Music Metadata
The descriptive information attached to music files including credits, rights ownership, and catalog identifiers.
Definition
Music metadata identifies songs and their stakeholders across digital systems. It includes ISRC codes for recordings, ISWC codes for compositions, plus credits, ownership shares, and territorial rights.
Incomplete or incorrect metadata causes payment failures. When systems cannot identify who owns or performed music, royalties remain undistributed.
Why It Matters
Metadata accuracy directly impacts revenue collection. The industry loses billions annually to metadata failures—wrong codes, missing credits, conflicting claims.
For artists, maintaining proper metadata ensures payment for all entitled royalties across platforms and territories.
Examples in Practice
A songwriter left off credits might never receive publishing royalties despite legal entitlement. A track released without ISRC cannot be matched to other versions for consolidated reporting.
Spotify's song credits and the Mechanical Licensing Collective both aim to improve metadata accuracy.