FNLZ Studio Academy / Release-Ready Checklist

Release-Ready Checklist

Use this checklist before every release to make sure your song is technically ready, sonically competitive, and properly tagged before it hits Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok.

Mix-stage checks

Confirm -6 dBFS headroom on the master bus. Disable any limiter on the mix bus. Listen on phone speakers, earbuds, headphones, and a car.

Mastering with FNLZ Studio

Upload the 24-bit WAV mix. Pick a genre profile or upload a reference. Preview, A/B, then export.

Metadata and ISRCs

Confirm your title, artist name, featured artists, songwriter splits, and ISRC codes are all correct before submitting to your distributor.

Cover art

Upload a 3000x3000px square JPEG or PNG. No URLs, no social handles, no logos that violate distributor rules.

Distribution submission

Submit to DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby at least 2–4 weeks before release date for editorial pitching.

Rollout

Schedule social posts, prep snippets, and lock in your pre-save link. A great master with no rollout is a missed release.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I submit my release?

2–4 weeks before release date is the standard window for editorial pitching on Spotify and Apple Music.

Do I need ISRCs?

Yes — your distributor will assign them automatically if you do not have your own.