Jukeblox: A Beginner's Guide to Music Publishing and Metadata Mastery

Hey there! Whether you're a new artist, a producer, or someone working behind the scenes, managing your music's metadata is vital. This guide walks you through the essentials of registering your music, protecting your rights, and ensuring your songs are easy to discover.

What's in it for you? You'll learn how to secure important codes (ISRC, ISWC, and others), register with royalty organizations, and fine-tune your metadata. By the end, you'll be set up to get paid accurately and make your music discoverable across platforms.

Chapter 1: Why Metadata Matters

Metadata 101: Think of metadata as the ID tag for your music. It's the info embedded in your music file that says, “Here's the title, artist, album, and genre,” but also includes critical codes and identifiers that ensure you get paid. It's like the “nutrition label” of your song, helping streaming platforms and royalty organizations recognize and credit your work accurately.

Why It's Essential: Having well-organized metadata means:

• Your music is credited accurately everywhere it's played.
• Royalties make it to you, not someone else.
• Fans can find your songs by genre, mood, or theme.

Want to Learn More? Check out  SoundExchange's Metadata Best Practices Guide  for a deeper dive.