Glossary
Music Metadata
Music metadata is the structured information attached to a recording — title, artist name, ISRC, UPC, album name, genre, release date, and contributing credits — that platforms use to catalog, surface, and pay royalties for the track.
Definition
Every song on every streaming platform has metadata embedded in its file and stored in the platform's database. This includes: track title, artist name, album title, track number, release date, genre, ISRC, UPC, songwriter credits, producer credits, and album artwork.
Metadata errors are one of the most common and costly mistakes for independent artists. A misspelled artist name can make your track harder to find. An incorrect ISRC can misattribute royalties. Missing songwriter credits can prevent publishing royalty collection.
Why it matters
Search algorithms on Spotify and Apple Music use metadata to surface content. Genre tagging affects which algorithmic playlists you appear in. Correct songwriting credits affect who gets paid when your song is played. Metadata errors compound over time as they propagate across platforms.
How Lynkify uses this
Lynkify imports metadata automatically when you create a smart link from a Spotify, Apple Music, or Deezer URL. The track title, artist name, and artwork pull in automatically so your smart link page displays accurate information.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I fix metadata on Spotify?
- You cannot edit metadata directly on Spotify after distribution. You must contact your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby) and submit a metadata correction request. Changes can take several weeks to update across platforms.