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
For a smooth rollout, we recommend submitting release dates at least 2 weeks (14 days) in the future from the day you submit your release for review.
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: Depends on your label
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: typically 1 business day, sometimes as low as 1 business hour
What happens:
AV/L team reviews your release
Copyright scanning performed
Quality standards verification
Metadata accuracy check
Royalty splits configuration (if first release)
Possible outcomes:
✅ Queued → 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: DSP QC Review (Optional)
Duration: 1-2 business days, sometimes as low as 3-5 business hours
What happens:
Release sent to the stores
All stores performs additional QC checks
Validates against streaming platform requirements
This step is required for all releases.
Possible outcomes:
✅ Approved → Moves to distribution
❌ Issues found → Forwarded back to you for fixes
Phase 6: Platform Ingestion & Distribution
Duration: 20 minutes to 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 for approval
Processing: Being sent to platforms
Distributed: Successfully delivered
Platform-specific timing:
Spotify: Usually 1-3 hours
Apple Music: Usually 1-3 hours
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!
Ideal Release 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 | AV/L | 1-2 days |
Feb 11 | Approved, queued for LabelGrid | AV/L | Instant |
Feb 11-13 | Stores processing | Music DSPs | 1-2 days |
Feb 13-17 | Platform ingestion | Platforms | 1-2 days |
Mar 1 | Release goes live | Automatic | -- |
We recommend submitting content in advance, as we may have unexpected delivery and review slowdowns. Additionally, for users hoping to promote their release, it's beneficial to submit early to gain access to features such as Spotify for Artists pitching, etc.
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 - AV/L team reviewing
Revisions Requested - Changes needed
Approved - Approved and queuing for distribution
Queued - Waiting for the OK from all DSPs
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 key milestones.
Can I Expedite the Process?
Standard processing times apply to all releases to ensure quality. However:
Priority releases may be available upon request
Emergency situations can be discussed with your account manager
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. Please note that we operate with a review queue, and editing a release while it's in review sends your content to the bottom of the queue.
Plan ahead, submit early, and you'll have a smooth release process!