Below, we explain in detail the key roles that should be assigned in every release, whether it's a single, an EP, or a full album.
1️⃣ Primary Artist (Release Level)
🎤 This is the artist or band responsible for the entire project.
They should be listed as the face of the album or single on all platforms.
This role cannot be left blank and must match the artistic style reflected in the cover art and visual content of the release.
🔍 Example: If it's an album by "Juan Pérez," he should be listed as the main artist on the release, even if there are collaborations on some individual tracks.
2️⃣ Primary Artists per Track (Track Level)
🎼 Each song in the release must have at least one lead artist assigned.
In collaborations, all artists who have an equal weight in the performance must be listed as principals.
If a release features more than three main artists in total , many platforms will interpret it as a compilation, requiring the release to be listed as “Various Artists” at the album level.
💡 Important: Don't confuse lead artists with guest artists. Lead artists should be an active and leading part of the track's vocal or instrumental performance.
3️⃣ Guest Artists (Featuring Artist)
🤝 This role is assigned to artists who collaborate on a track on a one-off basis, usually on a specific part of the song (such as a verse, chorus, or instrumental solo).
This role does not grant primary credit for the track or release.
The correct way to label them is with the word “feat.” or “featuring,” and this should be reflected in both the metadata and the track title if desired.
🧠 Recommendation: Do not include guest artists as main artists to avoid confusion in platform algorithms and royalty reports.
4️⃣ Remix
🎛️ This role is exclusive to artists or producers who have created a modified or alternative version of an original work.
The remixer does not replace the original artist : he simply contributes his creative vision to an existing foundation.
It must be clearly indicated as “Remix by” or “Remixed by” in the credits.
⚠️ Warning: Platforms that detect a miscredited remix may reject or reclassify the content.
5️⃣ Producer
🎚️ The music producer is a key figure in the sound development of a track. Although many platforms don't display them directly on the cover art, more and more streaming services are allowing detailed credits, where this role can be clearly stated.
There may be one or more producers per track.
In some cases, the role of co-producer is also accepted , if applicable.
📈 Added value: Properly crediting the producer reinforces the project's artistic credibility and facilitates future collaborations.
6️⃣ Other collaborators (optional but recommended)
👥 There are secondary roles that, while not always mandatory, add documentary and professional value to the launch:
Composers / Lyricists
Mixing/Mastering Engineers
Session musicians (instrumentalists, backing vocalists)
Vocal directors or arrangers
🏆 Professional advantage: These credits raise the standard of your project and allow for complete traceability of the people involved, which is increasingly valued by DSPs, media outlets, the press, and fans.
🧩 Best practices for role tagging
✅ Verify that each track has at least one lead artist assigned.
✅ Make sure you don't duplicate roles: an artist can't be both a "feat." and a "lead" artist on the same track.
✅ Remixes must be correctly identified in both the title and the remixer's role.
✅ Add additional technical and creative roles whenever possible.
✅ Check that artist names are spelled consistently and uniformly throughout the release.