAV is the uncompressed audio format recommended for distribution. It preserves the full quality of the recording, unlike MP3 which compresses and degrades the sound. Most distributors require a WAV file of at least 16-bit / 44.1 kHz quality.
FLAC
FLAC is a lossless compressed audio format. It offers a good compromise between WAV quality and a reduced file size. Some platforms offering high-definition streaming favour this format.
Artwork
Artwork is the visual cover attached to a release. Platforms impose strict criteria: square format, minimum resolution (often 3000 x 3000 pixels), no URL or contact information. Non-compliant artwork is a frequent cause of release rejection.
Loudness
Loudness refers to the perceived sound level of a recording. Platforms normalize volume (often around -14 LUFS) to offer consistent listening. Understanding normalization avoids over-compressing a master, which would degrade the final result on Spotify or Apple Music.
Streaming and Data
Stream
A stream is counted when a listener plays a track for at least 30 seconds on a platform. It is the basic unit of streaming revenue. Revenue per stream varies by platform, country and the listener’s subscription type.
Per-stream Rate
The per-stream rate is the amount generated by one play. It varies widely by platform, generally between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream on Spotify, more on platforms like Tidal or Apple Music. This rate also depends on the listener’s country and subscription type.
Monthly Listeners
Monthly listeners correspond to the number of unique people who listened to your music over the last 28 days on Spotify. It is a key reach indicator, distinct from the total number of streams. Algorithms and playlist curators often look at this figure.
Skip Rate
The skip rate measures how often listeners skip a track before the end. A high skip rate in the first seconds sends a negative signal to the algorithm and reduces recommendation chances. The first seconds of a track are therefore strategic.
Save Rate
The save rate measures the proportion of listeners who add your track to their library. It is one of the most positive signals for recommendation algorithms, because it indicates lasting interest rather than passive listening.
Recommendation Algorithm
The recommendation algorithm is the system that decides to offer your music to new listeners through algorithmic playlists, radios and suggestions. It relies on signals like save rate, skip rate and listening habits. Understanding how it works helps optimize your releases.
Playlists and Discovery
Editorial Playlist
An editorial playlist is created and managed by a platform’s human teams, like Spotify’s official playlists. Being featured offers considerable visibility. To understand what actually works, read our study on 800 winning pitches for Spotify playlists.
Algorithmic Playlist
An algorithmic playlist is generated automatically for each listener based on their tastes: Discover Weekly, Radio, Release Radar on Spotify. Unlike editorial playlists, it requires no pitch: your track’s performance triggers the inclusion.
Pitch
The pitch is the presentation of a track to editorial playlist curators, generally through the Spotify for Artists tool at least 7 days before release. A good pitch increases placement chances. The quality and accuracy of the information provided are decisive.
Curator
A curator is the person who selects the tracks of a playlist, whether editorial (platform team) or independent. Building a relationship with independent curators can complement official editorial placements.
Release Radar
Release Radar is Spotify’s algorithmic playlist that presents new releases from artists that fans follow. Encouraging your fans to follow you and enable notifications increases your reach through this automatic playlist from release day.
Monetization and Social Media
Content ID
Content ID is YouTube’s system that identifies the use of your music in videos and lets you monetize it. When a creator uses your track, you can earn a share of the advertising revenue. Wiseband includes Content ID management depending on the plan, at no extra cost.
TikTok Monetization
TikTok monetization concerns the revenue generated when your music is used in videos on the platform. As TikTok is a major discovery lever, having your music in the official sound library is strategic. Always check whether your social distribution is included in your plan.
Fingerprint
The fingerprint is the unique digital signature of your recording, used to identify it automatically across platforms, notably for Content ID. This technology detects uses of your music even without metadata.
Whitelist
The whitelist lets you authorize certain creators or channels to use your music without triggering a Content ID claim. It is useful for letting your own videos or those of partners use your music freely.
Business and Career
Advance
An advance is a sum paid to an artist before their income is generated, offset against future royalties. It is recoupable: the payer reimburses itself from upcoming revenue. Pure distributors generally do not offer advances, unlike some labels.
Recoupment
Recoupment is the process by which a label or investor recovers its advance from the artist’s revenue before the artist collects their share. Understanding recoupment is essential before signing any contract involving an advance.
Catalog
The catalog refers to all of an artist’s or label’s releases. An active catalog generates passive income over the long term. Protecting your catalog against accidental deletion is crucial, which is why choosing a distributor that does not erase it matters.
Royalty Statement
The royalty statement is the document detailing the income generated by your releases, platform by platform and country by country. A clear and transparent statement lets you understand where your income comes from and identify your most profitable markets.
Payout
The payout is the actual transfer of your royalties to your account. Thresholds, timeframes and payment methods vary by distributor. A low payout threshold and short timeframes are a concrete advantage for an independent artist’s cash flow.
Merchandising
Merchandising refers to the sale of derived products: t-shirts, vinyl, posters. It is a valuable additional revenue stream, often more profitable than streaming. Wiseband integrates a print-on-demand merchandising store directly into its platform.
Music Crowdfunding
Music crowdfunding lets you fund a project (album, video, tour) by collecting contributions from your community before production. It is a way to validate audience interest while funding your creation. Wiseband offers a crowdfunding service dedicated to artists.
How to Use This Glossary
This vocabulary is not just a list of definitions: it is the foundation for making informed decisions about your career. Understanding the difference between copyright and neighbouring rights helps you leave no income on the table. Knowing what a take-down is prevents you from losing your catalog. Mastering the pitch gives you an edge for playlists.
At Wiseband, we give independent artists the tools and support to fully exploit each of these levers. To go further, explore our blog or start distributing your music directly.
Distribute your music with Wiseband today
FAQ
What is the difference between ISRC and UPC? The ISRC identifies an individual recording (a track), while the UPC identifies a complete release (single, EP or album). An album therefore has one UPC and as many ISRCs as there are tracks.
What is the difference between copyright and neighbouring rights? Copyright rewards the composition and lyrics (the composer and author). Neighbouring rights reward the recording (the performing artist and the producer of the master). The same track generates both types of rights.
Do I need an ISRC to distribute my music? Yes, each recording must have an ISRC to be distributed and tracked. The good news: most distributors, including Wiseband, generate these codes for free and automatically for your releases.
What distinguishes a distributor from a label? A distributor delivers your music to platforms and pays you 100% of your royalties without holding any rights. A label invests in your career in exchange for a share of your rights or revenue. Wiseband is a distributor: you keep 100% of your rights.
How do I avoid losing my streams when changing distributors? Keep the same ISRC codes for each track. Streams and algorithmic history are tied to the ISRC, not the distributor. Make sure your old distributor transfers these codes before you migrate.
Glossary updated in 2026 by Wiseband, independent music distributor since 2007.