You can release one or more tracks as singles before the entire release goes live. There are a few important steps and rules to keep in mind.
How do I proceed?
Create and release singles separately – Create a standard release for each pre-release single and release it as usual.
Including Single Tracks in Your Album/EP Release – When you create your album or EP later, add the singles you've already released as tracks.
Copy the metadata exactly as is – Be sure to use the exact same audio files and copy all metadata and ISRCs exactly as they appear in the single release.
Alternatively, you can first create the final EP/album release and then, in the next step, create the singles using the track information from the EP/album release.
Once the EP or album is released, you can delete the singles again if you want to.
Why does the metadata have to be identical?
The ISRCs (International Standard Recording Codes) can only be imported correctly if the metadata matches exactly. This is crucial to ensure that the streams the single has already generated are not lost.
Which metadata fields must match exactly?
The following information must be 100% identical on the single and on the album/EP:
Artists & Features – Information and Order
Title – including the exact spelling
Titleversion – including the exact spelling (if available)
Composers / Lyricists
Audio file – use the same file as in the single release
Where can I find the necessary metadata after publication?
You can find the metadata and ISRCs for the songs at:
My Music → Release → Release information (Release sheet)
What happens to the streams of the advance singles?
If ISRCs and metadata are imported correctly, all streams already generated will be retained and attributed to the track on the album or EP.
⚠️ Important Note on ISRCs
ISRCs may not be changed after the initial delivery. It is therefore especially important that you enter the ISRCs correctly and completely from the very beginning.
Free alternative for Apple Music/iTunes only
Exclusively for Apple Music and iTunes, there's a free alternative called "Instant Gratification." You can find all the details here: