Artyfile Move your music
without starting from zero.
Changing distributor is routine — if you keep your ISRCs, copy your metadata exactly and never take the old release down first. Here is the order that works.
How do you switch music distributor without losing streams?
Re-release the identical audio through the new distributor with the same ISRC codes and exactly the same metadata (artist name, track and release titles). Wait until the new release is live on every platform, then ask the old distributor to take the old release down. Streaming services then try to carry play counts and playlist placements over — DistroKid’s own help center describes this as how it “generally” works, but no distributor can guarantee it.
Updated: October 2026
Why artists switch — and why it pays to plan
The usual reasons: a yearly fee you no longer want to pay, a commission that has become too expensive, missing features such as sync, or a distributor that changes its rules. That last one is real. In May 2022, Universal Music’s DIY distributor Spinnup became invite-only and told artists it could not keep to move their releases by 19 July 2022 — after that date it would start taking down remaining releases (Music Business Worldwide).
The lesson: keep your own records. Your ISRCs, final audio files, cover art and credits should live on your hard drive, not only in a distributor’s dashboard.
What carries over — and what does not
| What happens | What you can do | |
|---|---|---|
| ISRC (per recording) | Should stay the same for the life of the recording, regardless of distributor | Reuse it. Check that the new distributor lets you enter existing ISRCs |
| UPC (per release) | Often reissued — some distributors do not accept outside UPCs | Accept a new UPC if needed; the ISRC is what links the tracks |
| Play counts and playlists | Services try to keep them when ISRC, audio and metadata match | Match everything exactly; no guarantee |
| Store reviews (iTunes, Amazon) | May be lost | Nothing — expect it |
| Release date | Depends on whether the new distributor lets you set an original release date | Use the original date if the field exists |
| Earnings already owed | Still paid out by the old distributor | Keep your old account until final statements arrive |
ISRC guidelines say a code identifies a recording “through its entire life and should remain the same despite changes in distributor, ownership, file type” — DistroKid quotes this in its own help center. Note that at DistroKid, entering an existing ISRC requires the Musician Plus or Ultimate plan.
Seven steps to switch without a gap
- 01
1. Export everything
Download a list of all releases with ISRCs, UPCs, exact titles, artist names, featured artists, credits and release dates. Save the final audio files and artwork.
- 02
2. Keep the old account running
Do not cancel or let the subscription lapse yet. If it runs out first, your music can go offline before the new release is live.
- 03
3. Upload identical files
Same master, same version. A remaster or a new mix is a new recording and gets a new ISRC.
- 04
4. Copy metadata character by character
Artist name, track titles, release title, featured artists, explicit flags. Every difference makes it harder for services to match the new release to the old one.
- 05
5. Enter your existing ISRCs
Never let the new distributor generate fresh ones for recordings that already have codes.
- 06
6. Wait until the new release is live everywhere
Check Spotify, Apple Music and the other platforms you care about. A short overlap with two versions online is normal.
- 07
7. Then take down the old release
Request the takedown at the old distributor. Cancel the old account only after the last payout and statements have arrived.
Common mistakes that cost streams
- ✓Taking down first. Your release disappears, playlists drop it, and the new one starts as a stranger.
- ✓New ISRCs for old recordings. Services see a new recording; counts start at zero.
- ✓“Improving” the metadata during the move. Fix typos later through an edit request, not during the switch.
- ✓Letting a subscription lapse during the move. Check your renewal date before you start.
- ✓Forgetting collaborators. If revenue splits run through the old distributor, set them up again before the takedown.
Switching to Artyfile
You own your masters, so you can release them through Artyfile. Start with a free application — a person in A&R listens first. If your track is accepted, you pay €9.90 per track or €39 for up to 10 tracks, once, and it stays online without a yearly fee.
Streaming distribution runs exclusively through Artyfile while a track is active, so the old release has to come down once the Artyfile release is live — in exactly the order above. Artyfile takes over your existing ISRC and UPC codes and your original release date, so stream counts, playlist placements and the release history stay attached to your songs. Have that list ready when you apply. Comparing options first? See the DistroKid alternative, TuneCore alternative and pricing pages.
Switching distributors: common questions
Will I lose my Spotify streams if I change distributor?
Not if you reuse the same ISRCs, identical audio and identical metadata, and keep the old release online until the new one is live. Services then generally keep play counts and playlists — but no distributor can guarantee it.
Can I keep my ISRC codes when switching distributors?
Yes, and you should. An ISRC belongs to the recording, not the distributor. Check that your new distributor lets you enter existing ISRCs; at DistroKid, for example, that needs the Musician Plus or Ultimate plan.
Can I keep my UPC?
Sometimes not. Some distributors, DistroKid among them, always generate their own UPC. That is usually fine: the ISRC is what links the tracks.
Should I take my music down before uploading it elsewhere?
No. Upload to the new distributor first, wait until it is live everywhere, then take the old release down. A short overlap is normal.
Will my songs stay on playlists after switching?
Often, if everything matches, but it is not guaranteed. Editorial and third-party playlists are controlled by the services and curators, not by any distributor.
What happens to money my old distributor still owes me?
It is still owed to you. Keep your old account open until the final statements and payouts have arrived.
Does Artyfile accept my existing ISRC, UPC and release date?
Yes. Artyfile takes over your existing ISRC and UPC codes and your original release date when you move a release, so the platforms can match it to the old one.
Keep reading
DistroKid alternative
DistroKid’s plans, what happens when you stop paying, and when a one-time fee is the better deal.
TuneCore alternative
TuneCore’s plans and renewal rules next to a one-time fee — with an honest look at who each model suits.
Pricing: €9.90 once
Every cost of releasing with Artyfile on one page, plus a 5-year comparison with subscription distributors.
Ready to move to a one-time fee?
Apply for free with one track. If it is accepted, you pay €9.90 once — and you never have to switch because a subscription ran out.