FREE RESOURCE

Music Catalog Audit Checklist

Most artists leave $100,000-$1,000,000+ on the table when selling their catalog because of incomplete documentation, missing registrations, and metadata errors.

Use this comprehensive checklist to maximize your catalog's value before seeking financing or selling. Complete it yourself or submit it to our team for a free expert review.

Audit system for document verification and compliance, showing checklist review, quality assurance, file inspection, internal control, and data validation in business processes.

50+ Action Items

Comprehensive checklist covering metadata, registrations, and documentation

Increase Your Value

Each completed item can add thousands to your catalog's valuation

Expert Review Available

Submit your completed checklist for free feedback from our team

SAVE 30-60 DAYS

Due Diligence Process & Checklist

Every buyer conducts thorough due diligence before closing. Having these documents organized and ready saves 30-60 days in the transaction timeline and prevents deal delays.

1

3 Years of Royalty Statements

You can provide 36 months of revenue statements from your distributor, PRO, label, or publisher (PDF and CSV files preferred)

Speeds up due diligence: Pre-organized statements allow buyers to verify income immediately instead of waiting 2-4 weeks for you to gather documents
2

Contracts on File

You have contracts from your distributor, publisher, or label that prove your ownership and revenue share

Speeds up due diligence: Having signed agreements ready eliminates weeks of back-and-forth requesting documentation from third parties
3

Consistent Revenue History (No Major Drops)

Your catalog shows stable or growing income with no significant revenue declines year-over-year

Speeds up due diligence: Stable revenue requires minimal explanation or analysis, preventing extended valuation reviews that delay closing
4

Verified Ownership of Revenue Streams or Rights

You can prove ownership or control of the master recordings, publishing rights, or income streams you're selling

Speeds up due diligence: Clear ownership documentation prevents legal review delays and eliminates the risk of deal cancellation
5

No Active Disputes

Your catalog is free from copyright claims, lawsuits, or ownership disputes

Speeds up due diligence: Clean title allows immediate closing without waiting for legal disputes to be resolved (which can take months or years)
6

Access to Spotify for Artists + Platform Login Details

You can grant read-only access to Spotify for Artists and provide login details to your label, distributor, and publisher dashboards

Speeds up due diligence: Direct dashboard access allows instant verification instead of waiting weeks for third-party data exports

Prepare Early, Close Faster

Having these documents organized before you start negotiations can save 30-60 days in your deal timeline. We help you gather and organize everything.

Seller Preparation Checklist

Get Ready for Buyers & Save Time

Why This Increases Your Offers

Missing registrations, incomplete metadata, and unclaimed royalties directly reduce your catalog's value. Buyers discount offers when they find revenue leaks or compliance issues.

Fixing these errors before listing your catalog can increase your offer by 10-30% by demonstrating maximum revenue potential and clean assets.

Your Progress

0%

0 of 0 items completed

1. Ownership & Legal Documentation

Verify you have clean ownership and all legal paperwork in order

2. PRO & Collection Society Registrations

Ensure all songs are registered to collect maximum royalties worldwide

3. Metadata & Track Information

Complete and accurate metadata ensures you get paid properly

4. Revenue Tracking & Statements

Organized financial records make due diligence faster and increase buyer confidence

5. Distribution & Platform Presence

Ensure maximum reach and discoverability across all major platforms

6. Master Files & Quality Control

High-quality master files are essential for licensing and long-term value

7. Sync Licensing & Opportunities

Sync-ready catalogs command higher valuations

8. Financial & Tax Readiness

Clean financials speed up transactions and increase buyer confidence

A lively gathering of professionals in a bright office as they shake hands, share smiles, and discuss innovative strategies, fostering collaboration and connection among team members.
WHITE-GLOVE SERVICE

We Can Help With All Of This

Overwhelmed by the checklist? You don't have to do it alone.

Our team specializes in preparing catalogs for sale. We handle everything from missing registrations to metadata cleanup—so you can focus on getting the best offer possible.

Ownership Documentation

We'll help you gather split sheets, producer agreements, featured artist clearances, and sample documentation.

PRO & Society Registrations

We'll register your catalog with ASCAP/BMI/SESAC, SoundExchange, MLC, and neighboring rights societies worldwide.

Metadata Cleanup

We'll audit and correct ISRC codes, ISWC codes, UPC barcodes, songwriter splits, and platform credits.

Revenue Tracking & Statements

We'll organize your distributor statements, PRO reports, and income sources into a clear financial picture for buyers.

Platform Optimization

We'll verify your catalog is live on all major DSPs, fix distribution issues, and optimize for algorithmic playlists.

Legal & Financial Review

We'll review contracts, resolve disputes, verify tax compliance, and prepare financial projections for buyers.

How Our Catalog Prep Service Works

  • 1. Free Consultation: We review your checklist and identify gaps
  • 2. Custom Quote: We scope the work needed and provide transparent pricing
  • 3. White-Glove Execution: Our team handles registrations, filings, and documentation
  • 4. Sale-Ready Catalog: We deliver a clean, organized catalog ready for buyer due diligence
10-30%

Average Valuation Increase

Artists who complete the full checklist with our help typically see their catalog valued $50K-$500K+ higher than incomplete submissions.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

All information handled with strict confidentiality and NDA protection

Trusted by 100+ artists with catalogs valued at $1M-$25M+

Music Catalog Audit Checklist

The complete pre-sale checklist used by institutional buyers to maximize catalog value. Most artists leave $50K-$250K on the table by skipping these steps.

Increase Your Value

Identify missing revenue streams

Avoid Costly Mistakes

Fix issues before buyers discover them

Close Deals Faster

Be transaction-ready from day one

Complete the checklist below and download your results

Why This Checklist Matters

When institutional buyers audit music catalogs, they're looking for clean documentation, verified revenue, and proper registrations. Missing or incorrect information can:

  • Reduce your valuation by 20-40% if buyers discover errors
  • Delay closing by 30-90 days while you fix documentation
  • Kill deals entirely if major revenue streams are unverified

Complete this audit before reaching out to buyers. It takes 2-4 hours but can add $50K-$250K to your catalog's value.

Section 1: Basic Documentation

Section 2: PRO & Publishing Registrations

Section 3: Revenue Verification

Section 4: Metadata & Analytics

Section 5: Legal & Financial

0/23
Items Completed
Potential Catalog Value Increase
+0%

Each completed item adds 1% to your catalog's market value (23% max)

Ready to See Your Results?

Generate your personalized report instantly - see what you've completed, what's missing, and get expert recommendations

View your results instantly - no email required

Checklist Complete? Get Your Free Expert Review

Submit your completed checklist to our team and we'll review your catalog readiness for free. We'll identify gaps and provide specific recommendations to maximize your valuation.

Your information is confidential. We'll never share your data with third parties.