A song can appear across different records, platforms, and documents. When the information attached to that work is inconsistent, matching those records can become difficult.
That is why metadata matters.
Start by checking the basic information attached to your work:
Title
Make sure the title is recorded consistently, including relevant title variants.
Songwriter Name Spelling
Check that contributor names are written consistently across records.
Contributor Roles
Make sure each contributor is assigned the appropriate role.
Ownership Split
Confirm that the agreed ownership shares are recorded correctly.
Version
Distinguish the relevant version of the work where needed.
Work Identifier
Include the work identifier when one has already been assigned.
Supporting Source
Connect the metadata to the relevant supporting documentation or source.
A small mismatch can make two records that refer to the same work harder to match.
The table below illustrates how key metadata fields can be compared across two records and how inconsistencies may require further checking before the records can be confidently matched.
Not every difference means the records represent different works.
For example, After The Rain and After the Rain could refer to the same work despite the capitalization difference. But a 50/50 ownership split versus 60/40 is a more substantive discrepancy and should be checked against the relevant documentation.
The same applies to the work identifier. If two records carry different identifiers, they should not simply be assumed to represent the same work without further verification.
Metadata does not guarantee discovery or commercial outcomes. Its role here is simpler: to keep information about your work clear, consistent, and supported by the right documentation.
Keeping your title, contributor information, ownership, version, identifiers, and supporting sources consistent can help make records easier to review and match.
When reviewing your catalogue, use dummy data where examples are needed and avoid displaying private catalogue information.
Prepare the relevant Documentation and Work Metadata, then open the Songwriter Overview to determine your next service follow-up.
Click the link below
https://massivemusic.co.id/songwriter/overview?utm_source=website_blog&utm_medium=owned_content&utm_campaign=september_ceria_2026&utm_content=mm-sep-127
