Catalogue deals are moving faster than ever. The Red Hot Chili Peppers sold their masters for over £220 million. Seeker Music closed a $267 million securitisation covering 19,000 copyrights. Private equity firms are treating music rights like bonds.
Whether you are preparing for a sale, seeking investment, switching distributors or simply want to know exactly what you own, a thorough catalogue audit is the starting point. This guide walks through every area you need to check.
1. Contracts: Know Your Deal Terms
Start with the paperwork. Every release in your catalogue exists within a contractual framework, and every contract contains terms that directly affect your rights position, revenue and obligations.
Your contract audit should answer these questions:
- Do you have a signed agreement for every release in your catalogue?
- Are all rights periods and expiry dates documented and current?
- Do you know which territories you hold rights in for each release?
- Are revenue splits accurately recorded for every party?
- Have any rights reverted that you have not acted on?
- Are there any outstanding advances or recoupment obligations?
- Do you have digital copies of every signed agreement stored securely?
If any of these answers are unclear, that is the first issue to resolve. Music contract management software like rightsHUB allows you to store, track and manage every deal in a structured, searchable format. Contracts link directly to your catalogue, so your rights position is always accurate.
2. Rights: Confirm Who Owns What, Where
Rights ownership is the core of any catalogue valuation. A buyer, investor or auditor needs to see a clear, verifiable chain of ownership for every asset.
Check the following:
- Is the ownership position documented for every track and composition?
- Are territorial rights mapped correctly?
- Are master and publishing rights distinguished and separately documented?
- Do you have clear documentation for any rights that have been acquired, transferred or licensed?
- Are neighbouring rights (performer and producer rights) accounted for?
- Can you produce a rights summary for any release within minutes, not days?
rightsHUB's rights management module gives you a single view of every rights position across your catalogue. Territories, splits, rights types and IP chains, all documented and linked to the underlying contracts.
3. Metadata: Check Completeness and Accuracy
Metadata quality directly affects revenue. Incorrect credits mean uncollected payments. Missing identifiers mean your music cannot be matched by the systems that generate income. Poor formatting means delivery rejections.
Your metadata audit should cover:
- Does every recording have a unique, correctly assigned ISRC?
- Does every composition have an ISWC?
- Are all contributor credits complete: writers, composers, performers, producers?
- Do contributors have verified IPI/CAE numbers and ISNIs?
- Is artist name formatting consistent across your entire catalogue?
- Are genre and subgenre tags accurate and current?
- Does your artwork meet minimum resolution requirements (3000x3000)?
- Are explicit content flags set where applicable?
This is where DataDoktor earns its keep. One scan of your entire catalogue flags every issue: missing ISRCs, incomplete credits, undersized artwork, inconsistent formatting. Fix it once, deliver everywhere with confidence.
For a deeper look at what distributors and platforms expect, read our guide to music metadata requirements in 2026.
4. Assets: Account for Every File
Beyond metadata, your catalogue contains physical and digital assets that need to be organised and accessible.
Check that you have:
- High-quality audio masters for every release (WAV, minimum 16-bit/44.1kHz)
- Current, high-resolution artwork for every release
- Music videos and promotional content stored and tagged
- Stems and alternate versions where applicable
- Promotional photos, biographies and press materials
- All assets stored in a centralised, backed-up system, not scattered across hard drives and email threads
rightsHUB's asset management platform centralises everything. Audio, artwork, documents and promotional materials, all stored securely, tagged to the correct release and accessible to your team.
5. Delivery & Registration: Verify Your Connections
Your catalogue is only generating revenue if it is correctly delivered and registered with the right partners. Check the following:
- Is your catalogue delivered to all relevant distributors?
- Are your works registered with the correct collection societies (PRS, ASCAP, BMI, GEMA, etc.)?
- Is your catalogue registered with music recognition technology providers?
- Are your DDEX feeds active, compliant and error-free?
- Have you checked for unmatched or unclaimed works at your collection societies?
rightsHUB connects to over 150 endpoints: distributors, CMOs, sync agents, music recognition services and more. One point of entry. Every exit covered. No duplication, no spreadsheets, no chasing.
6. AI Compliance: The New Requirement
As of 2026, AI involvement in music creation must be declared at the point of delivery. If any tracks in your catalogue used AI in vocals, lyrics or production, this needs to be documented in your metadata.
Review your catalogue for any AI-assisted content and ensure the appropriate disclosure fields are populated. EU AI Act enforcement begins in August 2026, and major platforms are already displaying AI credits.
When Should You Audit Your Catalogue?
A full audit is essential before:
- Any catalogue sale, acquisition or valuation conversation
- Switching distributors or adding new distribution partners
- Seeking investment or entering a securitisation arrangement
- Annual business reviews and financial reporting
- Onboarding to a new rights management platform
But the best practice is continuous. Labels and publishers who maintain their catalogue data as a living, accurate system never need to scramble before a deal lands on the table.
The Bottom Line
The due diligence coming into catalogue deals is forensic. Clean, structured data is not preparation for a future sale. It is table stakes for operating professionally today.
rightsHUB gives labels and publishers one platform to manage contracts, rights, metadata and assets in a single connected system. Every piece of your catalogue, documented, verified and ready for whatever comes next.
Ready to audit your catalogue? Book a demo and see how rightsHUB can help.
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