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How to Upload a Release

  • Updated

The Too Lost Uploader provides a simple, step-by-step process to upload your music to 450+ stores and services around the world. Here's a detailed guide about how to use every aspect of our Uploader.

 

Step 1: Start Your Upload

  1. Log into your Too Lost account.
  2. Create a new release. This can be created in one of two ways:
    • Access the Uploader directly through the following link: https://www.toolost.com/uploader

    • Click the Releases tab on the left side of your screen, then click Create New Release on the right side of the screen or New Release at the bottom of the screen. 

  3. Input your Release Title.
  4. Select Artist. 
    • If you have already set up your artist name in the Preferences of your account, you can click Select Artist next to the artist name. Otherwise, you can click Create Artist.
    • If you are uploading a collaboration, select the artist you would like to show up first. Any other primary artists can be added in the next step.

 

Step 2: Basic Information

  1. Select Your Release Type.
    • Album: Any release with 7 or more tracks or a total duration of 30 minutes or more.
    • EP: Generally, a release with 4-6 tracks and a total duration of 30 minutes or less, or 1-3 tracks with one track at least 10 minutes long and a total duration of 30 minutes or less. 
    • Single: Generally, a release with 1-3 tracks that are each less than 10 minutes.
    • Compilation: The guidelines for what defines a compilation varies between services. If a release meets at least one of the following criteria, it will most likely be listed as a Compilation in services:
      • Four or more primary artists on the album level
      • 50% or more of the track listing being previously released
      • Has multiple tracks released over an 18 month period of time
  2. Input the Release Title.
    • Although this was submitted previously, this field is here in case you need to edit the title at any time.
  3. Input the Version Line (if applicable).
    • This is to indicate that the release is different from its original version. Here are some examples of common versions:
      • Remix
      • Acoustic
      • Radio Edit
      • Clean
      • Slowed
      • Sped Up
      • Remastered
  4. Input Primary Artists.
    • The artist you selected previously should already display here. If you are adding more primary artists, you can add them here.
    • For any primary artist added here, the release will display in the main discography of their artist page in stores and services.

 

Step 3: Artwork

  1. Upload the Cover Art.
    • If you have your own artwork you would like to use for your release, please select Upload artwork at the top of the screen. 
    • If you would like to generate artwork using AI, click Generate artwork.
  2. Upload Apple Motion Artwork (optional).
  3. Make sure your artwork meets our Cover Artwork Requirements, also listed at the bottom of the screen.

 

Step 4: Release Information

  1. Input your Release Date.
    • Set the Release Date when you want your release to go live in services.
    • If uploading a release that has been previously released digitally or physically, you can set the Original Release Date. 
    • This is the date that will display in most services. However, the release will go live in stores/services on the date specified as the Release Date.
    • For pre-order availability, choose a Pre-Order Date.
      • This option allows your listeners to purchase your release before the release date.
    • To release your music at a specific time and time zone, adjust the Define time and time zone setting. 
      • Not setting this option will mean your release will go live at midnight (00:00) in each respective country/territory.
    • Once your release is published through the Too Lost Uploader, it may take several days for it to be reviewed and delivered to services by our Quality Control team. To ensure your release appears everywhere on time, we recommend setting your release date at least 2–4 weeks in advance. This gives you enough lead time to pitch your music for editorial consideration and promote your release across all platforms and social media.
  2. Input the Genre.
    • If you don’t see the exact genre you’re looking for, select the genre that best defines your release.
    • You can optionally select a secondary genre.
    • For a full list of genres we support, please see our Help Center article here: What Genres Are Supported?
  3. Input the Language.
    • If there are various languages in the track titles, the primary language needs to be selected.
    • If the language does not appear in the list, the most similar one must be selected.
    • If the track is instrumental, select the No lyrics / instrumental checkbox.
    • For our language guidelines, please see our Help Center article here: Language Requirements
  4. Input the Label.
    • If you are not signed to a label, then you can input anything here. Here are a few ideas:
      • Your artist name
      • Your real name
      • A label name that you made up
      • Your legal entity
      • To avoid delivery delays, do not add website links or explicit language.
  5. Input the Copyright Line and Publisher Line.
    • These fields are to designate the owner of the sound recording and publishing rights to your release, respectively. This is typically your name, your label, and/or your publisher.
  6. Select Stores/Services.

    • If you would like to select which stores/services your release is distributed to, click Manually select Stores/Services, then click Select Stores/Services on the right side of the screen.

    • All stores/services are selected for distribution by default. If you would like to exclude a service from distribution, uncheck the box next to the name of the store/service.

    • If you would like to select the specific stores/services that you would like your release to be distributed to, click the Excluded button. Then, click the checkbox next to Include all. Finally, click the checkbox next to the stores/services you would like your release distributed to.

  7. Enable or disable Additional Deliveries (optional).
    • YouTube Content ID: Manage and monetize your copyrighted content in YouTube. You can only use this feature if you own 100% of the exclusive rights to this release. For information about YouTube Content ID guidelines, see our Help Center article here: YouTube Content ID Explained
    • Meta Rights Manager: Monetize user-generated content in Facebook and Instagram. You can only use this feature if you own 100% of the exclusive rights to this release. For information about Meta Rights Manager guidelines, see our Help Center article here: Meta Rights Manager Explained
      • Distribution to the Facebook/Instagram audio library is separate from Meta Rights Manager, and can be selected in the Select Stores/Services step. 
    • SoundCloud Monetization & Content Protection: If you would like your release distributed to SoundCloud and their copyright protection system, you will need to opt in here. You must have exclusive rights to this music to use this feature.
    • SoundExchange: Non-profit collective rights management organization. It is the sole organization that collects and distributes digital performance royalties for sound recordings in the United States.
    • Beatport: Electronic music store oriented towards DJs that sells full songs and resources that can be used for remixes. In order to distribute to Beatport, the release needs to have an approved genre: Beatport Genres and Sub-Genres
    • Juno Download: Dance music download store that includes delivery to Discogs, Pacha Download, and DJ Tunes. In order to distribute to Juno Download, the release needs to have an approved genre: Juno Download Genres
    • Tracklib: Music service that allows producers to sample original music and clear the samples for official use. 
    • Hook: Music service that allows users to remix your music in various creative ways. You are paid every time your release is utilized in a remix on the Hook platform.
    • LyricFind: Lyrics service that provides lyric licensing, synchronizing, and a powerful API. Your lyrics will be made available across major music platforms that partner with LyricFind.
    • EVEN: Deliver your music to your connected EVEN account. Sell your music directly to your fans and access your earnings in your Too Lost wallet.
  8. Enter Optional Information (optional).
    • Select licensing type.
      • Copyright: You have the exclusive right to distribute your release. This is the default selection.
      • Creative Commons: Gives individual creators and large institutions permission to use your creative work under copyright law
    • Enter your existing UPC.
      • If you do not have one, a UPC will be automatically created for you.
    • Manually select territories.
      • If you would like to select which territories your release is distributed to, click the Manually select territories button, then click the Select territories on the right side of the screen.
      • All territories are selected for distribution by default. If you would like to exclude a territory from distribution, uncheck the box next to the name of the territory.

 

Step 5: Manage Tracks

  1. Upload your tracks.
    • For a new release, click Upload tracks.
    • If you are uploading tracks that have been previously uploaded, you can click Select existing to speed up the process.
    • For information about acceptable audio files, please see our Help Center article here: What Audio File Format Should I Upload?
  2. Edit Track Information.
    • Input the track name and version line (if applicable).
    • Select the language of the track.
      • If the song contains explicit content, select the corresponding button here.
      • Clean Versions are variations of a track that have explicit content edited out. Do not mark the release as a Clean Version if your release did not originally contain explicit content. 
    • Input existing ISRC and ISWC (if applicable)
      • If you do not manually input a code on this screen, one will be assigned for you.
    • Input the starting time for your track on TikTok.
      • TikTok only makes a 60 second portion of your track available on their platform, per TikTok style guidelines.
  3. Input Participants on the track (via the Edit Track Information button).
    • Artist Roles
      • The artist selected for this release will be set to Primary by default. If they have existing Spotify and Apple artist pages, they can be inputted on this page. Otherwise, artist pages will be generated automatically.
      • To add another artist to the track, click Existing Artist (if you have uploaded this artist through this Too Lost account before) or New Participant.
      • For any additional artists, you can set their artist role to either Primary, Featuring, or Remixer.
        • For any release where the artist is not listed as Primary on the entire release, it will display in the Appears On section of their artist page, per store/service style guidelines.
      • For more information about Artist Roles, please see our Help Center article here: Artist Roles Explained
    • Writer Roles
      • Input Composer and Lyricist credits here.
    • Additional Credits
      • This is for Producer credits, as well as various other performer credits.
      • Keep in mind, many stores and services do not display full credits and liner notes other than Producer.
  4. Optionally input a Dolby Atmos file, Apple Digital Master, and/or Instrumental version (via the Edit Track Information button).
    • Instrumental
      • The instrumental section is primarily for having in your records and for publishing purposes. A new release will not be created due to this. 
      • If any sync placements arise for people opted into a publishing deal with Too Lost, we encourage people to input the instrumentals as well. 
    • Dolby Atmos
    • Apple Digital Master
  5. Input Lyrics (via the Edit Track Information button) (optional)
    • Insert your lyrics in the space provided, and designate if the lyrics contain explicit content.
    • For more information about lyric delivery, please see our Help Center article here: How Do I Add Lyrics To My Release?
  6. Rearrange and remove the tracks on your release.
    • To rearrange, click the Move icon next to the track, then drag-and-drop the track into the correct position.
  • To delete a track, click the Trash icon.

 

Step 6: Preview and Publish Your Release

  1. If there are issues with your release, click the orange Resolve Issues button on the bottom left of the screen to correct them.
    • If there are no issues with your release, the button will be greyed out and display No issues detected.
  2. Click the Preview Release button on the left side of the screen.
  3. Review your release.
    • Click the i icon next to each track to check the track information.
  4. If everything looks correct, click the purple Publish button on the bottom left of the screen.
  5. If you have any beat licenses, sample clearances, label waivers, capitalization styling requests, or anything else our content review team should know, you can attach the documents or leave a note.
  6. Designate that you have the necessary rights to distribute the release, and that you agree to the Too Lost Terms of Use.
  7. Click Publish Release.

 

Next Steps

Congratulations! You have successfully published your release, and it will be reviewed by our Quality Control team within a few days. We recommend uploading your release at least 2-4 weeks before the release date to avoid review and distribution delays.

For information about the status of your release, see our Help Center article here: What Is The Status Of My Release?

 

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