Why Metadata Is the Unsung Hero of Your Music Catalog

You've likely heard the term metadata before, but what exactly is it? And why is it so important in your music journey? Let's start with the basics and then look at different types of metadata you'll encounter as an artist or songwriter.

By definition, metadata is information about information, or data about data. If you feel like your target audience is having a hard time finding you, it could come down to your metadata!

How and where metadata exists is limitless. Accurate metadata makes it easier to organize, identify, and retrieve the data it represents. By the same token, poor metadata makes it much harder to do these things.

For example, let's say you record a video for social media and save it on your computer. In this case, the video itself would be considered the data, and what you named the file when saving it to your computer would be considered metadata. Saving the file with a name that made it easily identifiable would be an example of good metadata.

Now, let's say you upload your video to YouTube and social media. The additional information you enter when uploading is all considered metadata. This includes things like title, description, hashtags, keywords, etc.

But wait, there's much more! There's a ton of metadata that you can extract after posting your video. If you've ever checked the platform's analytics to see just how the video performed - anything from the view count to demographic info (views from followers vs. non-followers, age range, location, male vs. female, etc.) - every bit of that is metadata. This is valuable feedback that helps you know who and where your audience is, so you can adjust your content strategies accordingly.

As a consumer, metadata can make or break the digital content experience. Have you ever been scrolling online and feel like your phone knows what's happening in your life before you do? Ever felt like a platform's algorithm delivers exactly the kind of content you relate to and want to see, without having to search for it? This is the direct result of the metadata that gets used to train the algorithm. When the metadata is good, it's almost scary how it feels like a platform can read our mind. And when metadata is missing or insufficient, it tends to make our experience less enjoyable, even frustrating. When presented with data or content that we're not necessarily looking for or interested in, we're more likely to log off altogether.

With this in mind, it's easy to understand just how valuable metadata is to companies. By tagging files with metadata, a business can easily track usage, improve content discoverability, and streamline data management. Additionally, metadata provides insights into consumer behavior, allowing companies to adjust their marketing strategies that can lead to more effective content distribution plans.

So what does this all mean for independent artists and songwriters? Just like the example above, a song or an album would be considered data, and all of the information you need to provide or track related to your music is metadata. The metadata you provide on your music is just as important for the consumer (your fans and audience) as it is to the company (you!). Metadata describes and defines every aspect of your music, from track and album info, to technical and administrative details as well as notes on copyright and ownership splits.

If you're publishing or distributing your music, you need good metadata in order to get credited, discovered, and paid properly. Accurate metadata is also very valuable when it comes to copyright protection. Anything from your song title, to artist and featuring artist names, PRO affiliation, file format, and so much more - it's all metadata, and it all matters. Among the most important identifiers are the ISWC and ISRC numbers for a song as well as IPI numbers to identify creators. If these are missing or incorrect, you won't be able to collect royalties when your song is played! Read more about ISWC and ISRC numbers in this separate OCM Academy post.

Good metadata is also critical so your audience can find you. Providing the right information enables media platforms better ability to recommend your songs and videos to the right users. The accuracy of that metadata also affects the user experience and satisfaction, which may lead to gaining (or potentially missing out on) new fans. A platform's analytics offers incredible metadata on the backend, letting you know how your music is performing in certain demographics and allowing you to finetune your strategies to continue growing.

HERE'S WHAT TO DO: A key element in any successful business structure is finding a way to stay organized. It is a great idea to develop a metadata tracker for your entire catalog so it is stored in one place and easily retrievable. Create a template that you can simply complete for each song you create. You won't have every bit of metadata in the beginning, so be sure to continue updating your catalog as more song or album metadata becomes available.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. OnSight Collective Music makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy or applicability of the content. Readers should consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to their situation.