Step 1: Get Portal access
Congratulations! You’re officially an AWAL member. Keep your eye out for an email with a link to setup your login details, which will give you access to the Portal.
Step 2: Log into the Portal
Once you have your Portal login details, head to the Portal to log in and get started.
Step 3: Set up your payment details
Once you’re in the Portal, first check that your contact details are correct.
Head to Settings > Client Details to make sure that your contact details are correct. Then set up your payment details by entering in your bank account information to ensure you get paid. You must enter payment details before you begin submitting your release.
Step 4: Plan your release
Tip: Give yourself four weeks lead time from submission to availability
Timelines can be a lifesaver if you plan accordingly. You’ll need four weeks lead time from when you submit your release for approval with AWAL, and when you expect it to be available on all digital services. This allows time for us to work with you to make sure your release meets all digital service specifications so that it gets accepted. Keep in mind that we say four weeks to cover delivery to our entire network of digital service providers, while Spotify, Apple Music and some of the larger digital services happen much quicker.
Learn more about scheduling your release.
Now that you’ve joined AWAL, we’d love to learn a little more about your campaign plan and how we can work together. For instance, if you’d like to discuss pitching, our team is on hand to talk you through what the Digital Music Services are looking for to get your music added to their curated playlists. These conversations should start at least 6 weeks in advance of release, to allow for the 4-week lead time requested by the Digital Music Services, and to give us the extra time to work with you to make sure you’re providing the right information for our Playlist Promotion team. For more information, please reach out to the Community Support team via the Contact Us page of your AWAL Portal.
Step 5: Submit your release
Tip: Follow the steps in the Portal to upload your first release.
Submitting your first release to AWAL is easy. First, make sure you’re logged into to the Portal, and then navigate to the Product Uploader. Follow the on-screen instructions, which will take you through a process to make sure that your release meets the specifications of all digital service providers.
You can also get more detailed information from the Uploader Guide. That section will tell you everything you need to know about the upload process and the specifics on each of the sections along the way.
Step 6: Track delivery to digital services
Tip: Use the Catalogue section of the Portal to track delivery progress
Now that you’ve submitted your release to AWAL, you’ll want to stay on top of its delivery progress. You can easily check the delivery status of your release for key digital services by logging into the Portal and going to Catalogue > Summary.
‘Delivered’ releases have been approved and successfully delivered to all digital services.
‘Scheduled’ releases have been approved and should be live on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon in less than five working days, with other services to follow.
If you’re looking for an update on delivery to all digital services, go to Catalogue > Deliveries.
Learn more about the delivery of your release, including information about metadata codes and taking down your release.
Step 7: Plan your promotion
Tip: Use smart links and optimize your profile for digital services
Each digital service has its own way of highlighting exciting new music, such as Spotify playlists, or Amazon storefront features.
Creating a promotion plan and using tactics to get more listeners and boost your online profile is essential. Read the section on Marketing your release
- Using smart links
- Marketing your artist profile across digital services
Step 8: Track your performance
Tip: Use the AWAL App for quick access and deep insight into streaming data.
Congrats! Your release has been delivered to our network of digital services. Now comes the exciting part, where you get to see track its growth and performance. You can do this in two ways:
The Digital Sales Tracker (DST) on the desktop Portal - Broad overview
The DST gives you a live overview of your sales data, streaming data, and plays across digital services, including: Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon, and YouTube. The DST is perfect for tracking and analyzing performance trends across many digital services.
The AWAL App - in-depth demographic and streaming for Spotify & Apple Music
The AWAL App is the best way to see your working balance and track streaming performance on Spotify and Apple, and has awesome features that don’t exist on the Portal:
AWAL Insights - process huge amounts of data to pull out key facts to help you succeed
Demographics - learn more about your fans, and how, when and where they are listening
Playlists - learn which playlists are driving the most streams, and set up push notifications for playlist adds.
Find out more with our app guide.
Step 9: Get paid
Tip: You’ll get paid roughly three months after your release is available on digital services.
You can expect to get paid around the 15th day of each month. We issue statements and corresponding payments 45 days after the end of the calendar month in which we receive revenues from digital services for your music.
To reduce banking fees, we have a minimum threshold to make the payment into your bank account. Balances that don’t hit the threshold will be carried over into your next month’s statement.
Learn more about receiving royalties.
Changes to your account information
Tip: Use the Settings section of the Portal to change your account info
You can easily change your account details by heading to the Settings section of the Portal. Once there, you can change the Portal user details, client details, bank account information, password, and you even have the option to set up two-step verification for added security.
Learn more about changing your account details.
Get easy access to support
Tip: Start with the Knowledge Base for fast answers
Need answers fast? The Knowledge Base is your go-to resource! You can access the Knowledge Base via the Support section of the Portal, or by saving this bookmark: http://kb.awal.com
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can always get in touch with us. Log into the Portal and go to Support > Contact Us.