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Label Mixes on Spotify & Apple Music

A step by step guide to releasing DJ Mixes during Phase 1

Jason Wohlstadter avatar
Written by Jason Wohlstadter
Updated over a week ago

Important things to know during Phase 1 -- 

  • You can only play tracks from labels you manage at Proton. The tracks have be to scheduled for a release date, but you can feature upcoming tracks like pre-orders.

  • You won't upload the full mix as one giant file, like you do on SoundCloud. Instead, you'll slice the mix into individual tracks like the old CD burning days. More details in the Step by Step guide below!

  • DJ Mixes only ship to Spotify and Apple (Apple Music & iTunes). No version of the release goes to the DJ shops like Beatport. 

  • If you use Proton to recoup expenses for your releases, DJ Mixes will ONLY help you recoup Artist Expenses and Track Expenses (like Mastering or Remix Fees) Release Expenses from the original unmixed release (like Cover Art) will not recoup for any mixes created during Phase 1.

  • To start creating a mix release inside Proton, click the new "Create Mix" button instead of the usual "Create Release" button. Then just follow the steps on the site! We've also written a step by step guide below, to help you get started.

Step by Step Guide

Step 1 - The DJ

  • The DJ will earn 10% in royalties coming from Proton's own share.

  • Make the mix yourself or invite another artist to make the mix.

  • The more followers the DJ has on Spotify, the more listeners the mix can reach. Invite artists & DJs to make a mix that have high followers/plays on Spotify.

Step 2 - The Tracks

  • The DJ can play any track on any label(s) you manage, as long as it's scheduled with a release date. This means you can play tracks on pre-order!

  • If you manage multiple labels on Proton, then the mixes you upload can feature tracks from any/all labels you manage. 

Step 3 - The Mix

  • The mix can be any length. The longer the mix, the greater your earnings might be - since you earn money for every track played in the mix! Encourage DJs to make their mix as long as they'd like.

  • The DJ can use any software/method they'd like to mix their tracks

Step 4 - The Slices

  • To release a DJ Mix requires slicing up the mix for every track, similar to the old days of burning DJ Mixes on CD. 

  • The DJ should slice the mix themselves, cutting each track so it starts at a nice location for listeners that drop in or skip around.

  • You'll be uploading WAV files of each track, NOT MP3s! Encourage the DJs to make their mix with high resolution audio when possible.

  • Here's a step-by-step guide to slice your mix if you need help.

Step 5 - Prepare Your Release

  • Inside Proton, create your mix by selecting the "Create Mix" button instead of the usual "Create Release" button. Then just follow each step!

  • You'll need to give your mix a title, catalog number, and cover art. 

IMPORTANT - Step 6 - Double Check Your Uploads!

  • To make sure the mix has been sliced and uploaded correctly, download the release and play it in a gapless audio player.

  • After all your uploads have finished encoding, click "Download Release" under the tracklist. To save time, we recommend downloading the MP3s (not WAVs).

  • Use a gapless audio player like Vox to double check the tracks are sliced and uploaded correctly.

Step 7 - Finalize Your Release

  • After you've double checked your upload, schedule a release date!

  • The mix will only go to Spotify & Apple (Apple Music & iTunes), NOT to DJ shops Beatport.

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