A catalog audit is the process of systematically reviewing your releases for metadata gaps, registration errors, and uncollected royalties. Most artists who commission one find something they were missing.
What a catalog audit is
A music catalog audit is a systematic review of your entire body of released work — or a defined portion of it — against several data sources to identify discrepancies, gaps, and errors that may be causing royalties to go uncollected. Unlike a casual review of your streaming dashboard, a proper audit cross-references multiple databases: your distributor's records, your PRO's works registry, your neighbouring rights society's recordings database, and the metadata visible on streaming platforms. Discrepancies between these sources are where lost income is typically found.
What a catalog audit looks for
A thorough catalog audit checks the following for each release in your catalog:
- ISRC codes — correctly formatted, present on all tracks, registered with PPL and your PRO
- ISWC codes — assigned to each composition, correctly linked to the corresponding recordings
- Works registrations — all compositions registered with PRS/MCPS, with correct splits, titles, and co-writer details
- Metadata consistency — artist name, title, and release date are identical across distributor, DSPs, and society registrations
- Territory coverage — works registered for international collection, not just UK domestic
- Historical distributions — past royalty statements reviewed for anomalies or unexpected gaps
What a catalog audit typically uncovers
In our experience, the most consistent findings across catalog audits are: compositions registered with PRS but without ISWC codes assigned; recordings with ISRCs that were never registered with PPL; works with co-writer splits that were agreed informally but never formally registered, causing PRS to hold the royalty in suspense; and international streaming income that has been generating royalties but failing to match at the overseas PRO level. At least one of these is present in the majority of independent artist catalogs we review.
When to commission a catalog audit
A catalog audit is most valuable in three situations. First, when you are onboarding with a new publishing administrator or management team and want a baseline understanding of your catalog's health. Second, when you notice that royalty distributions seem lower than expected relative to your streaming and broadcast activity. Third, when you are considering selling or licensing your catalog, and need accurate data about the scope and value of what you own.
The difference between an audit and ongoing administration
An audit is a point-in-time assessment. It identifies the current state of your catalog and surfaces issues that exist at the moment the audit is conducted. Ongoing administration is the continuous process of maintaining and updating registrations, monitoring distributions, and resolving new issues as they arise. An audit is often the starting point for establishing ongoing administration — it tells you what needs to be fixed, and ongoing administration ensures it stays fixed.
How long a catalog audit takes
For a small catalog of ten to twenty releases, a thorough audit can typically be completed within two to four weeks. Larger catalogs with complex co-writer arrangements, back-catalog releases, or sync placements may take longer. The duration also depends on how quickly all relevant parties — distributors, collection societies — respond to data requests. The key is thoroughness over speed: a rushed audit that misses issues is less useful than a careful one that takes an extra week.
Who conducts catalog audits
Catalog audits can be self-conducted by an artist who is familiar with the relevant databases and registration systems. For most independent artists, the combination of technical knowledge required and the volume of cross-referencing involved makes professional support worthwhile. A publishing administrator or metadata administration service will have established relationships with the relevant societies and distributor contacts, making the data-gathering phase faster and more complete.
Our free Catalog Assessment is the starting point for understanding your catalog's health. It will surface the most significant issues in your current setup and give you a clear picture of what a full audit would involve.