Music Business Association Addresses Fundamental Metadata Standards Issue
July 26, 2016 – The Music Business Association (Music Biz) and its Metadata & Digital Operations Workgroup, in association with DDEX (Digital Data Exchange, LLC), are offering labels and label aggregators a step-by-step guide on how to use the DDEX standard to upload and manage their catalogs on digital retailers. All global music services – including Amazon, Apple, Pandora, Spotify, and more – use a version of the DDEX Release Notification Standard (see https://kb.ddex.net/display/HBK/Implementing+Release+Deliveries) for the receipt of data, making it critically important that label teams understand the key input fields so that songs can be properly offered via online services and reporting comes back for proper accounting. Titled “DDEX Release Notification Standard Starter Guide for Implementation,” the document explains what must be done before, during, and after the digital ingestion process to ensure that every music file conforms to the standard.
The guide begins by walking readers through best practices for the preparation of digital assets, from proper coding of audio and video files to the best format for digital booklets and other supplementary files. The document then delves deeply into metadata preparation, detailing the DDEX standard and providing in-depth guidance on how to apply it across the board. It wraps with sections on catalog delivery and management.
“Most of the problems that have come with the rise of digital music distribution, from difficulty finding tracks to discrepancies on songwriter royalty statements, can be traced back to poor-quality metadata,” said Bill Wilson, VP of Digital Strategy & Business Development at Music Biz. “Music Biz has been beating the drum to improve and standardize metadata for many years now, and we’re happy to issue this guide, which can save companies hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars.”
“Music Biz understands how important a common metadata standard is to the overall health of the music industry, and this guide will go a long way toward making sure that everyone is on the same page,” said Mark Isherwood, DDEX Secretariat. “We hope every artist, label, or other rightsholder will keep this guide with them at all times and refer to it when uploading their music.”
The “DDEX Release Notification Standard Starter Guide for Implementation” can be downloaded for free at www.musicbiz.org/ddex-guide-download-form.
About the Music Business Association
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is a membership organization that advances and promotes music commerce — a community committed to the full spectrum of monetization models in the industry. It provides common ground by offering thought leadership, resources and unparalleled networking opportunities, all geared to the specific needs of its membership. Music Biz brings a unique perspective and valuable insight into the trends and changes that innovation brings. Today, we put our collective experience to work across all delivery models: physical, digital, mobile, and more. Music Biz and its members are committed to building the future of music commerce — together.
Music Biz Media Contact
Laurie Jakobsen, Jaybird Communications — laurie@jaybirdcom.com, 646.484.6764
About Digital Data Exchange, LLC
DDEX is a consortium of leading media companies, music licensing organisations, digital service providers and technical intermediaries, focused on the creation of digital supply chain standards. To support the automated exchange of information along the digital supply chain, DDEX has standardised the format in which information is represented in messages and the method by which the messages are exchanged between business partners. These standards are developed and made available for industry-wide implementation. DDEX standards help rightsholders, retailers and technical intermediaries to more effectively communicate information along the digital supply chain. This leads to efficient business transactions, reduced costs and increased revenues for all sectors involved.
DDEX Contact
Mark Isherwood, DDEX Secretariat – mark.isherwood@ddex.net
