Creating a Release

This guide walks you through creating a release on LabelGrid, explaining each field and its requirements.

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

• Audio files - WAV, AIFF, or FLAC format (lossless only, 16-bit/24-bit/32-bit, 44.1kHz+ stereo)
• Cover artwork - 3000×3000 pixels minimum, JPEG or PNG, sRGB color space
• Release information - Title, artist name, genre, catalog number

Tip

You can save your progress at any time. Releases stay in draft until you submit them.

Step 1: Start a new release

1. Go to Catalogue → My Releases in the navigation.

2. Click Add Release.

3. The Distribution Information dialog appears:

   • Select No if this is a brand new release
   • Select Yes if transferring from another distributor (enter the previous distributor’s name)

4. Click Continue to open the release form.

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Step 2: Upload cover artwork

The form opens on the Artwork tab.

Cover image requirements

Requirement	Value
Minimum size	3000 × 3000 pixels
Format	JPEG or PNG (PNG auto-converts to JPEG)
Color space	sRGB (CMYK auto-converts)
Max file size	300MB

Why this matters: Streaming platforms require high-resolution artwork. Images below 3000×3000 will be flagged during review.

AI disclosure (required)

You must disclose how AI was used in creating your artwork:

Option	When to use
No generative AI was used	Traditional artwork, photos, hand-drawn
Some parts were created with generative AI	AI-assisted (e.g., AI background with hand-drawn elements)
Entirely generated with AI	Fully AI-created artwork

Why this is required: Streaming platforms now require AI disclosure. This information is sent to all DSPs. For full details on AI policies, see AI-Generated Content.

Apple Music Motion Artwork (optional)

You can upload animated artwork for Apple Music. This appears as a looping video on Apple devices.

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Step 3: Set general information

Click the General tab.

Record Label (required)

Select which label this release belongs to. The label determines:

• Available distribution outlets
• Default copyright information
• Barcode pool (for auto-generated UPCs)

Caution

The label cannot be changed after the release is created. This is a permanent setting — once you save a release under a label, it cannot be reassigned to a different label. If you need the release under a different label, you must create a new release under the correct label. Double-check your label selection before saving.

UPC/EAN barcode

Requirement	Value
Format	12 digits (UPC) or 13 digits (EAN)
Uniqueness	Must be unique across all releases
Auto-generation	Leave blank to auto-generate from your label’s barcode pool

Tip

If you have an existing barcode from another distributor, enter it here to maintain streaming history.

Catalog Number (required)

Requirement	Value
Max length	20 characters
Uniqueness	Must be unique within your label
Allowed characters	Any characters

Example: LABEL001, HR-2025-001, ABC123

Best practice: Use a consistent format across all releases for easy organization.

Release Type (required)

Type	Definition
Single	1-3 tracks, each under 10 minutes, total under 30 minutes
EP	4-6 tracks with total runtime under 30 minutes, OR 1-3 tracks where at least one is 10+ minutes
Album	7+ tracks, or over 30 minutes total
Compilation	Tracks from various artists
Mix	DJ mix or continuous mix
Podcast	Audio podcast content (requires podcast-enabled account)

Primary Genre (required)

Select the main genre for your release. This affects:

• How platforms categorize your music
• Which playlists you may be considered for
• Search discoverability

Secondary Genre (optional)

Add a secondary genre if your music spans multiple styles.

Copyright P-Line and C-Line

Field	Purpose	Format	Example
P-Line	Sound recording copyright (who owns the master)	YEAR Name	2025 Horizon Records
C-Line	Composition copyright (who owns the song)	YEAR Name	2025 Luna Martinez

• Max length: 255 characters each
• Optional: If left blank, uses your label’s default copyright settings
• Year must be: Greater than 1500 and cannot be later than the release date year. For example, a release with a 2020 release date cannot have a 2026 P-Line or C-Line year

Caution

Changing copyright on an approved release triggers redistribution.

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Step 4: Add title information

Click the Title tab.

Release Title (required)

Enter your release title. You can add the title in multiple languages to support international audiences.

How multiple languages work:

1. Add translations - Click to add titles in different languages (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.)
2. Set a default - Select which language version is the “preferred” title
3. Latin characters required - Always include a title in Latin characters (English, Spanish, etc.) for global compatibility

How DSPs use translations: Streaming platforms may display the localized title to users in that region, or they may use only the default/Latin title globally. This varies by platform - not all DSPs support localized titles.

Do:

• Use the official release title
• Include featured artists in the title if relevant
• Always provide a Latin-character version for searchability

Don’t:

• Add promotional text (“OUT NOW!”, “NEW!”)
• Include the artist name (that goes in the Artist field)

Version/Mix (optional)

Use for remixes, acoustic versions, live recordings, etc.

Examples: Radio Edit, Extended Mix, Acoustic Version, Live at Madison Square Garden

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Step 5: Add artists

Click the Artists tab.

Artist roles

Role	Description	Required?
Main Artist	Primary performer	Yes - at least one
Featured Artist	Guest appearances	Optional

Important rule: Each artist can only have ONE role per release. An artist cannot be both Main Artist and Featured Artist on the same release.

Various Artists handling

You do not need to type “Various Artists” — the system handles this automatically. Simply add each artist with their correct role, and LabelGrid determines when to display “Various Artists” based on the number of unique main artists on the release.

All individual artists remain credited at the track level regardless, so every contributor gets proper credit on platforms that support it.

Spotify note: Spotify displays “Various Artists” on releases with 5 or more main artists. Releases with fewer than 5 main artists show all artists individually.

Adding an artist

1. Click Add Artist
2. Search for an existing artist or create new
3. Select the role (Main Artist or Featured Artist)

Artist requirements

• Minimum: At least one Main Artist is required
• Album rule: Main artists at release level must appear on at least one track
• Consistency: Artists appearing on ALL tracks should be listed at release level

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Step 6: Configure release dates

Click the Date Settings tab.

Original Release Date (required)

When your release goes live on streaming platforms.

Rules:

• Can be today or a future date
• If set in the past, automatically adjusts to today
• Recommend setting at least 7-14 days in advance for playlist consideration

Pre-Save / Pre-Order Date (optional)

When pre-orders become available before the release date.

Rules:

• Must be before the release date
• Apple Music/iTunes limit: Maximum 366 days before release date

Advanced date controls

Toggle Enable advanced release date control for:

• Territory-specific release dates
• Scheduled takedowns
• Custom preview dates for cover art and track listings

See also: Advanced Date Settings for territory-specific scheduling.

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Step 7: Configure settings

Click the Settings tab.

Additional release settings including:

• Explicit content flag
• Auto-distribution preferences
• Additional metadata options

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Step 8: Select distribution outlets

Click the Outlets tab.

Note

You must select a Record Label in the General tab before outlets appear.

Select which streaming platforms to distribute to:

• All outlets - Distribute to all available platforms
• Select specific - Choose individual platforms

Available outlets depend on your label’s configuration and subscription plan.

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Step 9: Add external links (optional)

Click the Links tab.

Add existing store URLs if this release is already live elsewhere:

• Spotify URL
• Apple Music URL
• Other platform links

This helps LabelGrid link to existing catalog entries.

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Step 10: Save and continue

Click Finish to save your release.

Your release is now in Draft status. Next steps:

• Add tracks to your release
• Validate and submit for review when complete

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Field reference summary

Field	Required	Max Length	Notes
Cover Artwork	Yes	300MB	3000×3000px min, JPEG/PNG
AI Disclosure	Yes	-	none/some/all
Record Label	Yes	-	Determines outlets. Permanent — cannot be changed after creation.
Catalog Number	Yes	20 chars	Unique per label
UPC/EAN	Auto	13 chars	Auto-generated if blank
Release Type	Yes	-	Single/EP/Album/etc.
Primary Genre	Yes	-	From genre list
Title	Yes	255 chars	Per language
Main Artist	Yes	-	At least one
Release Date	Yes	-	Today or future
P-Line/C-Line	No	255 chars	Format: “YEAR Name”

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Common issues

”Catalog number already exists”

Each catalog number must be unique within your label. Solutions:

• Add a suffix (e.g., LABEL001-A)
• Use a different numbering format

”Artist can only have one role”

Remove the duplicate artist and add them with a single role. If an artist is both performing and remixing, add them once as Main Artist.

”Artwork dimensions too small”

Resize your artwork to at least 3000×3000 pixels before uploading.

”AI disclosure is required”

Select one of the three AI disclosure options in the Artwork tab.

”I selected the wrong label”

The label on a release is permanent and cannot be changed after the release is created. If the release has already been distributed, you can migrate it without losing streaming history:

1. Create a new label if needed (see Creating a Label)
2. Create a new release under the correct label using the same ISRCs but a new UPC
3. Distribute the new release first — DSPs will link it to the existing content via the matching ISRCs
4. Take down the old release after the new one is live on platforms

This process takes a few business days for DSP processing. Contact support if you need help coordinating the timing.

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What’s next?

• Adding Tracks - Upload audio files to your release
• Validation and Review - Submit for distribution
• Advanced Date Settings - Territory-specific scheduling

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Need help? Contact our support team