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I Would Like to Distribute Classical Music. What's the Procedure ?

Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure your classical release meets all the requirements:

   

Title Formatting Guidelines

Classical titles must follow a very specific formatting style. Here’s an example of what your submission must look like:

Album Title

Composer: Name of Work in Key, Catalog Number

  • Example: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92.
  • Alternative titles like "Best Piano Sonatas" may also be used.

Work’s Title

Name of Work in Key, Catalog Number

  • Example: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92.

Track Title

Movement Number, Movement Title

  • Example: II. Allegretto

🔎 We highly recommend that you refer to the IMSLP Database or the composer’s official website (if applicable) to get the most accurate information. Contemporary classical works or pieces that are not in the public domain are exempt from these formatting rules.

 

Some Copyright Considerations

  • If the composer passed away more than 70 years ago, their works are in the public domain and typically listed on IMSLP.
  • For composers who are alive or passed away within the last 70 years, their works are likely still protected. You’ll need to source information from their official website, and any release featuring their music must be classified as a cover version.

  

Artist Details

Properly listing the artist details is also crucial for classical music releases.

Performers

  • Include all major soloists, conductors, performers, and ensembles as main artists.
  • Use full legal names and corresponding instruments under Performers for each track.

Composers, Lyricists & Arrangers

  • Enter full the legal names under Contributors details
  • The composer will also appear as an artist on most streaming platforms. If you distribute your own contemporary classical music and see your artist and legal names being displayed as two separate artists, that's why!

Publishers

Required only if the music is not in the public domain (which must be labelled as cover versions)

  • Use resources like PRO databases or Discogs to identify the rightful music publishers.
  • Be cautious not to confuse a music score publisher (who publishes the written text) with the music publisher (who manages the rights to the music). We need the music publisher only. 


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