At UMW Recordings Inc., we've developed a specialized digital catalog transfer protocol that's compatible with major aggregators (such as SonoSuite, FUGA, The Orchard, DistroKid, etc.) and compliant with industry standards.
📦 What is a catalog transfer?
It is the process by which a record label, artist or rights holder requests the migration of their releases (albums, singles, EPs) from another distribution platform to UMW , keeping the statistics, ISRC codes, links and monetization intact .
✅ Requirements to request the transfer
Before starting, you must meet the following criteria:
Be the legal owner of the recording rights to the content you wish to migrate.
Have the original ISRC and UPC codes from the previous catalog.
Make sure there is no current exclusivity contract with your current distributor.
Have an active approved profile on UMW Recordings Inc.
📝 Step-by-step process
Stage | Description |
1. Formal request | Contact our support team with the subject line "Catalog Transfer Request ," including the name of the label and catalog you want to transfer. |
2. Sending metadata | You must submit a file in .XLSX or CSV format with the following information for each track: title, artist, ISRC, UPC, release date, duration, genre and active links (Spotify, Apple, etc.). |
3. Eligibility Review | Our team will verify that the ISRCs are not blocked and that there are no ownership conflicts. |
4. Creating a new release (without publishing) | Releases are recreated on our platform replicating the original metadata, but are not yet published . |
5. Cancellation at previous distributor | The label or artist must request removal of the content from their former distributor. This is mandatory to avoid duplication. |
6. Activation in UMW | Once the content has been removed, we activate and distribute the catalog from UMW, using the same ISRC/UPC codes. This ensures that the statistics, playlists, and monetization are maintained. |
🚫 What shouldn't you do?
Do not edit the ISRC or UPC codes of your works when migrating.
Do not publish content from UMW without first deregistering it with the previous distributor , or you could generate rights conflicts and account blocking at DSPs.
Don't change the original title or artist of the release if you want to retain the stats and editorial placement.
📂 Mandatory information per track
Each clue must be accompanied by at least the following information:
Original ISRC
Title of the recording
Main artist
Launch CPU
Original publication date
Spotify link (preferred)
Name of the current seal
.WAV or .FLAC file in master quality
💡 Additional tips
Keep names identical (spelling, capitalization, order).
Avoid adding “Remastered” or “Version 2025” if the audio has not actually been modified.
If the previous distributor used DDEX, request the full XML file.
🕒 Estimated processing time
Once all the documentation has been submitted correctly, the transfer process typically takes between 3 and 5 business days to complete, depending on the volume of the catalog.