Tips for artists · 4 min read

After the session: what to do with your files and your song

Backups, paperwork and the dull jobs that protect your music.

You’ve left the studio with a finished song. It’s tempting to just post it and move on. A few minutes now will save you a lot of trouble later.

Back it up in more than one place

Put your files in at least two places, and keep one somewhere that isn’t in your house. That might be a hard drive and a cloud folder. One copy on a phone isn’t a backup, it’s a risk.

Name things properly

Use the same pattern every time, for example Artist - Song title - Version - Date. Keep the final mix, the master and any instrumental versions in the same folder, and don’t overwrite old versions.

Keep the paperwork

Save your beat licence, your session receipt and any agreement with features or producers. If there’s ever a dispute, you’ll want them in one place.

Write down the splits

Before the song is released, agree who owns what share of the songwriting and who owns the recording, and write it down. It’s a simple one-page document with everyone’s name and their percentage. It’s a much easier conversation before a song does well than after.

Register it

In the UK, if you wrote the music, you can join PRS for Music to collect money when it’s performed or played in public. PPL is for the recording itself. Register the song with each one once it has a release date. Your distributor will give you the ISRC code you need.

Ask for the instrumental and the acapella

Having these gives you options later: for live shows, for videos, for a remix, or for a radio edit. It’s easiest to ask for them while the session is fresh.

Take a breath before you share

Listen to the master on a few different speakers before you tell the world. Wait a day, if you can. A fresh listen is often when you spot the last small thing.

Plan the next one

Make a note of what worked, and what you’d do differently. The next session is always better for it.