Catalog Management
Your catalog is the foundation of your music distribution. In LabelGrid, you manage four types of entities that appear on your releases:
- Artists - The performers and creators credited on releases
- Labels - The imprint or brand that releases the music
- Writers - Songwriters and composers for publishing credits
- Publishers - Music publishers for royalty collection
Artists
Artists are the main credited performers on your releases. Every release needs at least one primary artist.
What you can do with artists
- Create artist profiles with bios and images
- Link to verified streaming profiles (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)
- Manage multiple artist identities (solo projects, groups, aliases)
- Track all releases by artist
Artist types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary artist | Main credited artist on the release |
| Featured artist | Collaborating artist on specific tracks |
| Remixer | Artist who created a remix version |
| Various Artists | Used for compilations with 5+ different primary artists |
Platform note: Spotify limits releases to 3 main artists. If you add more than 3, LabelGrid automatically displays “Various Artists” on Spotify while preserving individual credits on other platforms.
Learn more about managing artists
Labels
Labels are the imprint or brand under which music is released. Even independent artists release under a label name.
What you can do with labels
- Create label profiles with logos and descriptions
- Organize releases by label
- Manage multiple label imprints
- Set default distribution preferences per label
Do I need a label?
Yes, every release requires a label. If you’re an independent artist, you can:
- Use your artist name as your label name
- Create a simple label name for your releases
- The label name appears in store credits (℗ and © lines)
Learn more about managing labels
Writers
Writers are the songwriters and composers who created the music. Writer credits are essential for:
- Proper song credits on streaming platforms
- Publishing royalty collection
- Copyright registration
Writer credits include
| Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Composer | Wrote the music/melody |
| Lyricist | Wrote the lyrics |
| Composer/Lyricist | Wrote both music and lyrics |
| Arranger | Arranged the musical composition |
| Adapter | Adapted an existing work |
Learn more about adding writers
Publishers
Publishers handle the business side of your songs - collecting royalties, licensing music, and protecting your copyrights.
When to add publishers
Add publisher information if:
- You’re signed to a publishing deal
- You self-publish and have registered with a PRO
- You want publishing credits to appear on platforms
Publisher details
For each publisher, you can specify:
- Publisher name
- Ownership percentage (if split between publishers)
- Territory rights
- PRO affiliation
Catalog organization tips
Keep your catalog clean
- Use consistent artist name spelling
- Link artists to their verified profiles when possible
- Update artist bios and images regularly
- Remove duplicate or unused entries
Plan for growth
- Set up your label structure before releasing
- Create artist profiles before you need them
- Establish naming conventions for your team
- Use the catalog search to avoid duplicates
Catalog guides
- Managing Artists - Create and edit artist profiles
- Managing Labels - Set up your label imprints
- Writers and Contributors - Add songwriter credits
- Publishers - Configure publishing information
Need help?
If you have questions about catalog management, contact our support team.