A duplicate release occurs when the same recording appears as more than one page or entry on a platform. This splits your stream count, comments, and playlist placements across multiple pages, which negatively affects both your statistics and algorithmic recommendations.
Why Do Duplicate Releases Happen?
- The same song being submitted through more than one distributor
- Uploading a new version of a track without removing the previous release
- Minor metadata differences (e.g. an extra space in the title) causing the system to treat it as a separate entry
- A new ISRC being generated instead of reusing the existing one
Consequences of Duplicate Releases
Platform algorithms give lower priority in recommendations to a song that appears to have a lower stream count. Listeners can also get confused about which version to play. Royalty calculations get split across entries as well, which can cause revenue loss.
What Happens When a Duplicate Is Detected?
- A decision is made on which entry stays as the "primary" one (usually the one with the highest stream count)
- A merge request is submitted to the platform for the other entry(ies)
- After platform approval, statistics are combined into a single page (this isn't guaranteed on every platform)
How to Prevent It
Never release the same song through more than one distributor at the same time. If you want to move a release to a different platform, take down the existing release first, allow a sufficient waiting period, and then start the new distribution.
Checks on SOOLY Music
SOOLY Music automatically checks new uploads for similarity against existing catalog entries and flags any potential duplicate risk. If you're already experiencing a duplicate issue, the support team manages the platform merge process on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can two different Spotify pages be merged? Yes, Spotify accepts merge requests in some cases, though the process can take a few weeks.