What is Music Metadata and Why Is It Important?

Alex Mitchell-Hardt

Feb 26, 2025 — 3 min read

Metadata in music may sound like a boring topic, but it's fundamental to your success and bank account.

In our years working with thousands of independent artists at Playlist Push, we've seen firsthand how the accuracy of your digital music metadata can make or break careers.

This article will break down music metadata best practices in simple terms.

What Is Metadata for Music?

Think of music metadata tags as your music's digital ID card. It is all the information attached to your audio files that tells all of the streaming platforms and their listeners exactly what they're hearing. This includes:

Your track title (song metadata)
Your artist name (artist metadata )
Album name (album metadata)
Release year
Genre (music genre classification)
Track number
ISRC codes (unique identifiers for each track)
UPC codes (for album tracking)
Songwriter and composer credits
Music publisher information
Copyright details
Song lyrics metadata

Every time you upload a song to DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Symphonic, or any other music distributor, you're filling out metadata fields that will follow your music everywhere it goes in the music streaming ecosystem.

Why Should You Care About Music Metadata?

1. It's How You Get Paid (Royalty Collection and Music Metadata)

This can't be stressed enough. Incorrect metadata means your streams and plays might be attributed to someone else – or worse, end up in the endless sea of unclaimed music royalties.

We've seen artists miss out on thousands of dollars simply because they didn't take their metadata management seriously.

2. It Impacts Playlist Success and Streaming Discoverability

Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music use metadata to determine which playlists your music belongs in.

If curators are searching for your music but can't find it because of incorrect meta, you're missing out on playlist placement opportunities. And the same goes for fans that are searching for you.

3. Accurate Metadata Helps with Sync Licensing

Want your track in that Netflix show or TV commercial? Music supervisors don't have time to chase down rights information. They need complete and accurate music licensing metadata to quickly determine if your track fits their project and how to license it. See How To Get Your Music in Movies and Commercials.

4. Metadata Can Prevent Ownership & Copyright Disputes

Nothing kills momentum faster than copyright/ownership disputes. Metadata conflicts can lead to tracks being pulled from platforms when multiple parties engage in a dispute over the correct metadata and ownership. Proper, agreed-upon metadata can prevent this.

5. Your Fans Will Thank You for Enhanced Music Discovery

Ever tried to find lyrics to a song only to come up empty? Complete metadata including elements like lyrics creates a better experience for your fans, making it easier for them to connect with your music.

Top 5 Music Metadata Tips for Independent Artists

1. Name Consistency is Everything

Be 100% consistent with your artist name formatting. "TJ Jones" and "T.J. Jones" will be treated as different artists in music databases.

2. ISRC Codes Are Non-Negotiable

Always use ISRC codes for music tracking. Think of these as social security numbers for your songs.

3. Get Your Splits Right the First Time

Triple-check songwriter splits before uploading each song with your distributor. Fixing these later can be very messy.

4. Strategic Genre Tagging Matters

Use strategic genre tags – think about where you want your music to be discovered in the music algorithm ecosystem.

5. Keep Your Metadata Fresh

Update your metadata when things change. For example changes in management company or uploading new versions of your songs. It's paramount that you keep all of your data current across all digital music platforms.

FAQS

What is metadata in music?
Music metadata is the information embedded in a digital audio file that includes details like the song title, artist name, album, release year, genre, songwriter credits, and copyright information. This data helps with organization, discovery, and proper attribution across music platforms.

How to add metadata to music files?
Metadata can be added to music files using various tools and software such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, MP3Tag, or dedicated digital distribution platforms like DistroKid and TuneCore. These programs allow users to input and edit metadata fields before distributing their music.

How to edit music metadata?
Music metadata can be edited using metadata editing software like MP3Tag, Kid3, or within streaming platform dashboards. Most music players and file management systems also allow users to modify metadata fields such as artist name, album title, and track number to keep their library organized.

Final Thoughts

Artists who take professional music metadata management seriously consistently outperform those who don't. It's not the most glamorous part of your music career development, however getting your metadata right is one of the smartest investments you can make in your future success.

In addition to metadata, make sure you know how to claim your artist page on Spotify and Apple Music!