DISTROBOLT ARTIST GUIDES
Keeping an unreleased song private until launch
An embargo is an agreement about when information or music may be published. Privacy settings control access. Use both deliberately: a date written in an email does not stop someone forwarding an unrestricted listening link.
Define exactly what is under embargo
Record the release name and version, recipient, permitted use, publication time and time zone. Distinguish the full recording from an approved preview, artwork, press quotation and announcement. Ask the recipient to confirm the arrangement before sending sensitive material. Do not assume a recipient accepted an embargo merely because a message was delivered.
Separate the listening copy from the delivery master
Create an approved preview for review when a full-quality file is unnecessary. Keep the final distribution master in a restricted working location and give access only to people who need it. Keep private contact details and collaborator agreements out of public press folders. Turning off downloads can reduce casual copying; it cannot guarantee that audio will never be captured or shared.
Treat a secret link as transferable access
SoundCloud documents private sharing through secret links. Someone who receives such a link may be able to pass it on, so a private link is not the same as identity-checked access. Where the chosen service supports revocation or replacement, know the process before sending the link. Test the final sharing state from an appropriate separate viewing context without posting the link publicly.
Prepare a response if material leaks
Keep an access log showing who received which version and when. If a preview becomes public early, first check its source and whether access can be revoked; preserve relevant evidence. Coordinate a factual response with the artist and authorised team before changing the distribution schedule. Public press pages should contain only approved material. A search-engine noindex instruction is not access control and should never be the sole protection for an unreleased master.
Sources and review
Reviewed 4 November 2026. Platform requirements and plan terms can change. Examples are planning aids, not a promise of account access, release acceptance or earnings.
Continue your release planning
- How to choose your first music distributor
- Subscription or pay per release: calculate your catalogue costs
- How early should you submit a music release?
Ask the DistroBolt team about your release. Send a concise question and release reference; never send account passwords or verification codes.