When you upload a release to a distributor, you're asked for two fields that many artists ignore or fill in randomly: the label name and the catalog number. They're not technically mandatory, but they have a real impact on how your discography appears across stores.
What the Label Name Is
The label name is the entity that publishes the release. It appears in store metadata and on some DSPs it's shown publicly (for example, Apple Music displays it on the track page).
If you're an independent artist without a real label, you have three options:
Option 1 — Use Your Artist Name
Many independent artists simply use their own name as the "label." For example: "Marco Rossi" as the label for Marco Rossi's releases. It's simple, consistent, and doesn't create confusion.
Option 2 — Create an Imprint / Personal Label Name
An imprint is a publishing name you use to release your music. It doesn't require formal legal registration to use in metadata (though registration is recommended if it becomes a serious brand). Examples:
- "Dark Wave Records"
- "Studio 23 Music"
- "Independent Artist Publishing"
The advantage: it creates a more professional and scalable brand identity if you ever start publishing other artists.
Option 3 — Leave It Blank or Use a Generic Name
Some distributors allow you to leave the field blank or use a default name. This isn't the best option: it's better to have something of your own.
What the Catalog Number Is
The catalog number is an internal identifying code that the label (or you as an independent artist) assigns to each release to keep track of your catalog.
Typical Format
There's no mandatory universal format, but the most widespread convention is:
ABBREVIATION-YEAR-NUMBER
Examples:
DW-2026-001(first release of 2026 for "Dark Wave")MR25-01(first release of 2025 by Marco Rossi)LSND2026001(LightSound, 2026, release 001)
What the Catalog Number Is Actually For
For internal management: if you have multiple releases, catalog numbers let you maintain an organized catalog. You immediately know that "DW-2026-003" is the third release of 2026, without having to search by title in databases.
For sync and licensing: when a music supervisor or creative director formally requests rights to a track, the catalog number identifies it uniquely in contractual documents.
For collecting society systems: some collecting societies (including your collecting society — ASCAP, BMI, PRS, SIAE, etc.) use or accept catalog numbers to identify works in their repertoire.
For professionalism: having consistent catalog numbers is a sign of a methodically managed catalog, which matters when working with partners, media, or booking agencies.
When You Don't Need Them
For an artist just starting out with a few releases and no active licensing or media activity, the catalog number can seem superfluous. And that's true: it's not the most urgent field.
But it's one of those things that, if you start correctly from the beginning, you won't have to retroactively apply to dozens of releases later.
How to Choose Your Label Name
The main criteria:
- Consistency with your brand: the label name should be recognizable and consistent with the artistic project or your identity
- Uniqueness: before using it, verify that a label with the same name doesn't already exist (a search on Spotify, Discogs, and Google is enough)
- Scalability: if you're thinking about publishing other artists in the future, choose a name that makes sense even without your own name in it
- Simplicity: a short, memorable name is always better than something long and complicated
Related Fields: C-Line and P-Line
The label name is directly connected to the P-Line and C-Line of the release:
- P-Line: "℗ 2026 [Label Name or Artist Name]"
- C-Line: "© 2026 [Label Name or Artist Name]"
Use the same name consistently in all three instances for a clean and professional catalog.