Releasing a single before your full album is a smart way to build momentum and promote your music. This article explains how single submissions work, how they relate to album submissions, and what you need to keep in mind regarding metadata, ISRCs, UPCs, and artwork. For example, if you release a single that later appears on your album, both versions can share the same ISRC—but they’ll need separate UPCs.

How Do Single and Album Submissions Work?

• Singles and albums are separate submissions in our system.

  • You can't add tracks to a single to turn it into an album later.
  • You’ll need to create a new submission for the album.

• If the audio is identical between the single and album version of a track:

  • Use the same ISRC for both.
  • Keep the metadata consistent (track title, artist name, featured artists, etc.).

• Each release needs a unique UPC barcode:

  • One for the single.
  • One for the album.

How Does CD Baby Boost Affect Singles?

• If your album is signed up for CD Baby Boost, your single will be covered too—as long as the ISRCs match.

• You can:

  • Register your single with the MLC and SoundExchange.
  • Add it to our Sync licensing library alongside your full album.
  • Back-collect royalties if they’re generated before the album release.

• You can release your single as Standard, and later upgrade your album to CD Baby Boost.

What About Cover Art and Metadata?

• If you're going to put text on your cover art, partner sites require that cover art text matches the release metadata.

  • Your single cover should show the single title.
  • Your album cover should show the album title.
  • Avoid using the album title on your single’s artwork.

• If your single and album share the same title:

  • You must differentiate the artwork.
  • No two releases can use the exact same cover image.

Things to Note

• Singles are a great way to promote your music ahead of a full album release.
• Consistency in metadata and ISRCs helps with royalty tracking and distribution.
• Always double-check your artwork and metadata before submitting to avoid delays.