You have finished the master, uploaded the artwork, entered the metadata and submitted your release.

Instead of being approved immediately, you see:

“Under review.”

That does not automatically mean anything is wrong.

Music distributors need to check enormous volumes of releases before sending them to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok and other platforms.

Why distributors review music

A distributor is not simply a file-transfer service.

It is sending content into commercial music platforms and representing that the person supplying the recording has the necessary rights.

Checks can therefore involve:

  • audio;
  • artwork;
  • metadata;
  • copyright;
  • artist identity;
  • release history;
  • account behaviour.

Some checks can happen automatically.

Others require a person.

Metadata can trigger review

Something unusual in your metadata may require another look.

Examples might include:

  • famous artist names;
  • confusing featured artists;
  • inconsistent copyright information;
  • unusual titles;
  • duplicate metadata;
  • misleading label names.

That does not mean the release is fraudulent.

It means the distributor may need more information.

Audio can also be checked

Audio-recognition technology can compare recordings against existing catalogues.

This can help identify:

  • previously released recordings;
  • copyrighted audio;
  • samples;
  • altered recordings;
  • duplicated content.

Modern systems can sometimes recognise source recordings even after speed or pitch changes.

Release behaviour matters

Fraud detection increasingly considers behaviour beyond an individual track.

LANDR recently said its systems examine signals including unusually high release frequency, catalogues appearing very quickly and networks of accounts sharing certain characteristics. Music Business Worldwide

Again, an unusual pattern is not automatically wrongdoing.

It may simply justify human review.

AI-generated music

Some distributors and DSPs are also introducing AI disclosure and detection systems.

If a submission asks whether AI was used, answer accurately.

Trying to disguise AI-generated material can create more problems than the use of AI itself.

How long should review take?

This depends on:

  • distributor;
  • release complexity;
  • workload;
  • stores;
  • whether more information is required.

This is one reason artists should not submit a release the night before they want it live.

What should you do?

If the distributor asks for information, provide it clearly.

Useful evidence might include:

  • licences;
  • master ownership;
  • sample permissions;
  • collaborator agreements;
  • artist social profiles.

Do not repeatedly resubmit the same release hoping the system will eventually let it through.

Final thoughts

“Under review” does not mean “rejected.”

It means your release is passing through the quality and rights checks that help keep streaming services usable for legitimate artists.

Submit early, keep your rights organised and respond clearly if your distributor needs more information.