Music Metadata Standards
Standardized formats for encoding song information that enables proper royalty tracking.
Definition
Music metadata standards are agreed-upon formats and protocols for encoding information about musical works and recordings. This includes identifiers like ISRC and ISWC, as well as data about songwriters, performers, publishers, and rights holders.
Proper metadata is essential for royalty tracking and payment. When metadata is incomplete or incorrect, money doesn't reach the right people. Industry initiatives continue to improve metadata standards and encourage adoption across the fragmented music ecosystem.
Why It Matters
Incomplete or incorrect metadata causes billions in lost royalties annually. Understanding metadata standards helps ensure creators get paid for their work across all platforms and uses.
For industry professionals, metadata expertise prevents revenue leakage and resolves the disputes that arise from data inconsistencies.
Examples in Practice
A label implements strict metadata protocols ensuring every release includes complete songwriter credits, preventing royalty disputes later.
An artist discovers unclaimed royalties after updating metadata that connected their recordings to their songwriter registrations.
A publisher uses metadata analysis to identify streaming royalties sitting in unmatched pools that belong to their catalog.