> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.ammdistro.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add songwriter, producer and performer credits

> Every track needs at least one songwriter, one producer or engineer and one performer. A track with vocals and lyrics also needs a lyricist.

Every track needs at least one **songwriter**, one **producer or engineer** and one **performer**. A track with vocals and lyrics also needs a **lyricist**. You add credits in the **Credits** part of each track, one row per person with all of their roles. Stores use these credits, and a track without them can't be submitted.

## Open a track's credits

1. Open your release in the builder and go to **Tracks**.
2. Click a track to expand it and scroll to **Credits**.

![The Credits area of a track with the Original/Cover switch, Composition & Lyrics, Production and Performers](https://ammdistro.com/helpdesk/distro-builder-track-credits.webp)

The **Still needed** line under **Composition** lists what's missing, for example "Still needed: 1 songwriter, 1 producer or engineer". When everything is in, it says "Every required credit is in."

## Add a person

1. Click **Add contributor**, or click one of the **Suggested credits**: **Add songwriter**, **Add lyricist**, **Add producer or engineer**, **Add performer** or **Add mixing or mastering engineer**. A suggestion the track still needs is marked.
2. Under **Who was it?**, search for someone already on your account. If they aren't there yet, type their name and click **Add "Name" to this account**. They'll be available on your other tracks too.
3. Click **Pick roles** and choose every role they had. You can search the role list.

Add each person once. If you produced and sang on the track, add yourself once and pick both roles.

To reuse credits, use **Copy from** to bring in another track's credits, or **Copy to** to send this track's credits to other tracks. Then adjust the ones that differ.

## Which roles count

* **Songwriter**: Composer, Lyricist, Songwriter or Composer & Lyricist. An Arranger is credited with the writers but doesn't count on its own.
* **Lyricist**: needed on a track with vocals and lyrics. Lyricist, Songwriter or Composer & Lyricist counts. An instrumental track (**No, it's instrumental** under **Vocals**) needs none.
* **Producer or engineer**: Producer, Engineer, Mixing Engineer and similar roles.
* **Performer**: vocals or instruments, such as Vocals, Lead Vocals, Guitar or Drums.

## Publishing details

For a writer, you can open **Optional publishing details** and add their **Performing rights organisation** (for example ASCAP, BMI or PRS) and their **IPI / CAE number**.

## Writers need their legal name

Songwriters are delivered under their legal first and last name. Stores reject a single name, such as a one-word stage name, for writers. When you add a writer, enter their real first and last name.

If a writer only has one name on file, Preflight warns that it will be delivered as that name twice ("Name Name") so the stores accept it. Add their full legal name to avoid this.

## Covers, interpolations and samples

If the track uses the melody or lyrics of another song, switch **Original** to **Cover** under **Composition** and link the original song so its writers are credited. See [Cover songs, samples and remixes](https://help.ammdistro.com/creating-a-release/cover-songs-samples-and-remixes.md).

## Preflight messages about credits

| Message | What to do |
| - | - |
| "…is missing a songwriter (Composer, Lyricist, Songwriter…)" | Add a composer or songwriter. |
| "…is missing a lyricist (Lyricist, Songwriter or Composer & Lyricist)." | Credit whoever wrote the lyrics, or mark the track instrumental if it has no vocals. |
| "…is missing a production credit (Producer, Engineer, Mixing Engineer…)" | Add a producer or engineer. |
| "…is missing a performer credit (Vocals, Programmer, an instrument…)" | Add a performer. |
| "…has no role assigned" | Pick at least one role for that person. |
| "…says "remix" in its title or version but no one is credited as Remixer" | Credit the remixer. |
| "writer shares total X% (must be 100%)" | This is a warning. Check the writers' shares add up to 100%. |

## Common questions

### Why don't my credits show on Spotify or Apple Music?

Each store decides which credits it displays and when. We deliver the credits you enter. It can take some time for them to appear, and some stores show only some roles.

### Do credits affect who gets paid?

No. Credits say who did what. To share earnings, set up royalty splits on the release's **Royalties** tab.

**Related:** [Create a release, step by step](https://help.ammdistro.com/creating-a-release/create-a-release-step-by-step.md) · [Cover songs, samples and remixes](https://help.ammdistro.com/creating-a-release/cover-songs-samples-and-remixes.md) · [Titles, versions and featured artists](https://help.ammdistro.com/creating-a-release/titles-versions-and-featured-artists.md) · [Check and submit your release](https://help.ammdistro.com/creating-a-release/check-and-submit-your-release.md)


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