You can move your entire catalogue to a new distributor and keep your stream counts, artist profile and most playlist placements, provided you do one thing correctly: re-deliver each recording using its original ISRC code. The ISRC is what platforms use to identify a recording, so the same code means the same track and the same accumulated history. The order also matters: withdraw earnings, record your codes, prepare the new delivery, request takedown, wait for confirmation, then re-deliver. Rushing that sequence, or letting the new distributor generate fresh ISRCs, is what actually causes artists to lose their streams.
That is the summary. This guide walks through the whole migration, including what survives, what does not, and the five mistakes that cause most of the damage.
What Survives a Switch, and What Does Not
Being clear about expectations before you start:
| Item | Survives? |
| Stream counts on the recording | Yes, with the same ISRC |
| Your artist profile and follower count | Yes, the profile belongs to you, not the distributor |
| Algorithmic playlist placements | Usually recovers, though a gap can affect momentum |
| Editorial playlist placements | Often lost during the removal window |
| Save and library adds by listeners | Usually restored with the same ISRC, but not guaranteed |
| Release date shown on platforms | Can reset unless the original date is re-entered correctly |
| Pre-save and share links | Some break; the platform URL may change |
So the honest answer is that a well-executed switch preserves the important things and costs you some momentum. That is a real cost, and worth weighing against the reason you are moving.
Why the ISRC Matters More Than Anything Else
An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique identifier for a specific recording. Platforms use it to know that the file being delivered today is the same recording that has been streaming for two years.
Deliver with the same ISRC and the history follows. Deliver with a new one and platforms treat it as a brand-new track, with zero streams, no history and no connection to the version listeners saved.
This is why the single most important question to ask a prospective distributor is whether you can supply your own existing ISRCs rather than being assigned new ones. Any distributor worth using will allow it. The background is in ISRC and UPC codes explained.
The Migration, Step by Step
Step 1: Withdraw your earnings. Clear any available balance at the old distributor before you begin, and check the terms on accrued but unpaid royalties after cancellation.
Step 2: Export everything. From your current dashboard, record for every release: ISRC per track, UPC per release, original release date, exact track and artist name spellings, composer and lyricist credits, label name, and artwork files. Save the audio masters locally too, do not rely on the distributor storing them for you.
Step 3: Set up the new distributor and prepare the releases. Enter everything, including your existing ISRCs and the original release dates, but do not submit yet. You want the new delivery ready to go the moment the old one clears.
Step 4: Request takedown at the old distributor. Note the date. Removal usually takes a few days to propagate but can take longer on some platforms.
Step 5: Confirm removal on the platforms themselves. Check Spotify, Apple Music and any other priority stores directly. Do not rely on the dashboard status alone.
Step 6: Deliver through the new distributor. Same ISRCs, same UPCs where possible, same spellings, original release dates.
Step 7: Verify and reclaim. Check that streams appear on the re-delivered releases, that everything sits on your correct artist profile, and re-link your Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists access if needed, covered in the Spotify for Artists guide.
Timing note: the gap between removal and re-delivery should be as short as you can make it, but never zero. Delivering the new version before the old one has cleared causes duplicate conflicts, which is worse than a short gap.
The Five Mistakes That Actually Lose Streams
- Letting the new distributor generate new ISRCs. The single biggest cause of lost history. Always supply the originals.
- Delivering before the takedown completes. Duplicates get flagged and can result in both versions being removed.
- Changing the metadata during the move. Fixing a typo in the artist name at the same time as migrating makes it harder for platforms to match the recording. Migrate first, correct later.
- Migrating during an active campaign. Never switch in the weeks around a release, a playlist run or a tour. Move during a quiet period.
- Not exporting data before cancelling. Once the account closes, dashboard access can end, and with it your record of ISRCs, credits and reports.
Should You Switch at All?
A switch costs momentum, so it should be for a structural reason rather than mild annoyance. Common valid reasons:
- Renewal risk. Your catalogue is removed if you stop paying, examined in what happens when you stop paying
- A revenue cut you did not know about, especially on YouTube Content ID, compared in Content ID fees compared
- Missing platforms. Your audience listens somewhere your distributor does not deliver
- A missing revenue stream. For artists with Indian audiences, caller tune income no international service can provide
- Support you cannot reach when something breaks, discussed in distributor support reality check
- Cost over five years, once fees, forex and cuts are totalled, as in one-time vs yearly vs commission
If none of those apply, staying put is a legitimate answer.
Before You Commit to the New One
Ask the new distributor these before starting the migration:
- Can I supply my own existing ISRC codes?
- Can I set the original release date rather than today’s date?
- Is there any fee for migrating a catalogue?
- How long does delivery take once I submit?
- What happens to these releases if I stop paying you?
The last question is the one that determines whether you will be doing this again in three years. The wider framework is the 12-point distributor checklist, and options are compared in best music distribution companies 2026.
FAQ: Switching Distributors
Will I lose my streams if I change distributors?
Not if you re-deliver with the same ISRC codes and time the takedown and re-delivery correctly.
Do I lose my Spotify artist profile?
No. Your profile and followers belong to you, not the distributor. You may need to re-link your Spotify for Artists access.
How long should the gap between takedown and re-delivery be?
As short as possible while ensuring the removal has fully processed. Delivering too early causes duplicate conflicts.
Will my playlist placements survive?
Algorithmic placements usually recover. Editorial placements are frequently lost during the removal window, which is the main cost of switching.
Can I keep my original release date?
Yes, if the new distributor allows you to set it. Ask before starting, since a reset release date affects how the catalogue appears.
When is the best time to switch?
During a quiet period, never around a release, campaign or tour.
Conclusion
Switching distributors is a technical task, not a risky one, provided you treat the ISRC as the thing you are protecting and resist the urge to tidy up your metadata mid-move.
Once you have gone through it, the more useful question is how to avoid doing it again. That usually means choosing on the terms that made you leave: no renewal dependency, no cut on Content ID, reachable support and an exit that costs nothing. The Black Turn is built that way, with ₹599-799 per song (roughly $7-9) paid once, releases live for life, 95% royalty, free Content ID at 0% cut and no lock-in. Move carefully once, and choose something you will not need to move away from.
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