CD BABY PRESENTS:

The Get Started Guide

The easiest guide to getting your music out there!
 SUBMISSION PROCESS OVERVIEW
CD BABY
FREE
STEP
Choose a
submission type
CD BABY
* ADD STEP
STANDARD METADATA
STEP

3
CHoose
DISTRIBUTION
OPTIONS
STEP

UPLOAD AUDIO
AND ARTWORK

STEP

5
ARTWORK AUDIO

YOUR METADATA AND AUDIO

IS THEN SENT TO CD BABY
DIGITAL INSPECTORS FOR
REVIEW TO MAKE SURE IT
MEETS OUR DIGITAL
SUBMIT FOR
PARTNERS’ GUIDELINES DISTRIBUTION

REVIEW YOUR TITLE and

SUBMIT FOR DISTRIBUTION
STEP

6 FINALIZE FOR
DISTRIBUTION
YOU WILL GET AN EMAIL WITH
FINAL APPROVAL INSTRUCTIONS FINALIZE MUSIC IS SENT TO PARTNERS WORLDWIDE

* PRO submission types are currently only

available in select territories and only for
songs that are original works.
CD BABY SUBMISSION PROCESS STEPS
Step One: Choose a Submission Type
CD Baby has three different submission types to choose from:

CD Baby Free: includes CDBaby.com and Music Player

• Sell downloads on cdbaby.com.

• Sell your music with the embeddable Music Player on your personal website and
receive play count analytics.

CD Baby Standard: includes Digital and Physical Distribution, and Sync Licensing
• Worldwide digital distribution to our digital partners (iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon,
Google Play, Spotify, etc.)
• Worldwide physical distribution for physical CDs, vinyl, and more!
• Sync Licensing – make money from YouTube monetization and licensing for TV,
movies, commercials, video games, etc.

CD Baby Pro Publishing: includes Digital and Physical Distribution, Sync Licensing,
AND Publishing Royalty Collection
• CD Baby Pro Publishing provides you with distribution to our digital partners
(iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, etc.), Sync Licensing, AND music
publishing administration for your original songs (cover songs not eligible).

• Song registration in 100+ countries – CD Baby will register your songs and
publishing information with collection societies around the world to make sure you’re capturing
maximum publishing revenue for your music. This means you do not have to go to each
individual collection society and register your tracks yourself. We will take care of that for you.

• Worldwide Publishing Royalty Collection – With CD Baby’s publishing administration, we

will collect the publisher’s share of your royalties and pay them directly to you. These include
performance royalties and mechanical royalties (for international downloads and global
streams).

• Performing Rights Affiliation – In order to collect publishing royalties for your original music,
you must be affiliated with a Performance Rights Organization (P.R.O.). For certain countries,
CD Baby is able to affiliate you with the associated P.R.O., while other countries we will link you
to the P.R.O. in your territory so you can get affiliated.

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Step Two: Add Metadata
In the age of digital music, having accurate metadata - the basic
information about your song such as Artist Name, Track Title,
Songwriter, and Publisher - is very important. That’s why the process
of collecting metadata takes a little longer to complete than other
sections in our submission process. Clear and concise metadata
ensures that our digital partners know who to pay for sales/royalties
and that your fans can easily discover your music on their platforms.

Step Three: Choose Distribution Options

CD Baby allows you to customize the distribution for your music by choosing specific digital outlets,
territories, and more. Begin by selecting your distribution tier from the options below. Then, if you
wish, you can further customize your distribution according to territory or digital partners (iTunes,
Apple Music, Spotify, etc.)

Distribution Tiers:
CD Baby Only – Your music will Downloads + Streaming – We will
only be available on cdbaby.com. deliver music to all of our partners
who offer downloads, streaming, or
both.
Downloads Only – We will deliver
music to our digital partners that Do it all, even unpaid – We will deliver
only offer downloads (streaming music to all of our partners, even the
is NOT included). digital partners who offer your tracks
for free promotional opportunities.

Step Four: Upload Audio and Artwork

Every submission is required to have audio and artwork.

Audio specifications:
• Upload high quality audio files in either WAV or FLAC formats.
• Files must be stereo 44.1kHz sample rate, and 16-bit.

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Step Four: Upload Audio and Artwork (continued)
Artwork specifications:
1. Artwork sizes of 3000 x 3000 pixels are preferred
2. PNG, GIF, JPG, or JPEG file type
3. 72 - 300dpi (300dpi is the best)
4. File size less than 25mb
5. RGB color scheme (not CMYK)
6. Artwork must be unique to this particular title. We cannot accept artwork that has been
used for another title.
7. Uploaded image must match your metadata. If you have opted in for physical distribution it
must match your physical artwork as well.

Please do NOT include:

1. Website links
2. Contact information
(i.e., email address,
phone numbers)
3. Social network symbols
or information (Facebook
links, Twitter handles,
etc.)
4. Tribute albums where
the original artist name
is as large or larger than
the performing artist.
5. Pricing information
or UPC
6. Blurry or pixelated
images
7. Copyrighted images
8. Cover art that refers to physical or digital versions of the album (for example, CD, Disc, Digital
Exclusive, Digital Version, etc)
9. Cover art that claims to be an exclusive of one of our digital partners without their permission
(for example, iTunes™ Exclusive, Only on Amazon MP3™)
10. Cover art that promises content that the album doesn’t contain (for example, “includes DVD”,
“includes free stickers”, etc)
11. Cover art that up-sells to another product (i.e., merchandise, other albums by same artist, etc)
12. Also NO pornographic images or scans of physical CDs.

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Step Five: Review Your Title and Submit for Distribution
Be sure to review ALL of your metadata to make
YOUR METADATA AND AUDIO IS
sure it is correct before submitting for distribution. THEN SENT TO CD BABY DIGITAL
Once you’ve completed all the information for INSPECTORS FOR REVIEW TO
MAKE SURE IT MEETS OUR
your submission you can select the “submit for DIGITAL PARTNERS’ GUIDELINES SUBMIT FOR
distribution” button on the title overview page. This DISTRIBUTION
will let our Inspectors know that you’ve completed
your submission and you’re ready to have CD Baby review your submission to make sure it meets
our digital partners’ guidelines. If there are any corrections that need to be made, you will receive an
email directly from the inspector with further information.

Step Six:
Finalize for FINALIZE FOR
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution YOU WILL GET AN EMAIL WITH
FINAL APPROVAL INSTRUCTIONS FINALIZE MUSIC IS SENT TO PARTNERS WORLDWIDE

Once your submission

has been approved by
our inspectors, you will
be notified via email that
your submission has
been approved and you will be asked to go into your members account and finalize your submission
for distribution. Once you finalize your submission, we will begin delivering your music to our digital
partners. From the time you have given the final approval, the digital partners can take anywhere
from 1-4 weeks to have your content processed and made live on their sites.

That’s it! We’re ready to send your music out to the world.
Now’s a good time to make sure you’ve opted into all the beneficial programs that are included with
your distribution package. This may include Sync Licensing, YouTube Monetization, and more.

For Pro Clients Only:

After you have finalized your submission, you will be alerted via email to visit the publishing
administration page in your members account. This is where you will elect your
Performance Rights Organization (PRO) and provide remaining songwriter details.

IMPORTANT: We cannot start collecting your publishing royalties until you have selected which
Performance Rights Organization you would like to be affiliated with, or – if you are already affiliated –
provide your IPI/CAE number for the corresponding Performance Rights Organization. Also known as
signing a Letter of Direction (LOD).

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Key Words
Key Words Example Definition Why do I need this?
Album English, Italian, Spanish Album Language references the Digital partners (iTunes,
Language language of your album metadata Amazon, Spotify, etc.)
(e.g. track titles, artist name, etc.). require that we designate
It is NOT necessarily the language the language that metadata
the lyrics are sung in. is delivered. This is to help
ensure that the metadata is
cataloged correctly.

Album/Single Dark Side of the Moon, Single - Typically, a single is a It is important to title your
Title Californication song that is released separately album or single correctly
from an album, although it usually because this is how listeners
appears on the album as well. will find your content on
With CD Baby, a single is only ONE streaming and download
track. platforms. CrEaTiVe CaSiNg is
something the digital partners
Album - A collection of recordings will not allow, so be sure
that have been put together as a to keep that in mind when
single work. An album contains selecting your title. The more
multiple tracks and with CD Baby, unique the title of the album/
anything more than one track is single, the easier it will be for
considered an album. listeners to search for your
content.
Depending on the Album
Language, you will need to provide
either title casing or sentence
casing.

Artist Name Ingrid Michaelson, Bruno Mars, The artist name is the persons or Artist Name is required
The Beatles group performing on the track. because this is another unique
identifier that allows listeners
Please be sure to only enter one to search for your music and
artist name per field. know who is performing which
songs.

Artist Role Maroon 5 (feat. Christina Aguilera) The artist role is where you can When we deliver your
select whether or not the artist metadata to our digital
primary featuring is the “Primary” or a “Featuring” partners, they need to know
artist artist artist. which artists are the primary
artists and which artists are
The “feat.” artist is specifically featured guests. This will
related to the Track Level determine how the artist
metadata. names are displayed.

Compilation “Greatest Hits of 2016” by Various If an album is a collection of songs Our digital partners (iTunes,
Album Artists performed by 4 or more primary Amazon, Spotify, etc.) require
artists, then the artist name that the artist name be listed
“BBC Radio 1’s Hits” by Various for the album must be “Various as “Various Artists” when
Artists Artists.” You must not list “Various your album is listed as a
Artists” on any tracks, as it should compilation album.
only be used for the album artist
name. This is required by our
digital partners (such as iTunes).

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 Key Words Example Definition Why do I need this?
Composition Original - If you (along with any This is where you will let us know It is important to provide this
Type collaborators) wrote all of the whether your song is an Original information so our digital
music and lyrics to your song, (you wrote it), a Cover Song partners can display the
then this would be considered an (someone else wrote it), or Public composition type for your
original song. Domain (someone else wrote it, tracks and distribute royalties
but the copyright has expired). accordingly.
Derivative Work - A “derivative
work” is a work based upon one or In order to legally distribute
more preexisting works, such as a a Cover Song, you must have
translation, musical arrangement, acquired an approved license.
dramatization, fictionalization,
motion picture version, sound
recording, art reproduction,
abridgment, condensation, or any
other form in which a work may be
recast, transformed, or adapted.

Public Domain - If you recorded a

song for which the copyright has
expired — for instance, “Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star” — this would
be considered a Public Domain
song.

Cover Song - If you sing your own

version of Adele’s “Hello,” this
would be considered a cover song.

Medley - a piece composed from

parts of existing pieces, usually
three, played one after another,
sometimes overlapping.

Copyright If you own the rights to your sound You will need to provide the name The copyright owner shows
Owner recording then you would be of the individual or company who who legally owns the right to
considered the Copyright Owner. is legally authorized to sell this distribute the music, so it is
Most of the time the artist’s name album. If you are not the copyright important that this is listed
is listed as the Copyright Owner. holder, you must have obtained correctly and kept consistent
Other times, a record label may a license from the rights holder with the tracks’ metadata.
own the rights to the music and in order to distribute their work.
will be listed as the Copyright This information may be displayed
Owner. publicly.

Explicit Lil Wayne - A Milli (Explicit) Explicit content is characterized Digital Partners’ guidelines
as anything that contains strong require all explicit content to
Lil Wayne - A Milli (Clean) language or depictions of violence, be marked accordingly, so
sex, or substance abuse to such customers are aware of the
Jay Z (feat. Alicia Keys) - Empire an extent as to merit parental explicit content.
State of Mind notification.

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 Key Words Example Definition Why do I need this?
Genre Pop/Rock/Jazz/Metal Genre is a category description Genre is how your music
for your music. It’s the top-level is cataloged in a library of
“style” of music you perform. music and makes it easier for
You will be able to choose two customers to find your music.
different genres for each release. Our digital partners will allow
customers to browse their
You will also be asked to provide sites by Genre and this allows
a “Sub-genre” which is much your content to be placed
more specific than the main alongside similar releases.
genre. We try to allow you as many
opportunities to describe the style
of your music.

Inspector CD Baby Digital Inspector An Inspector is a person who is The Inspection process
reviewing all of your metadata and ensures that your content
artwork to ensure that it meets meets our digital partner’s
our digital partner’s guidelines. guidelines. If your content
does not meet the partner’s
guidelines, it will be pulled
from their site and you will be
asked to correct your info.

ISRC USS1Z9900001 The International Standard It is important that ISRCs are

Recording Code (ISRC) system is entered accurately because
the international system for the this is how sales and streams
identification of recorded music. are tracked. ISRCs are specific
Each ISRC is a unique identifier to the recording of a track.
that can be permanently encoded For example, if you have a
into a recording. This is how sales demo version, live version,
and streams are tracked. Accurate and studio version of the same
and unique ISRCs ensure that song, they will each need their
revenue is paid to the copyright own unique ISRC because
owner. they are different recordings.
However, if you are using the
same recording, then you will
want to be sure you are using
the same ISRC. For example,
if you release a recording of
your single and later add that
same recording of the single
to an album, you will want
to be sure that track has the
exact same ISRC assigned
because they are still the
same recording.

Live Recording Bruce Springsteen - Born in the A live recording is any recording Our digital partners require
U.S.A. (Live) of you performing in front of a live that live albums be designated
audience. as such so their customers
are not surprised if they were
expecting a studio recording.

8 THE GET STARTED GUIDE

 Key Words Example Definition Why do I need this?
Performance German, English, Spanish, The audio performance language Our digital partners require
Language Portuguese is the language in which a song’s this information so they
lyrics are being sung. If the song can properly categorize
is an instrumental, you can select your music and help their
“No Lyrics / Instrumental.” customers find it.

Publisher Downtown Music Publishing, The publisher is the owner of the As a songwriter, having
Atlas Publishing, Disney Music copyright to a song (melody and a publisher or publishing
Publishing lyrics), meaning the underlying administrator is one of the
composition and NOT any most important things you can
particular sound recording of that do for your career. It’s a must-
song. If you create original music have if you want to maximize
and have not signed away your your earnings. Music
publishing rights, then you (the publishing administrators like
songwriter) ARE the publisher. CD Baby Pro Publishing are
experts in royalty collection
Don’t get the word confused and will collect all publishing
with a sheet music publisher or royalties that you are unable
CD manufacturer. In this case, to collect on your own (such
“publisher” means “copyright as mechanical royalties for
owner of the song itself”. global streams on services
like Spotify).

Release Date 01/26/2017 This date should correspond with This release date is important
11/29/1990 the past, present or future date because this date will decide
(MM/DD/YYYY) that your music became or will when your content will go live
become available for sale. on our digital partners’ sites.
If the album’s original release Any marketing/promotion that
date was in the past, enter that goes along with your release
date and we’ll activate the album will need to correspond with
page as soon as possible. the release date you have
If you’d like the album to be chosen to ensure the most
released on a specific date more successful release possible.
than two weeks in the future,
enter it here and the CD Baby If the single/album was
album page won’t be activated released in the past, you can
until the date you’ve chosen. provide the original release
Keep in mind when selecting a date and your content will
release date that it still takes up to go live as soon as it has
a few days to process your album been processed. If this is a
and our digital partners will need re-masted version, you can
to process it on their side as well. provide us with the re-release
You will want to consider this date.
when selecting a future release
date. Allow enough time for
processing.

Record Label Kill Rock Stars, EMI, etc. The record label is the Copyright Retail partners will typically
Owner and the one who is getting group releases by label and
paid for sales/royalties generated customers can browse by
by the release. label making it easier for
them to find related works.
You are not required to provide Falsifying this information can
a record label, but you can if result in your content being
applicable. If a record label is not pulled by the partner sites and
provided, the artist name will be a refund will not be issued by
auto-filled in this section. CD Baby.

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 Key Words Example Definition Why do I need this?
Songwriter/ John Lennon/Paul McCartney A songwriter/composer is Songwriter and publishing
Composer someone who contributed to royalties are paid to
the writing of the music and/or songwriters, NOT the
lyrics of a composition/song. For performing artist or label.
instance, The Beatles performed That is why it’s important
the song “Let It Be,” but the to list correct composer
songwriters for the track are John information for each track.
Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Sync Licensing If the creators of a film decide they A “sync” is anytime audio has Sync licensing has grown
want to use your music in their been paired up with a visual. A into one of the most lucrative
movie, they would be required to sync license is a music license aspects of the music industry
purchase a sync license from you granted by the copyright owner of for many independent artists.
in order to use the song. a composition and the copyright CD Baby’s Sync Licensing
owner of the sound recording, program gives you the
The Black Keys song “I’ll Be Your allowing the licensee to sync opportunity to license your
Man” was used as the theme song music with some kind of visual music for film, TV, games,
for HBO series Hung and helped media. This includes film, YouTube, and more.
create exposure for them as an television shows, advertisements,
artist, which launched them into video games, movie trailers, etc..
where they are at in their music
careers today.

Track Title Below are examples of track titles “Track title” is the same thing Unique track titles make it
from AC/DC’s Back in Black Album: as a song name. You will need to easier for customers to find
provide a unique title for each one your songs. Track title can
Hells Bells, Back in Black, You of your tracks. You are not able to help denote remix versions or
Shook Me All Night Long, Shake have duplicate track titles. other alternate versions of a
a Leg song.

UPC 012345678901 This is the Universal Product A UPC is important and

Code, which is essentially a required for distribution.
bar code — a 12-digit product This is how sales are able
identifier that will differentiate to be tracked and revenue
your music product from every accounted for amongst all
other album or single being sold our digital music partners. If
today. Distribution requires that you did not purchase a UPC
your release have a UPC, as this is through your recording studio
how your sales are tracked. or mastering house, then you
can purchase one through
CD Baby.

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