Distribution Timeline & Lead Times
Understanding the distribution timeline helps you plan your release strategy and marketing campaigns effectively.
Minimum Lead Time Requirements
Release Date Rules
Your release date must be at least 2 weeks (14 days) in the future from the day you submit your release for review.
This is enforced during validation and you cannot submit a release with an invalid date.
Pre-order Date Rules (if applicable)
If you're using pre-orders:
Pre-order date must be at least 7 days before your release date
Pre-orders are optional but can help build momentum
Complete Timeline Breakdown
Phase 1: Release Creation & Preparation
Duration: As long as you need (releases stay in Draft indefinitely)
What happens:
Upload artwork and audio files
Enter metadata (title, artists, genre, dates, etc.)
Add track credits
Configure distribution settings
Review and validate
Your action: Take your time to ensure everything is correct before submitting.
Phase 2: Submission & Validation
Duration: Instant (automated validation)
What happens:
System validates all required fields
Checks audio and artwork files
Verifies metadata completeness
Ensures timeline requirements (2-week minimum)
Validates track credits
Possible outcomes:
✅ Validation passes → Moves to review
❌ Validation fails → You must fix errors before proceeding
Phase 3: Label Review (Sub-Accounts Only)
Duration: 1-2 business days (typically)
What happens:
Your parent label reviews your submission
They check quality and accuracy
Can request revisions or approve
Your action: Wait for label approval. You'll receive a notification.
Note: This step only applies if you're an artist under a label (sub-account).
Phase 4: Platform Admin Review
Duration: 1-2 business days (typically)
What happens:
AVL team reviews your release
Copyright scanning performed
Quality standards verification
Metadata accuracy check
Royalty splits configuration (if first release)
Possible outcomes:
✅ Approved → Queued for distribution
⚠️ Revisions Requested → You need to make specific changes
❌ Rejected → Release does not meet platform standards
Your action: You'll receive detailed feedback if changes are needed.
Phase 5: LabelGrid QC Review (Optional)
Duration: 2-5 business days
What happens:
Release sent to LabelGrid (our distribution partner)
Their team performs additional QC checks
Validates against streaming platform requirements
Note: This step is only included for certain releases requiring extra validation.
Possible outcomes:
✅ Pass → Moves to distribution
❌ Issues found → Forwarded back to you for fixes
Phase 6: Platform Ingestion & Distribution
Duration: 1-7 days (varies by platform)
What happens:
Release is sent to all selected streaming platforms
Each platform processes at their own speed
Spotify, Apple Music, etc. ingest your release
Platform links become available
Status updates:
Queued: Waiting to be sent
Processing: Being sent to platforms
Distributed: Successfully delivered
Platform-specific timing:
Spotify: Usually 1-3 days
Apple Music: Usually 1-3 days
Other platforms: Up to 7 days
Phase 7: Release Goes Live
Duration: Automatic on your release date
What happens:
Your release becomes available on all platforms
Status updates to "Live"
Streams start counting
Royalties begin accruing
Your action: Share your release links and start promoting!
Example Timeline
Let's say you want to release on March 1st:
Date | Action | Who | Duration |
Feb 1 | Create release, upload files | You | Your pace |
Feb 8 | Submit for review | You | Instant |
Feb 9-10 | Platform admin review | AVL | 1-2 days |
Feb 11 | Approved, queued for LabelGrid | AVL | Instant |
Feb 11-16 | LabelGrid processing | LabelGrid | 2-5 days |
Feb 16-23 | Platform ingestion | Platforms | 1-7 days |
Mar 1 | Release goes live | Automatic | -- |
Total time from submission to live: Approximately 3 weeks (with buffer)
Best Practices for Timeline Planning
1. Start Early
Submit at least 3-4 weeks before your desired release date to account for:
Review time
Potential revisions
Platform processing time
Buffer for unexpected delays
2. Account for Revisions
If revisions are requested:
Fix the issues promptly
Resubmit as soon as possible
Each revision round adds 1-2 days
3. Plan Marketing Around Distribution
Don't announce your release date until:
Your release is approved
You've received platform links
You're confident in the timeline
4. Weekend Considerations
Reviews happen during business days (Monday-Friday)
Submit early in the week for faster review
Avoid submitting late Friday (review starts Monday)
5. Holiday Awareness
Allow extra time during:
Major holidays
End of year (high volume)
Summer months (industry-wide slower)
Status Tracking
You can always see where your release is in the process:
Draft - Still being prepared
Pending Label Review - Awaiting label approval (sub-accounts)
Pending Admin Review - AVL team reviewing
Revisions Requested - Changes needed
Approved - Approved and queuing for distribution
Pending LabelGrid Review - LabelGrid QC in progress
Queued - Waiting to be sent to platforms
Processing - Being sent to platforms
Distributed - Successfully sent, awaiting release date
Live - Available on streaming platforms
You'll receive email and in-app notifications at each key milestone.
Can I Expedite the Process?
Standard processing times apply to all releases to ensure quality. However:
Priority releases may be available for established labels with relationship managers
Emergency situations can be discussed with your account manager
Generally, the 2-week minimum lead time cannot be waived
Contact support if you have special circumstances requiring faster processing.
What If I Miss My Release Date?
If delays occur:
During review: Contact support to check status
During distribution: Platform processing delays are rare but possible
If revisions needed: Complete them ASAP to minimize delay
You can always change your release date before approval to push it further out if needed.
Summary: Key Deadlines
Requirement | Minimum Time |
Release date from submission | 2 weeks (14 days) |
Pre-order before release | 7 days |
Recommended submission buffer | 3-4 weeks before release |
Typical approval time | 1-2 business days |
Platform ingestion | 1-7 days |
Plan ahead, submit early, and you'll have a smooth release process!