The AWAL Uploader, located in the top bar of your AWAL Portal, is where you'll submit your audio, metadata, and cover artwork for delivery to the digital services. We've provided a detailed walkthrough below to guide you through the upload process:
- Basics
- Audio Files
- Release Artists
- Release Information
- Track Information
- Release Plan
- Territories
- Review Your Release
Note: You can click into the 'i' information boxes as well as hover over text headers throughout the Uploader to learn more about that specific step and it's requirements.
Basics
Overview
In the Basics section of the Uploader, you should enter a release title and upload your desired cover art. If your release only has one track, then the release title and the track title should be the same.
Note: You may notice the casing your title be altered by the Uploader. The Uploader is set to make casing changes in adherence with the iTunes Style Guidelines.
Fields & rules
- Release Title (mandatory): The name of your release. Your title should not contain extra information such as version (e.g. “Live” or “Remastered”) or artist information (e.g. “feat. xxx”).
- Cover Art (mandatory):
- At least 3000x3000px
- JPEG
- DPI 72
- Max 15MB
- RGB colour format
- Should adhere to cover art guidelines found here.
Audio Files
Overview
The Audio Files section is where you will upload the audio files for your release. Once you’ve added audio files, new tracks will be created. Your upload will start in the background when you leave this section. Please upload the highest quality audio file you have (we accept as high as 24 Bit / 96kHz).
If you're uploading a multi-track release, you don't need to worry about uploading them in order. You'll have a chance to re-order your tracks later on.
Fields & rules
- Audio files (mandatory)
- .WAV files only
- Bit depth: 16 or 24-bit
- Sample rate: Between 44.1 kHz and 96 kHz
- Stereo
- All files must be of the same quality (i.e. all files have to be 16-bit OR 24-bit)
- Optional: If you've specifically mastered your audio so it qualifies as an Apple Digital Master please upload only one audio file for the track. We will create a standard audio file for you which will be delivered to all other digital services. More information about Apple Digital Masters can be found here.
If you'd like to add previously approved tracks to your product, please use the Existing Tracks feature here instead of uploading the audio from scratch. This feature will retain the metadata, audio, and ISRC associated with your previously uploaded tracks.
Release Artists
Overview
The Release Artists section of the Uploader is where you will add primary and featuring artist information for your release. The Primary Artist on your release is the main performing artist on your product (You can have a maximum of three primary artists, otherwise the 'Various Artists' term should be used). These artists will be displayed on your release when live on digital services.
Be sure to enter at least one artist name in the Primary Artist field. If you have more than one primary artist on a release, please select '+Add Another Artist'. Be sure to enter the names without using separators like “and” or “&” unless the artists always perform together (e.g. “Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds” should be entered as one artist, but “Nick Cave” and “PJ Harvey” should be entered as two).
Note: You should only credit primary and featuring artists on this step if they appear on 50% or more of the tracks on your release OR if it's a single release.
Fields & rules
- Primary Artist (mandatory):
- Choose an existing artist from your catalogue or create a new one
- Can be a maximum of 250 characters
- Featuring Artist (optional):
- You'll be able to also add a 'featuring' or 'with' artist on this step. The role you select here should also match the role you credit this artist with on the track level.
Note: When you add a primary artist (as well as featuring) you'll be prompted to locate your Spotify artist URI and artist Apple ID. If you cannot locate your IDs in this section, please note them in the 'Comments and T&Cs' section on the final step of the Uploader.
Release Information
Overview
The Release Information section of the Uploader is where you’ll add all the details about your release, such as language, copyright information and genre.
Fields & rules
- Release Title (mandatory): The name of your release, which should match what you've input on step 1. Your title should not contain extra information such as version (e.g. “Live” or “Remastered”) or artist names.
- Release Version (optional): If your release is not an 'original' version you can add the Version Title here. For example “Live”, “Remastered” or “Remix”. The version will appear in brackets next to the Release Title when live on digital services.
Note: If you're uploading a remix, you must note the remix title here as well as on the Version Title on step 5 of the Uploader. Also, be sure to credit your remixer using the Additional Contributors tool on step 5.
- Release Label (mandatory): If you’re a label then you will have to choose the label or sub-label on which this product will be released. If you’re an independent artist then this will be the same as your artist name. Please note we cannot accept ‘Independent’, ‘N/A’, or ‘AWAL’ as a label name on your product.
- Release Language (mandatory): This should be the language that the majority of your release’s track titles are in. For example, if your release has ten tracks and eight have English titles, choose English. This is not necessarily the same as 'lyrics language' (you can edit the lyrics language when editing individual tracks on the Track Information section).
- Sound Recordings Copyright ℗ (mandatory): Refers to the owner of the sound recordings for this release and the year it was first released, or remastered, in the case of a remastered release.
- Release Copyright © (mandatory): Refers to the owner of the cover artwork, packshot, packaging etc. as well as the year the artwork was first published.
- Original Release Date (optional): If you are transferring this release from another label/distributor or if your release has ever been live before, you'll need to enter the date your product went live for the first time here. This is the date the digital services use to display your release. If left blank, we will automatically use your 'Sales Start Date' (step 6) for you.
Note: Generally, the P & C lines should both be the same as the Original Release Date of your product but not in all cases. When in doubt, please consult with your entertainment lawyer for advice.
- UPC (mandatory): Stands for Universal Product Code and is a unique identifier for your release. If you do not have one, just select “No” and we will supply one for you for free. The UPC has to be 13 digits. If you have a 12 digit UPC, please add a zero at the beginning.
- Catalogue Number (mandatory): Is a unique identifier for the release within your catalogue. If you do not have a digital catalogue number, just select “No” and we will supply one for you for free. The Catalogue Number must be a maximum of 20 characters and consist of capital letters and numbers only.
- Main Genre (mandatory): Pick the genre that best describes your content.
- Secondary Genre (optional): Pick a secondary genre if you want to be more specific in describing your content. Note that this won’t be displayed on most digital services but can still be useful for search purposes.
- Main Extended Dance Genre (optional): The option to pick a Main Extended Dance Genre will only appear if you have chosen Dance or Electronic as the main genre. This genre selection is required for any products you’d like delivered to Beatport. Please note that Beatport may change the genre if they do not agree with your choice after delivery.
Track Information
Overview
On the Track Information section, you will be able to edit details for your individual tracks, such as track artists and contributors, lyrics language and track titles. You will have to open each track individually and add your details.
There are 'Apply' and 'Add' buttons located on particular aspects of the track metadata section, such as the 'P line', which will allow you to easily add that data to all tracks on your release. Don’t forget to click “Save” when you’re done editing a track.
You can also re-order and delete tracks on this section.
To begin editing your track information, be sure to click the 'Edit Track Info' button on the right side of the page.
Fields & rules
- Track Title (mandatory): The name of your track. Please don’t include extra information in the track title field, such as version titles or artist names - you can add this information in the appropriate text field further down on the page.
If your release is a single (one track) product, your track title must match your product title.
- Track Version (optional): If this is not the 'original' version of the track you can add the Version Title here to distinguish it from the original. For example “Live”, “Remix” or “Remastered”. The Version Title will appear in brackets next to the track title when live on digital services.
- Lyrics Language (mandatory): This should be the language your lyrics are in. If your track does not have any lyrics you should select “(None) Instrumental”. Please note that this isn’t necessarily the same as the Release Language (step 4).
- Parental Advisory (mandatory): If the track’s lyrics contain any rude/derogatory language or swearing, you need to mark your track as “Explicit”. See below for some guidelines on what option you should pick:
- Not Explicit: Select this if the track’s lyrics do not include any swearing or rude/derogatory language. Please keep in mind that your release might be delayed and/or require further editing if you choose this option but your lyrics are considered explicit by the digital services.
- Explicit: Select this option if the track includes any swearing or rude/derogatory language.
- Clean: Select this option if the track is a clean version of an explicit track, i.e. if an explicit version of this track already exists.
- Sound Recordings Copyright ℗ (mandatory): Refers to the owner of the sound recording for this track and what year it was released or remastered (if this is a 'Remaster').
- ISRC (mandatory): Stands for International Standard Recording Code and is a unique identifier for your track. If you do not have an ISRC (i.e. this is a new recording), then select “No” and AWAL will supply you with one for free. If the track has been released previously, it is crucial that you enter the original ISRC here. Otherwise stream counts, playlisting and registration information will be lost.
- Primary Artists (mandatory): Choose an existing artist from your catalogue or create a new one. The primary artist you credited on the release level (step 3) should also be credited at the track level.
- Featured Artists (optional): If your track features an artist you can add them here. A featured artist will be displayed with the track when live on digital services. If you have the same featured artist on all tracks you must also credit them at the release level (step 3).
- Additional Contributors (optional): Add other individuals who have contributed to this track, such as producers and engineers. Additional Contributors will not be displayed on all digital services but we encourage you to add them to enrich the user experience for fans and help future proof your catalogue. For example, Apple Music and Spotify display the Producer credit and any digital service that features voice-activated search will benefit from having the additional metadata, making your music easier to find.
- Songwriters (mandatory): Adding songwriters to your tracks will benefit you, the songwriter and your fans. Songwriter credits are now displayed on certain digital services, including Apple Music and Spotify. Songwriter credits must be full, legal names not stage names. We have more information about adding songwriter credits to your release here.
- Lyrics (optional): You can now add lyrics to your tracks using our new Lyrics Tool. This is not a required field, however, if you'd like your lyrics displayed on Apple Music you must complete this field for each track. Lyrics cannot be added to your release later on. More information about lyrics can be found here.
Release Plan
Overview
Schedule your release and set a live date here. We've used color coding to provide guidance while you select a release date. You'll notice any dates that do not allow for our required 4 week lead time displayed in red.
The Simple release plan allows you to pick a release date on which your product will be made live across the digital services.
The Custom plan enables you to select a release date, but also create a pre-order plan for your release. Pre-orders are only available on download services such as Amazon and iTunes. These are not the same as pre-saves. Our 4 week lead time is required even for pre-order dates.
Territories
Overview
This is where you can control which territories your music will be distributed to. We will distribute your release Worldwide by default, but you can exclude territories by clicking “I want to request further exclusions” and deselect any territories you don’t want to distribute your music to. Please keep in mind that by excluding territories you risk earning fewer royalties.
Review your release
Overview
You should carefully review all the information you have entered about your release and tracks to make sure you’re happy with it. You will also be notified of any issues that you need to fix before finally submitting your release. Please note that requesting changes to your release after submitting it might cause delays or even require you to upload it again, so be sure all assets you've uploaded are final and correct.
Submit
Once you've reviewed your release on step 8, be sure to scroll down one last time and click the 'Submit' button. Your release will be reviewed by our Operations team after submission for approval, and then your release will be queued for delivery.
You can monitor the status of your release in the Release Status Tool on the home dashboard of your Portal.