What “label” means: This is about the recording (the master), not the song/composition. Label income = master royalties from streaming, downloads, YouTube, and licensed uses of your recordings.

Label vs. Publishing:

• Masters (Label) = the sound recording. Paid by DSPs (Spotify/Apple), YouTube, downloads, and master‑side sync fees.

• Publishing = the song itself. Paid by PROs/MCAs for performance + mechanical royalties.

Our deal structure (simple): Services‑style label with a 70/30 split (Artist/Label) on net master revenue. No transfer of creative ownership of your masters. Recoup only agreed, pre‑approved third‑party costs.

When You Actually Need a Label

If you’re recording and releasing a few tracks casually, you can self‑distribute. Once you want consistent releases, real metadata hygiene, global distribution, content claims, and organized marketing rollouts, a label saves time and prevents expensive metadata mistakes.
If masters are getting traction (editorial adds, viral shorts, radio, or sync interest), proper label admin ensures money flows to the right people and opportunities aren’t missed.

What Riverstone Label Does

• Global Distribution: Deliver to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, TikTok/IG, YouTube Music/Content ID, and more; optional Bandcamp support.

• Identifiers & Metadata: Assign/validate ISRC per track and UPC/catalog numbers per release; credits (featured artists, producers, engineers); mood/genre/BPM; clean/explicit flags.

• Release Management: Timeline planning, pre‑save links, preview clips, canvases/shorts kits, and asset QC (cover specs, loudness, gapless albums).

• Editorial & Program Pitching: Submit via distributor/editorial portals; territory notes; focus tracks; one‑sheet.

• Royalty Accounting: Consolidate DSP statements, deduct agreed recoupables, and pay out 70% to Artist / 30% to Label with transparent statements.

• Content ID & Claims: Register recordings with YouTube Content ID and manage claims/disputes for your channel uploads.

• Neighboring Rights Setup: Guide registration (e.g., SoundExchange in the US) so featured performers and rights holders receive digital performance royalties.

• Light Marketing Support: Basic ad pixels, UTM tracking, link‑in‑bio/landing pages, EPK template, and social toolkits.

• Master‑Side Licensing: Quote/issue simple master licenses for small syncs, reels, podcasts; coordinate with publishing when needed.

What We Don’t Do

• No transfer of creative control or ownership of your masters.

• No questionable “playlisting” or bots; no pay‑for‑play.

• No long‑term lock‑ins without exits; no hidden fees.

• No guarantees of editorial placement or radio—only clean submissions and timing.

Ownership & Transparency

• You keep ownership of your masters. Riverstone provides label services and admin.

• We retain a 10% administration share only where specified for admin‑only services; for label releases, the 70/30 split applies to net master revenue after agreed costs (e.g., distro, ISRC/UPC fees, targeted ads, mixing/mastering if pre‑approved).

• All costs must be approved in writing before spend; fully itemized on statements.

Getting Started

1. Submit a Release: Provide final WAVs, artwork (3000×3000, JPG/PNG), credits, lyrics, and dates.
2. We Assign Codes: ISRC per track; UPC/catalog per release; verify splits and contributors.
3. Set Timeline: We recommend 3–4 weeks lead time before release for pitching.
4. Review & Approve: You sign off on store list, pricing, territories, and any recoupable costs.
5. Go Live & Track: We deliver, monitor, and issue quarterly statements (monthly if volume warrants).

Ready to release? Use the link below to start your first label submission. We’ll confirm assets, set your timeline, and send a pre‑release checklist.

In Short

Self‑release works—until it doesn’t. When you’re ready for clean distribution, accurate credits, proper claims, and transparent pay‑outs, Riverstone Label handles the heavy lifting so you can stay in the studio.

What “publishing” means: It’s the song (composition), not the recording. Publishing collects performance + mechanical royalties and keeps credits/splits correct.

Label vs. Publishing: Masters = recordings (70/30 split on label side). Publishing = songs (you keep ownership; admin only when needed).

When you actually need it:  If you’re gigging locally, selling direct, or just starting to release music, you don’t need publishing administration yet. Those performances are already covered under venue blanket licenses, and the royalties would be minimal.

Once your songs are publicly released and start being streamed heavily, played on radio, synced to video, or performed regularly, that’s when publishing registration matters.  That’s the point when your songs start generating performance and mechanical royalties beyond your master income.

What Riverstone Publishing does: Registrations (ASCAP/BMI etc.), split management, ISWC/IPI linking, reporting, simple licensing support.

What we don’t do: No creative ownership, no advances, no “magic pitching.” Just clean admin and protection.