To begin distributing your music, log in to your Cygnus Music account, select your label, and open your label dashboard. Click Create a Release to start a new release workflow.
Input Release Level Details
- Release Name: Enter the title of your single, EP, or album.
- Primary Artists: Assign roles at release level (primary, featured).
- Catalogue Number & UPC: Enter your own or leave blank for auto-generation.
- Release Year & Publisher Info: Fill in copyright year and publishing info.
- Release Artwork: Upload square JPEG/PNG, minimum 2000 × 2000 px.
Tip: More than four primary artists will automatically create a “Various Artists” product.
Add Tracks
Click Add Track and choose one of the following options:
- New Track: Upload audio and enter metadata.
- Add Existing Track: Pull track(s) and respective metadata from your label’s catalogue.
Note: Preview start times (eg. TikTok) are inputted here.
Set Rights & Release Dates
Confirm the Rights Holder details, enter the Copyright Year, and designate your publisher. Choose your Release Date and Worldwide Release Date. You may also set a Social Media Date for pre-release content traction.
Configure Distribution
Select the appropriate Distribution List for your DSPs and genre-specific platforms. In this section, you can also enable or disable SoundCloud Go delivery, exclude specific territories, and set your Download or Streaming Exclusivity if required.
Review & Submit
Double-check all release and track metadata and confirm artwork and audio files are correct. Once you submit, our team will perform validation checks including:
- File type compliance
- Copyright verification
- Generative AI compliance
- Metadata accuracy
Once approved, the release status changes to Distributed and a confirmation email is sent. Declined releases will include feedback for correction.
Pre-Save & SmartLink Generation
Nine days before release, Pre-save links and SmartLinks are automatically created. You can access these via the release dashboard to begin your promotional campaign.
Tips for a Smooth Distribution Workflow
- Maintain consistent artist naming for accurate store mapping and reporting.
- Double-check exclusivity and social media dates before final submission.
- Ensure rights ownership is cleared for all tracks to avoid legal delays.
Head over to our Pre-Release Health Check article to learn more.