The Importance of Metadata in 2023
Music metadata refers to the data embedded in songs and albums that is used to display information on digital streaming platforms and facilitate the collection of royalties. This data includes song titles, artist names, album titles, release dates, genres, tempo, mood/style, songwriters, record labels, copyright owners, and publishers. Good metadata management is crucial for getting paid accurately and quickly, discovering your fanbase, landing more placements in movies and commercials, and avoiding rejection from streaming platforms. DSPs require manual entry of metadata, and good metadata should follow certain standards such as proper capitalization and crediting of features and collaborators. Several companies collect robust metadata to ensure low rejection rates for copyright issues, publishing discrepancies, or missing information. Being proactive in metadata management can give an artist an edge in the music industry.
Music metadata is information that's attached to your songs and albums, like the song title, artist name, and release date. It helps streaming platforms display the correct information and makes it easier for you to get paid royalties. Good metadata also helps you get discovered by new listeners, get your music placed in movies or commercials, and avoid your music being removed from platforms for not having enough information. You can add metadata yourself, but streaming platforms will ask you to manually enter it when submitting your music for distribution. Good metadata management is important to avoid rejection and ensure that your music gets heard by as many people as possible.