If your label has previously released music through another distributor, you can easily transfer your label and its full back catalogue over to LabelWorx. Following the transfer process outlined in this guide will help ensure your existing stream counts and playlist placements are preserved during the move.
STEP 1: Complete Your Initial LabelWorx Setup
Before beginning the transfer, you should confirm with your current distributor that you are free to leave them and agree a date for the switch. If they have not authorised the move, this may delay or prevent the transfer from being completed.
Alongside making these arrangements, you will also need to complete the initial LabelWorx account setup steps if you haven't already. This includes signing your LabelWorx Distribution Agreement and completing your label profile.
When completing your label profile, make sure your label name is entered exactly as it appears with your current distributor. This is important when transferring your label and catalogue between distributors.
Once everything is in place, you're ready to begin preparing your catalogue for the transfer.
STEP 2: Prepare Your Back Catalogue
Before LabelWorx can distribute your existing releases, your back catalogue needs to be added to our system. We recommend requesting a metadata export from your current distributor, which should contain the metadata needed to accurately recreate your catalogue.
You can then either recreate your releases manually using our release creation tool, or you can upload multiple releases using our Bulk Import tool.
When transferring your catalogue, it is important that your releases are recreated as accurately as possible. Stores will generally attempt to link the new LabelWorx delivery to your existing release, which can help retain existing stream counts and playlist placements.
To give the stores the best possible chance of matching your releases, make sure you retain the same:
- Release identifiers (release artists, release titles, EAN/UPCs, catalog numbers, etc)
- Track identifiers (track artists, track titles, mix names, ISRCs, etc)
- Audio files (with identical track durations)
- Tracklist (track order, disc numbers, etc)
- Release date (to be added under the 'Official Release Date' field)
IMPORTANT: Do not omit or assign new ISRCs or barcodes to existing releases when transferring your catalogue. Wherever possible, your metadata and audio should match the original delivery exactly. Changing these details can prevent stores from correctly linking your new deliveries to the existing releases and may cause future royalty reporting issues.
If your distributor is unable or unwilling to provide a metadata export, please contact our support team and we can advise you on the available options.
STEP 3: Request Approval For Your Label
Once you have signed your Distribution Agreement, completed your label profile, and added your back catalogue to the system, you will need to request approval for your label by going to: Labels ➜ Record Labels ➜ click the Request Approval button
We recommend doing this approximately 2–3 weeks before your agreed switch date to allow enough time for your label and catalogue to be reviewed.
NOTE: Your label cannot be approved until your full back catalogue has been added to the system. Until approved, you will not be able to submit new/forthcoming music for release.
STEP 4: Transfer Your Label on Dance DSPs
Dance DSPs (such as Beatport and Traxsource) handle catalogue transfers differently from most other platforms. The process will depend on whether your label is already available on these stores through your current distributor.
For labels that are already live on Dance DSPs, they can transfer the label directly from one distributor to another. This allows your existing catalogue to remain live at the stores without LabelWorx having to redeliver your releases.
As part of this process, you should opt out of delivery to any Dance DSPs where your back catalogue is already live through your current distributor by using the 'Schedule' tool. This prevents duplicate versions of your releases from being delivered when you submit your back catalogue in the next step.
Once you are at this stage, you should contact our support team, who will request the transfer with the stores on your behalf. Please be aware that the time required to complete the transfer can vary, as your current distributor will need to approve the request before the stores can process the transfer. In some cases, this process may take several weeks.
If your label is not currently available on Dance DSPs, there is nothing to transfer. The stores will instead create your label page and LabelWorx will deliver your back catalogue to them as normal.
STEP 5: Redeliver Your Catalogue to Commercial DSPs & Streaming Platforms
Commercial DSPs and streaming platforms (such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Deezer) do not transfer releases directly between distributors.
Instead, LabelWorx needs to redeliver your existing releases from our system. This is why it is important that your back catalogue has been recreated using the original release information. Once your label has been approved, you can finalise your back catalogue and submit the releases for distribution.
STEP 6: Arrange Takedowns With Your Current Distributor
To minimise the risk of your catalogue becoming unavailable during the switch, we recommend waiting until your LabelWorx deliveries are live at the stores before requesting takedowns from your current distributor.
During this transition, you may temporarily see both the old and new versions of your releases available while the stores process and link the new deliveries. Once your LabelWorx deliveries are live and correctly linked, you can ask your current distributor to take down their versions from commercial DSPs and streaming platforms.
Takedown processes and timescales vary between distributors, so we recommend remaining in contact with your current distributor throughout the switch.
Distributor Transfer FAQs
If you have questions about how the transfer works or what happens to your catalogue during the process, we've answered some of the most common ones below:
Can I transfer only some of my back catalogue to LabelWorx?
No. We do not allow partial catalogue transfers. If you are transferring an existing label to LabelWorx, the label's full back catalogue must be transferred as part of the switch.
Can I keep releasing music with my current distributor during the transfer?
Yes. You can continue releasing through your current distributor up until the switch, or for as long as your current distributor allows.
However, you should also recreate these releases in your LabelWorx account and submit them to us so that your LabelWorx catalogue remains complete when the switch takes place.
Do I need to contact the DSPs myself about the transfer?
No. You do not need to contact the stores directly.
LabelWorx will handle the relevant deliveries and transfer requests with the stores. You should instead remain in contact with your current distributor to coordinate the switch and any required takedowns or approvals.
Can my current distributor prevent the catalogue transfer?
Potentially, yes. You should always confirm that you are free to leave your current distributor before beginning the transfer.
For Dance DSPs, we require approval from your current distributor before the distributor switch can take place. If they do not approve the transfer, the switch cannot proceed on these stores.
What happens if I enter the wrong ISRC or barcode?
It is important to check your ISRCs and barcodes carefully before submitting a release.
Once a release has been submitted, LabelWorx cannot correct its ISRC or barcode. If an incorrect identifier has been used, the incorrect release will need to be fully taken down and a brand new release created and submitted using the correct details.
What if I need to change the metadata on an existing release?
You will need to tansfer the release using the metadata exactly as it currently appears at the stores.
Once the catalogue transfer has been completed, you can then contact our support team to request any required metadata updates.
Making changes during the transfer can reduce the likelihood of stores correctly matching the LabelWorx delivery with the existing version.
Can I change my release artwork during the transfer?
While this is possible, we strongly recommend retaining the existing artwork until the catalogue transfer is complete.
Once the transfer has been completed and your releases are correctly matched, you can request an artwork update separately.
What if I don't have the exact audio file originally delivered by my current distributor?
An identical master or export can be used if the exact original file is no longer available.
However, variations in the audio can prevent stores from recognising and matching the LabelWorx delivery with the existing release. Wherever possible, use audio that is identical to the version currently available at the stores.
What happens if my current distributor takes my catalogue down early?
LabelWorx can still deliver your catalogue, but your releases may temporarily become unavailable at the stores.
Taking the existing versions down too early can also affect the stores' ability to seamlessly match the new LabelWorx deliveries to the previous versions. This is why we recommend keeping the old versions live until the LabelWorx deliveries have been delivered and matched.
Why can I see two versions of my release on commercial DSPs or streaming platforms?
This can happen temporarily during a catalogue transfer and isn't necessarily a problem.
Once your current distributor has requested their takedown, it can take several days for DSPs to process the request. During this period, both your current distributor's version and the LabelWorx version may remain visible.
We generally recommend allowing the stores a few working days to process the takedown before contacting us or your current distributor about duplicate versions.
How can I check whether my releases have matched correctly?
There are a couple of ways you can check.
When a release has matched correctly, you will typically see "1 more release" towards the bottom-right of the release page in the Spotify desktop app. This indicates that Spotify has matched the release with another version, which during a catalogue transfer will typically be your current distributor's delivery.
You can also check in Spotify for Artists, search for the artist and head to the Releases or Songs section. Find the release or track delivered by LabelWorx. Where rights are split across multiple deliveries, Spotify displays a Φ icon, which can indicate matching content.
Will I lose my existing stream counts when switching distributors?
Normally, no. If the stores successfully match the LabelWorx delivery to the existing release, your existing stream counts should be retained.
Using the same ISRCs, barcode, metadata and audio gives stores the best possible chance of matching the releases correctly.
What happens to royalties I earned before moving to LabelWorx?
Royalties generated through your current distributor's deliveries remain the responsibility of your current distributor.
Once the label transfer has been completed by the Dance DSPs, LabelWorx will begin collecting royalties for your back catalogue. For commercial stores and streaming platforms, LabelWorx will collect royalties generated by the releases delivered through our system once they are live.
Your current distributor may continue to receive and account royalties relating to periods before their versions of your catalogue were taken down. As stores report and account royalties retrospectively, you may therefore receive royalty reports or payments from both LabelWorx and your current distributor for a couple of accounting periods after the transfer.
We recommend remaining in contact with your current distributor during this time to ensure you receive any outstanding royalties owed to you.
Will my current distributor's sales data appear in LabelWorx?
No. LabelWorx only collects sales and performance data from the point your catalogue is transferred to our control. Any data from before the transfer will therefore not appear in our system. This should not affect your existing sales or chart history held by the DSP.
Will I get paid twice while both versions of my releases are live?
Royalties are attributed to the delivery through which the transaction was generated. During the transition, this means some royalties may be reported through your current distributor and others through LabelWorx.
As a result, you may receive royalty reports from both distributors during the transition period.
Will switching distributors affect my Spotify monthly listeners?
It shouldn't. Your monthly listeners are associated with your artist profile rather than your distributor, so switching distributors should not reset your monthly listener count.
Will switching distributors affect my Spotify playlists?
While most existing playlist placements are retained when releases are correctly matched, algorithmic playlists and Discovery Mode contexts may be temporarily affected, as Spotify can class the LabelWorx delivery as a 'new' product.
Will transferring my catalogue affect my Dance DSP sales and chart history?
No. When an existing label is transferred between distributors on Dance DSPs, its existing catalogue is transferred rather than redelivered. Existing sales, chart history and release statistics should therefore remain associated with the catalogue.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for in the FAQs above, please contact our support team.