Music distribution FAQ: free releases, royalties and codes
Elysium Music is an independent label and free music distribution service. We release singles, EPs and albums to 150+ platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Yandex Music and VK Music: 0₽ on the Free plan, review and delivery in 24–48 hours, 80% of royalties to the artist. Below are answers to the questions artists ask most often.
Updated: October 4, 2026
Pricing and royalties
The money side: what a release costs, what share the artist keeps and how payouts work.
Is distribution with Elysium Music really free?
Yes. The Free plan costs 0₽ forever: your single, EP or album goes out to 150+ platforms, UPC and ISRC codes are included, and the artist receives 80% of royalties. The only condition is that the release passes a quality review: mixing, mastering and 3000×3000 cover art.
What happens if my track doesn't pass the quality review?
You can still release it on a paid plan with no selection: 300₽ for a single, 600₽ for an album or EP. Platforms, timing, UPC/ISRC and the 80% royalty share stay the same as on the Free plan, with no hidden fees.
What share of royalties does the artist get?
The artist receives 80% of net royalties from all platforms. The remaining 20% is the label's share, which is what keeps distribution free: no yearly subscription and no per-release fee on the Free plan.
How do I withdraw royalties, and what is the minimum?
The minimum payout is 2500₽. You request a payout in the dashboard at dashboard.elysiummusic.org, where your contract and payout history are also stored. If you have questions about payouts, contact support on Telegram at t.me/elysiummusichq.
Where can I see my streaming stats?
In the dashboard: it has streaming reports, listener geography and demographics, plus quarterly royalty reports. You sign in with Telegram in about 1 minute, no separate registration needed.
Can I release an EP or album for free, not just a single?
Yes. The Free plan covers every format: singles, EPs and albums go out for 0₽ to 150+ platforms with free UPC and ISRC codes. If a release doesn't pass the quality review, a single without selection costs 300₽ and an album or EP costs 600₽.
Is there a subscription or any hidden fees?
No. On the Free plan you pay nothing for the release, for a subscription or for UPC and ISRC codes. On the paid plans you pay only a fixed amount: 300₽ per single or 600₽ per album, with no hidden fees.
Timing and review
How fast a track reaches the platforms and what affects the quality review.
How long does a release take?
Setting up a release in the dashboard takes about 5 minutes; review and delivery to platforms takes 24–48 hours. The track goes live at 00:00 Moscow time on the date you choose during setup.
Can I choose the release date?
Yes, you set the release date yourself. The track goes live at 00:00 Moscow time on that day. To leave room for review (24–48 hours) and for playlist pitching, pick a date with some time to spare.
Why might a release fail the review?
For the Free plan we check the quality of the mix and master, the 3000×3000 cover and the accuracy of the metadata. The most common issues are cover art in the wrong size, typos in the title or artist name, and unpolished sound. Fix the notes and resubmit, or choose a paid plan.
Why do releases go live at midnight Moscow time?
The release time is fixed: 00:00 Moscow time on the chosen date. If you live in a different time zone, the track appears at the matching local time. Keep this in mind when you plan social media announcements.
How do I prepare so my release passes review the first time?
Before submitting, check four things: audio in WAV or FLAC after mixing and mastering, a square 3000×3000 cover, consistent spelling of the artist name, and no typos in titles. Setup in the dashboard takes about 5 minutes, review takes 24–48 hours.
Files and metadata
The files and details you need to set up a release in 5 minutes.
What audio format should I upload?
Upload audio in WAV or FLAC, the lossless formats streaming platforms accept. MP3 is not suitable for a release. Before uploading, make sure the track is mixed and mastered, with no clipped intros or endings.
What are the cover art requirements?
The cover must be square, 3000×3000 pixels. This is one of the quality review conditions on the Free plan. Only use images you have the rights to, and don't put links or contact details on the cover.
What information do I need to set up a release?
Release title, artist name, genre, release date, a 3000×3000 cover and WAV or FLAC audio files. Spell the artist name the same way on every release so platforms can link your tracks to one artist profile.
What if there's a mistake in my release details?
Contact support on Telegram at t.me/elysiummusichq as early as possible, ideally before the release goes live at 00:00 Moscow time. Include the release title and exactly what needs fixing: artist name, track title, genre or cover.
Rights and codes
Release and track codes, copyright and responsibility for your material.
Do I have to pay for UPC and ISRC codes?
No, UPC and ISRC codes are free on every plan. A UPC identifies the whole release (single, EP or album), an ISRC identifies each individual track. Platforms use these codes to count streams and calculate royalties.
Who owns the rights to the music?
The rights stay with the artist. Elysium Music releases and distributes your music to the platforms, while the contract and payouts are handled in the dashboard. Only upload music you have the rights to, including beats and samples.
Can I release tracks with someone else's beats or samples?
Only if you have the right to use them. The rights to the release stay with the artist, and so does the responsibility for making sure everything in the track (beat, samples, vocals) is used legally. If you licensed a beat, keep the license in case a platform asks.
What do UPC and ISRC codes mean for an artist in practice?
They are identifiers that platforms and the distributor use to match streams to your release. One UPC is assigned to the whole single, EP or album, and each track gets its own ISRC. At Elysium Music both codes are issued for free when you set up a release.
Platforms and promotion
Where your music goes and how we help with promotion.
Which platforms will my track be on?
Your release goes out simultaneously to 150+ platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Yandex Music, VK Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, TikTok, Zvuk and Shazam. Platform guides are available in Russian for Yandex Music, VK Music and Spotify.
Do you help with getting into playlists?
Yes, we pitch releases to editorial playlists on Spotify and Yandex Music. Playlist placement is decided by the platforms' editors, so no distributor can guarantee it, but pitching noticeably improves your chances.
Where can I hear the label's releases?
The Elysium Music catalog is public on Yandex Music: music.yandex.ru/label/5611195. You can listen there to the releases that have already come out through the label.
Dashboard, comparison and contacts
Sign-in, the dashboard, how we differ from other services, and how to reach us.
Do I need to register on the website?
No. You sign in to the dashboard at dashboard.elysiummusic.org with Telegram in about 1 minute, with no separate registration, password or email confirmation.
How is Elysium different from subscription-based aggregators?
Elysium costs 0₽ instead of a subscription and offers a Russian-language dashboard, pitching to Spotify and Yandex Music playlists, free UPC/ISRC codes and support on Telegram. The rights stay with the artist, and the label earns only from its 20% royalty share. See the detailed distributor comparison or estimate your income with the royalty calculator (both in Russian).
How do I contact Elysium Music?
Email elysiummusic@yandex.ru or message us on Telegram at t.me/elysiummusichq; there is also the bot @elysiummusicbot and the VK community vk.com/elysiummusic. Telegram is the fastest way to get a reply.
Is the dashboard in Russian?
Yes. The dashboard at dashboard.elysiummusic.org is fully in Russian: you set up releases there, keep your contract, view streaming reports, listener geography and demographics, quarterly reports, and withdraw royalties from 2500₽.
Ready to release your track for free?
Setup takes about 5 minutes, review takes 24–48 hours.
Go to the dashboard →Plans, requirements and a step-by-step guide are in our free music distribution guide.