FAQs

Sphoten is a music distribution and artist services platform for independent artists, managers, and labels. You can upload releases, deliver to streaming and download stores, track performance, and manage royalty splits from one workspace.

Independent artists, producers, managers, and labels who own or control the rights to the music they release. Free, Basic, and Pro are self-serve plans you can start from the Pricing page. Labels and established artists with larger catalogs can apply for a Custom partnership — our team reviews catalog size, release goals, and team structure before onboarding.

Select Get Started from the homepage or choose a plan on the Pricing page. You will need basic artist or label details, contact information, and rights confirmation to begin uploading releases.

Yes. Sphoten does not take ownership of your masters or publishing. You retain control of your catalog while Sphoten handles delivery, reporting, and operational support according to your plan.

All plans include distribution to 100+ streaming services, social platforms, and download stores — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, NetEase Cloud Music, Tencent Music, Deezer, and Amazon Music. See the full platform directory or explore featured destinations on our Distribution page.

Most releases are reviewed within 1–3 business days after submission, provided metadata, audio, artwork, and rights information are complete. Complex releases, AI-assisted content, or missing documentation may take longer. You will see review status and any feedback in your dashboard.

After approval, store delivery typically completes within about 7 days, though timing varies by platform, territory, and release type. Some stores publish faster; others may need additional processing. This timeline is a general reference — not a guarantee for every destination. We recommend submitting at least 2–3 weeks before your planned release date.

No. Actual placement depends on Sphoten's partnerships with each store, the platform's current policies (including AI music rules), your selected destinations, territories, and review outcome. See our platform directory for the network list and availability notes.

Review usually takes 1–3 business days; store go-live is typically around 7 days after approval, depending on the platform. Submit early to allow time for corrections and pre-save setup.

You will need final audio (WAV or FLAC), cover artwork meeting platform specifications, track titles, artist credits, genre, lyrics where applicable, and rights information. Free UPC and ISRC codes are included on every plan.

Yes. Custom release dates are available on Basic, Pro, and Custom plans. You can also select territories during upload. Custom accounts support advanced scheduling and multi-release coordination across a roster.

Yes. Keep your existing UPC and ISRC codes when moving catalog to Sphoten so streaming links and listener data stay connected. Contact support if you need help planning a catalog transfer.

Our team checks metadata accuracy, artwork and audio specifications, rights documentation, explicit/clean labeling, and policy compliance (including AI music rules where applicable). Approved releases move to store delivery; rejected releases include notes so you can fix and resubmit.

Yes on Basic, Pro, and Custom plans. Choose your date during upload and submit early enough for review (1–3 days) and store processing (~7 days). Release dates are target dates — store go-live may vary by platform.

Common reasons include artwork that does not meet store specs, audio quality issues, metadata mismatches, missing rights proof, territory conflicts, or policy violations (including AI disclosure). Read the review notes in your dashboard, correct the issue, and resubmit. AI albums over 6 tracks are rejected and still count toward your annual AI slot — see our AI Music Policy.

Takedown and metadata update requests can be submitted from your catalog. Processing time depends on each store's policies — some changes are fast, others require re-ingestion. Contact support for urgent takedowns related to rights disputes.

No. Independent artists can start on Free, Basic, or Pro without a label. Labels and managers with multiple artists can use Pro (up to 8 artists) or apply for Custom for larger rosters and dedicated operations.

AI music distribution is allowed on Basic (10 AI albums per year) and Pro (25 AI albums per year), with a maximum of 6 tracks per AI album. Releases over the limit are rejected and still count toward your annual slot. Free and Custom plans do not support AI music. AI releases are also subject to each platform's own AI policies — we do not guarantee placement on all stores. Read the full rules in our AI Music Policy.

Royalty reporting follows each platform's payment cycle — stores typically report earnings to distributors with a 2–3 month delay after streams occur. Once Sphoten receives and processes your statements, royalties are automatically paid when your balance reaches $50. Detailed statements are available in your dashboard.

Each platform reports streams and downloads on its own schedule. Sphoten imports those reports, applies your plan's royalty share (85%–100% depending on tier), deducts any collaborator splits you configured, and adds the net amount to your wallet balance. Settlement is not instant — it follows store reporting cycles. Track accruals in Analytics and finalized amounts in Royalties.

Streaming services pay distributors after they close monthly or quarterly accounting periods, verify usage data, and process payments. That lag is industry-standard. Your dashboard analytics may update sooner than royalty statements. If a specific period is missing after expected store timelines, contact support@sphoten.com.

When you assign split percentages to producers, featured artists, or label partners, each payee's share is calculated from the net royalty for that track before payout. Make sure splits are finalized before release — changes after statements are generated may require manual adjustment in a future period.

When your balance reaches $50, royalties are automatically paid to you. Amounts below $50 are carried over until your balance reaches the payout threshold.

Royalty shares depend on your plan: Free — 85%, Basic — 100%, Pro — 100%. Custom partnerships use revenue-share terms agreed during application. All plans include commercial licensing distribution. See the full breakdown on Pricing.

Yes. Your dashboard includes streaming analytics across supported platforms so you can track performance, territories, and playlist activity while waiting for royalty statements to finalize.

Free is for your first releases — 1 artist, unlimited uploads, 85% royalties, no AI music. Basic ($24/yr) adds a second artist, 100% royalties, custom release dates, daily streaming statistics, and partial AI music (10 albums/year). Pro ($45/yr) supports up to 8 artists, 100% royalties, advanced data analytics, track audio replacement, and partial AI music (25 albums/year). Custom is application-based for labels and established artists — tailored workflows, dedicated operations, music promotion, and revenue-share terms; AI music is not supported.

Visit our Services page to review Custom benefits, then submit an application through the Contact form. Our team typically responds within two business days to discuss catalog scope, operations needs, and revenue terms.

Custom partnerships include music promotion and playlist pitching support for eligible releases. Pitching is subject to editorial guidelines and approval from each platform — we prepare and submit on your behalf where appropriate.

Pro supports up to 8 artists on a single account. Custom accounts are built for multi-artist rosters with team permissions, release approval workflows, and consolidated reporting. Managers can invite users with role-based access on Custom plans.

Use the password reset option on the Sign In page. If you still cannot access your account, email support@sphoten.com from your registered address.

Check the review notes in your dashboard for the specific issue — common causes include artwork dimensions, audio quality, metadata mismatches, or rights documentation. Update the release and resubmit, or contact support for clarification.

Email support@sphoten.com for account and delivery questions, or use the Contact form for Custom applications and general inquiries. Pro plan members have email support; existing customers are usually answered within one business day.

Visit Resources for articles on release strategy, royalty reporting, and artist growth. This FAQ page covers the most common operational questions.