Collect contributor names and roles before sending a release to a distributor. Ask each person to confirm the spelling and presentation they want, then map that information to the fields the distributor actually supports.
Spotify says its displayed credits come from label or distributor metadata and directs corrections through that supplier. The label or distributor is therefore an important part of preparing credits and handling corrections.
A credit sheet can give each contributor one row to check: release, track, display name and role. Sending that row for confirmation keeps the request focused. It also creates a clear place to record spelling or presentation preferences before delivery.
Create a contributor record
| Field | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Track | Exact release and version |
| Contributor | Confirmed display name |
| Role | Agreed description of the contribution |
| Delivery field | Where the distributor accepts that role |
| Confirmation | Who checked the information and when |
Keep a reply-pending state for confirmation requests, then record the response when received. Preserve questions that have not been answered.
Separate recognition from rights
A credit list is not a substitute for ownership, licensing or payment agreements. Keep those records separate and obtain appropriate advice where needed. Ownership, licensing and royalty arrangements need their own agreed documentation alongside the display credits.
Inspect the delivered result
After release, compare the published credits with the confirmed record. If something is absent, check the distributor’s supported fields and correction process before guessing which party omitted it. Keep a dated record of requested changes and their outcome.
If several versions of a track exist, maintain a distinct record for each relevant version. A remix, edit or new recording should not silently inherit information that has not been checked for that release.
Build a credit sheet for one fictional release
Use a separate row for each contributor and role, even when one person has several roles. An example might include a performer on the main track, a producer, a mix engineer and a contributor to a named alternate version. The sheet should distinguish the track version and the intended display name for each entry.
| Working field | Why it is useful |
|---|---|
| Release and track version | Connects the credit to the right recording |
| Contributor’s confirmed name | Preserves the requested spelling |
| Role wording | Records the agreed contribution |
| Distributor field | Shows where the information will be supplied |
| Response status | Keeps confirmation requests visible |
Keep private contact details in the working records rather than adding them to public credit fields.
Follow a correction through delivery
If a contributor changes a display name, update the sheet and identify which submission needs amendment. Record the old entry, requested entry and date supplied to the distributor. Spotify’s guidance places displayed credits within the label or distributor metadata route, so keep the relevant delivery contact with that record.
After the release appears, compare its displayed information with the submitted sheet. Some questions may concern spelling; others may concern which roles a platform displays. Recording the particular discrepancy gives the distributor a clear correction request.
Keep the submitted credit sheet with the release record. If a contributor later requests a correction, a dated revision can show the exact change for the distributor. That shared reference helps the people involved follow the update through to the displayed credits.
Sources consulted
- Clickable song credits on Spotify — Spotify; consulted 3 November 2026.