Music Distribution API: What Labels and Platforms Can Automate
- 07 Nov 2026
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A distribution API lets your own software talk to the distribution platform directly. Instead of creating every release by hand in a dashboard, your systems can create, update and track releases, artists and earnings automatically. For labels and music companies with their own tools, it removes most of the copy-and-paste work.
What companies use a distribution API for
- Your own artist portal. Build a front end that matches your brand and workflow, while the API handles distribution behind it.
- Bulk release creation. Create many releases from your catalogue database or a spreadsheet instead of entering them one by one.
- Catalogue sync. Keep metadata in your own system as the source of truth and push changes to the platform.
- Status tracking. Show release status in your CRM or project management tools.
- Royalty data. Pull earnings into your accounting or statement software.
- User management. Create accounts for new artists automatically when they sign a contract with you.
Planning an integration
- Start with the most repetitive task. Usually release creation or reporting. Automate one thing completely before adding the next.
- Decide the source of truth. Metadata should be edited in one place only. If your database is the master, avoid changing the same data in the dashboard.
- Map your data. Match your fields to the platform's: artist roles, contributor names, genres, languages and identifiers.
- Handle validation errors. Releases will sometimes fail checks or come back from review. Your system needs to show those reasons to the right person.
- Test with a few real releases before moving a whole catalogue.
Data quality matters more with automation
An API will deliver mistakes as quickly as correct data. Validate the basics in your own system before sending: full songwriter names, correct artist roles, one ISRC per recording, reused whenever the same recording appears on another release and artwork that meets store rules. See the metadata style guide.
Questions to ask a provider
- Which platform functions are available through the API: all of them, or only a subset?
- How are authentication and permissions handled for sub-labels and artists?
- Is there documentation and a way to test safely?
- Can the provider build the integration or a custom dashboard for you?
The SpaceMedia Whitelabel API
On SpaceMedia Whitelabel, every platform function is also available through the API. If you prefer not to build the front end yourself, our team can design and build a custom dashboard on top of it as an optional paid add-on, and you receive access to its full source code. Read build or buy for when that approach makes sense.
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Register on SpaceMedia
Begin your music publishing journey by signing up and creating a free account on SpaceMedia.
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Choose the plan that suits you best
Select from a variety of membership options to find the one that aligns perfectly with your music distribution needs.
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Submit your music for distribution
Create a new release and upload your tracks to have them distributed across various platforms.
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Quick Review
Our team promptly evaluates your uploaded tracks, ensuring they meet our quality standards before distribution.
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Get Paid
Once your music is distributed and gains traction, we ensure timely compensation for your creative work.
SpaceMedia delivers music to a broad and changing network of streaming, download, social, and music-identification platforms. This can include major services such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, SoundCloud, Tidal, Pandora, Boomplay, Anghami, iHeart, JioSaavn, KKBOX, NetEase Cloud Music, Tencent, Qobuz, and other supported partners.
The exact network can change as platforms update territories, rules, and delivery requirements. SpaceMedia gives you access to supported distribution channels, but no distributor can guarantee that every platform will accept every release in every country.
Most major streaming services do not let every artist upload music directly. A distributor like SpaceMedia delivers your audio, artwork, metadata, and rights information to supported platforms so your release can appear on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, and others.
Create an account, choose the plan that fits your needs, upload the final release files, review the details, and submit. SpaceMedia reviews Free submissions within 5 business days, Premium submissions within 2 business days, and Label submissions within 1 to 2 business days. Store publishing happens afterwards.
You can monetize eligible music on supported video platforms through Content ID when your plan includes it. Content ID is currently included with Premium and Label, and it is not included with the Free plan.
Only submit music you fully control for Content ID. Tracks with uncleared samples, non-exclusive beats, royalty-free loops used by many creators, public-domain recordings, or disputed rights may be rejected or may cause claims that need to be resolved.
Submit your release through SpaceMedia and choose distribution to social music platforms where available. Eligible releases can be delivered to platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and other supported social or short-form music services.
Once delivered, each platform decides how the music appears, how long processing takes, and which features are available in each territory. Use accurate metadata and clean audio to reduce avoidable delivery issues.
Independent music distribution lets artists release music to streaming, download, and social platforms without signing to a traditional record label. You stay in control of your music while using a distributor to deliver it to supported services.
With SpaceMedia, you can manage releases, artist details, earnings, and payout information from your account. All standard plans let users keep 100% of standard DSP royalties.
The Free plan lets artists release music without an upfront distribution fee and keep 100% of standard DSP royalties.
This gives new artists a way to start releasing music before paying for a yearly plan. Premium and Label add more primary-artist capacity and tools. All standard plans include 100% of standard DSP royalties.
Yes. In many cases you can transfer existing releases to SpaceMedia while keeping them live, as long as you submit the same metadata, audio, artwork, UPC, and ISRCs where available.
Keep the old release live until the SpaceMedia delivery is live and matched correctly. Removing the old version too early can interrupt availability or make stores treat the transfer as a new release instead of matching it to the existing one.
Publishing a new way
Write to us without obligation and find out more about the possibilities you have