You can move a release to a new distributor without automatically losing its Spotify play count. Spotify calls the process that connects old and new uploads track-linking. The match depends on the audio and metadata Spotify receives, so no distributor can guarantee that every play count or playlist placement will carry over.
The short version: Save your existing codes and release details, upload the same recording through your new distributor, confirm the new version is live and check the Spotify play count, then request removal through the old distributor. Do not remove the old version before the replacement is available.
Before you move: save the details Spotify will compare
Open your current distributor account and make a record of the ISRC for each track and the UPC for each release. An ISRC identifies a recording; the UPC identifies a release. Save the exact track and release titles, artist names, audio files, and existing store links too. LUCY’s catalog migration guide explains how to bring these details into its Import Releases flow.
The codes are useful, but they are not a magic switch. Spotify’s own guidance says the audio and metadata of the old and new versions should match, including duration, title and artist name. If you are moving the same recording, avoid changing its audio or core credits during the transfer. Save creative edits for a separate release.
Your pre-move checklist
- Each track’s original ISRC and the release UPC.
- Original audio, track duration, titles, artist names and credits.
- Current Spotify track and release links, plus a note of the visible play count.
- Access to both distributor accounts until you have checked the new delivery.
How to switch distributors, in order
01 Build the new release using the old details
At LUCY, Import Releases can find songs already in stores and bring them into Studio as drafts with their ISRC and UPC populated. Check every field against your old account before you submit. If a title, artist name, code or audio file differs, fix it before sending the release. For a large catalog, start with one release you can monitor before moving the rest.
02 Deliver the replacement while the original is still live
Submit the release through LUCY and wait for the new delivery to appear in the main stores. Keep the old distributor active during this overlap. This is the sequence LUCY recommends on its migration page; taking the original down first risks an avoidable gap while the replacement moves through the stores.
03 Check Spotify’s track-linking
Open Spotify’s desktop app, go to your artist profile and look at the song’s play count. Spotify says matching counts indicate the tracks have linked. If you cannot see the count, widen the app window. Also check the artist page and the track link you saved before the move. A matching count is an observable check for Spotify; it is not a promise about every other store.
04 Remove the old delivery after checking the replacement
Once the new release is live and you have checked the result, ask the old distributor to remove its delivery. Keep your saved codes, links and screenshots until the transfer settles. If you are moving several releases, repeat the same check for each one rather than assuming the first result applies to the whole catalog.
What if the play counts do not match?
First compare the submitted audio, duration, title and artist name against the previous release. Check the ISRC and UPC you entered. If anything differs, ask the new distributor to help correct the delivery; Spotify directs artists who used a distributor to contact that distributor about re-uploading and metadata changes. Avoid removing a still-live original while you investigate a mismatch.
Playlist placement is a separate check. LUCY says stores usually carry plays and playlist places over when the codes and details match, but the stores decide. If preserving a specific placement matters to your release, record its link before moving and verify it afterward rather than treating a play-count match as proof that the playlist has carried over.
Should you switch for a better royalty split?
Compare the total cost, not just the percentage on the pricing card. LUCY’s current plans offer a free option where artists keep 70% of royalties and Pro at £8 per month where they keep 100%. Think about how much your catalog actually earns, how often you release and which management tools you use. If you are still deciding whether LUCY fits, review how its import works before changing your existing distribution.
Bring your catalog across
Move your music without starting from scratch
Bring your existing release codes into LUCY, check the details and deliver the replacement before you remove the old version. Stores make the final track match.
Start free with LUCY