Help Center

Find answers to all your questions about Pubdish

Browse our help topics below to get the answers you need

Help Topics

25+

Support Hours

Mon-Fri 8-5:30

Avg Response

1-24h

Browse by Category

Getting Started

Account setup & onboarding

Distribution

Uploading & releasing music

Payments

Royalties & transactions

Policies

Rules & guidelines

Technical

File formats & requirements

Account

Profile & security settings

Copyright

Rights & licensing

Troubleshooting

Common issues & fixes

Music Distribution FAQs

Everything you need to know about distributing your music

Which streaming platforms does Pubdish distribute to?

How long does it take for my music to go live?

Can I choose which platforms to distribute to?

What are the requirements for uploading music?

Can I update or remove my music after it's released?

Payments & Royalties FAQs

Learn how you get paid for your music

How much do I earn per stream?

When do I receive my royalty payments?

What payment methods are available?

Does Pubdish take a commission from my royalties?

How can I track my earnings and streams?

Technical Support FAQs

Troubleshooting common technical issues

Why was my release rejected?

Releases can be rejected for several reasons. Here are the most common:

Audio Quality Issues

• Audio file has clipping or distortion
• Incorrect sample rate (must be 44.1 kHz)
• File format not supported (use WAV or FLAC)
• Audio contains excessive silence at start/end

Artwork Problems

• Image resolution too low (minimum 3000x3000)
• Not a perfect square (must be 1:1 ratio)
• Contains URLs, social media handles, or logos
• Image quality is blurry or pixelated

Metadata Issues

• Artist name contains special characters or emojis
• Missing required fields (genre, language, etc.)
• Song title contains profanity without clean version
• Incorrect or incomplete contributor information

Copyright & Content

• Content matches existing copyrighted material
• Cover song without proper licensing
• Contains samples without clearance
• Previously released on another distributor

If your release is rejected, you'll receive an email with specific reasons and instructions to fix the issues.

My music isn't showing up on a platform. What should I do?

How do I claim my artist profile on Spotify/Apple Music?

Can I change my release date after submission?

I'm having trouble uploading files. What should I check?

Getting Started

Everything about account creation and setup

Account Management

Managing your profile and security settings

How do I create a Pubdish account?

How do I change my email or password?

How do I reset my password if I forgot it?

Can I have multiple artist names under one account?

How do I delete my account?

Important: Read Before Deleting

Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All your data will be lost.

Before You Delete:

1. Takedown Your Music

Request removal of all releases from streaming platforms (takes 5-10 business days)

2. Withdraw Pending Royalties

Make sure you've received all outstanding payments

3. Download Your Data

Export analytics reports and payment history for your records

4. Cancel Subscription

Ensure no future charges before account deletion

Deletion Process:

1. Go to Account Settings → Security
2. Scroll to "Delete Account" section
3. Click "Request Account Deletion"
4. Confirm by entering your password
5. Account will be deleted within 30 days

Need Help? Consider canceling your subscription instead of deleting. Your music stays live and you can reactivate anytime.

Copyright & Licensing

Protecting your rights and understanding music licensing

Do I retain copyright ownership of my music?

Can I distribute cover songs through Pubdish?

Yes, but you need proper licensing

You cannot distribute covers without obtaining mechanical licenses

To legally distribute a cover song, you need a mechanical license from the original copyright holder.

How to License Cover Songs:

1

Get a Mechanical License

Use services like Easy Song Licensing, Harry Fox Agency, or Loudr

2

Pay Licensing Fees

Typically $0.091 per copy for songs under 5 minutes

3

Upload to Pubdish

Indicate it's a cover in the metadata and provide license details

Allowed

✓ Licensed cover songs
✓ Public domain songs (70+ years old)
✓ Original arrangements of classics

Not Allowed

✗ Unlicensed covers
✗ Karaoke versions
✗ Mashups without clearance

What if someone steals or copies my music?

We take copyright infringement seriously. If you find your music being used without permission:

🚨 File a Copyright Claim

If you find unauthorized use of your music on streaming platforms or other services:

1. Document the infringement (screenshots, URLs)
2. Contact us immediately with evidence
3. We'll help submit DMCA takedown notices
4. Platforms typically remove content within 24-48 hours

Protection Tools We Provide:

Unique ISRC Codes

Every track gets a unique identifier proving ownership

Content ID Integration

YouTube Content ID helps detect unauthorized uses

Legal Support

We assist with DMCA notices and takedown requests

💡 Prevention Tips:

• Register with a copyright office for additional protection
• Keep original project files as proof of creation
• Include copyright notices in your metadata
• Monitor your music regularly using tools like Google Alerts

Can I use samples in my music?

Using samples requires proper clearance and licensing. Here's what you need to know:

Safe to Use

✓ Royalty-free samples from licensed libraries
✓ Sample packs you purchased with full rights
✓ Original recordings you created yourself
✓ Public domain audio (very old recordings)
✓ Cleared samples with written permission

Requires Clearance

✗ Commercial recordings (songs, albums)
✗ Movie/TV soundtracks without permission
✗ Other artists' beats or instrumentals
✗ YouTube audio or streaming content
✗ Unlicensed loops from software

Sample Clearance Process

If you want to use a copyrighted sample, you need TWO types of clearance:

1. Master Rights: Permission from the owner of the actual recording

2. Publishing Rights: Permission from the songwriter/composer

Cost: Can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the sample's popularity.

Pro Tip: Services like Tracklib and Splice offer pre-cleared samples that are safe and legal to use in your music.

What are ISRC and UPC codes? Do I need them?

These are unique identifiers for your music. Good news: Pubdish provides them for free!

ISRC Code

International Standard Recording Code

Unique ID for each track
Tracks plays and royalties
Permanent identifier
Required by all platforms

UPC/EAN Code

Universal Product Code

Unique ID for album/EP
Identifies complete release
Used in digital stores
One per release

We Generate Them Automatically

At no extra cost - included with your subscription

When you upload a release, Pubdish automatically assigns ISRC codes to each track and a UPC code to your release. You don't need to do anything!

Already Have Codes?

If you've previously released music with ISRC/UPC codes from another distributor, you can enter those existing codes to maintain continuity in your streaming stats and charts.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Quick solutions to frequently encountered problems

My release shows "Pending" for too long. What should I do?

Why are my royalties lower than expected?

Several factors can affect your royalty amounts:

Platform Payment Rates Vary

Different platforms pay different rates per stream:

Apple Music: $0.007-0.010

Spotify: $0.003-0.005

YouTube Music: $0.002-0.004

Amazon Music: $0.004-0.007

Geographic Differences

Streams from developed countries (US, UK, Canada) pay more than streams from developing countries due to subscription pricing differences.

Free vs Premium Listeners

Premium subscribers generate higher royalties than free/ad-supported listeners. Free tier streams pay approximately 40-60% less.

Reporting Delays

There's a 60-90 day delay between when streams occur and when royalties are reported. January streams appear in March/April reports.

Check your analytics: Review the platform and geographic breakdown in your dashboard to understand where your streams are coming from.

My artist profile shows duplicate or wrong information. How do I fix it?

Artist profile issues on streaming platforms are common but fixable:

Common Profile Issues

✗ Multiple profiles for the same artist
✗ Incorrect artist image or bio
✗ Releases split across different profiles
✗ Wrong genre or location information
✗ Misspelled or inconsistent artist name

How to Fix Profile Issues:

1

Claim Your Profile

Sign up for Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, etc. This gives you direct control.

2

Ensure Name Consistency

Use the exact same artist name spelling across all releases (including spaces, capitalization, special characters).

3

Request Profile Merge

Contact the platform's support through your artist dashboard to merge duplicate profiles.

4

Update Profile Information

Once claimed, you can directly edit bio, images, social links, and other profile details.

Profile merges can take 2-4 weeks to complete. Be patient and avoid uploading new releases until the merge is done.

Payment failed or card declined. What now?

If your subscription payment failed, here's how to resolve it:

Common Payment Issues:

• Insufficient funds in account
• Card has expired
• Bank blocking international transactions
• Incorrect billing address
• Credit limit reached
• Card reported lost or stolen

Resolution Steps:

1

Update Payment Method

Go to Settings → Billing → Update Card. Try a different card if available.

2

Check with Your Bank

Contact your bank to ensure international/online payments are enabled and there are no holds.

3

Verify Billing Information

Make sure your name, address, and ZIP code match your bank records exactly.

4

Retry Payment

Once you've updated your information, click "Retry Payment" in your billing settings.

Grace Period: 7 days to update payment before account is suspended.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and PayPal.

Can't log in to my account. What should I try?

Login issues can be frustrating. Try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Your Credentials

• Make sure Caps Lock is off
• Verify you're using the correct email address
• Check for typos in password
• Try copying and pasting your password

2. Clear Browser Cache

Old cached data can cause login problems:

• Clear cookies and cache
• Try incognito/private mode
• Use a different browser
• Restart your browser

3. Reset Your Password

Click "Forgot Password" on the login page and follow the email instructions to create a new password.

4. Check for Account Issues

• Account may be temporarily suspended (payment issue)
• Email verification may be pending
• Account might have been locked for security

5. Check Your Connection

• Ensure you have stable internet
• Try switching networks (mobile data vs WiFi)
• Disable VPN if using one

Still can't log in? Contact our support team at [email protected] with your registered email address for immediate assistance.

Still have questions and need more help?

We will respond to you as quickly as possible within business hours

Contact Us Chat Now

Email Support

[email protected]

Response Time

1 hours - 24 hours average

Availability

Business hours

Help Center

Browse by Category

Getting Started

Distribution

Payments

Policies

Technical

Account

Copyright

Troubleshooting

Music Distribution FAQs

Which streaming platforms does Pubdish distribute to?

How long does it take for my music to go live?

Can I choose which platforms to distribute to?

What are the requirements for uploading music?

Audio Files

Cover Artwork

Can I update or remove my music after it's released?

Update Metadata

Takedown Releases

Important Notes

Payments & Royalties FAQs

How much do I earn per stream?

Average Per-Stream Rates

When do I receive my royalty payments?

Payment Schedule

Payment Threshold

What payment methods are available?

Bank Transfer (ACH/SEPA)

PayPal

Wire Transfer

Does Pubdish take a commission from my royalties?

You Keep 100%

How can I track my earnings and streams?

Real-Time Analytics

Earnings Reports

Technical Support FAQs

Why was my release rejected?

Audio Quality Issues

Artwork Problems

Metadata Issues

Copyright & Content

My music isn't showing up on a platform. What should I do?

Check Your Dashboard

Search Correctly

Wait for Indexing

Contact Support

How do I claim my artist profile on Spotify/Apple Music?

Spotify for Artists

Apple Music for Artists

Can I change my release date after submission?

Before Delivery

After Delivery (Before Release Date)

After Release is Live

I'm having trouble uploading files. What should I check?

Pre-Upload Checklist

Still Having Issues?

Need Help?

Getting Started

How do I get invited to Pubdish?

What documents do I need for KYC verification?

Do I need to pay any fees to use Pubdish?

Can I create multiple artist accounts?

Account Management

How do I create a Pubdish account?

Click "Sign Up"

Enter Your Information

Verify Your Email

Choose Your Plan

Start Uploading!

How do I change my email or password?

Change Email

Change Password

Password Requirements:

How do I reset my password if I forgot it?

Can I have multiple artist names under one account?

Yes, Absolutely!

Release under multiple names

Manage music for multiple artists

Create different projects