Overview
DDEX (Digital Data Exchange) is the industry standard for exchanging music metadata between parties in the music industry. Proper DDEX metadata is essential for delivering your products to Digital Service Providers (DSPs). This guide covers how to:- Update DDEX metadata for your assets
- Validate asset DDEX readiness
- Prepare assets for product delivery
- Troubleshoot common DDEX issues
Quick Start
1
Update Asset DDEX Metadata
Add or update DDEX-compliant metadata for your audio asset.
- cURL
- Node.js
- Python
2
Check Asset DDEX Readiness
Validate that your asset has all required DDEX metadata before delivery.
- cURL
- Node.js
- Python
A readiness score of 100% is required for delivery. Scores below 100% indicate missing or invalid fields.
3
Review and Fix Issues
Address any missing or invalid fields identified in the readiness check.Update your asset metadata to address each issue, then re-check readiness.
4
Integrate with Product Delivery
Once your asset is DDEX ready, you can include it in product deliveries.See the Product Delivery Guide for complete delivery workflows.
DDEX Metadata Structure
Resource Reference
Unique identifier for the audio resource within your catalog.Basic Metadata
Core information about the recording.PT3M45S = 3 minutes 45 seconds)
Parental Warning Types:
NotExplicit- Clean contentExplicit- Contains explicit contentUnknown- Warning status unknown
en, es, fr, de, ja)
Technical Resource Details
Audio file specifications required for delivery.- WAV (recommended)
- FLAC
- AIFF
Sound Recording Details
Metadata specific to the sound recording.Readiness Validation
Readiness Score Calculation
The readiness score is calculated based on:- Required fields (60%): ISRC, duration, title, artist, format, sample rate
- Recommended fields (30%): Genre, language, P-line, parental warning
- Technical quality (10%): Valid sample rate/bit depth, proper format
Common Validation Issues
Missing ISRC Code
Missing ISRC Code
Error:
soundRecordingDetails.isrc is requiredCause: ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is mandatory for DSP delivery.Solution: Generate or obtain an ISRC code for your recording:- Node.js
- Python
Invalid Duration Format
Invalid Duration Format
Error:
ddexMetadata.duration must be in ISO 8601 formatCause: Duration must be specified in ISO 8601 format (e.g., PT3M45S).Solution: Convert your duration to ISO 8601 format:- Node.js
- Python
Invalid Sample Rate
Invalid Sample Rate
Error: Then update your metadata:
technicalResourceDetails.sampleRate must be 44100, 48000, or 96000Cause: DSPs require specific sample rates for audio delivery.Solution: Re-encode your audio file at an accepted sample rate (44.1 kHz recommended):Missing P-Line Information
Missing P-Line Information
Error:
soundRecordingDetails.pLine is recommendedCause: P-Line (phonographic copyright) is recommended for proper rights attribution.Solution: Add P-Line information:P-Line year should be the year of first publication, not the current year.
Unrecognized Genre
Unrecognized Genre
Warning:
Genre 'Unknown' may not be recognized by all DSPsCause: Using non-standard or generic genre names.Solution: Use standard DDEX genre classifications:Primary Genres:- Alternative
- Blues
- Children’s Music
- Classical
- Comedy
- Country
- Dance
- Electronic
- Folk
- Hip-Hop/Rap
- Jazz
- Latin
- Pop
- R&B/Soul
- Reggae
- Rock
- Soundtrack
- World
Missing Musical Work Reference
Missing Musical Work Reference
Warning:
musicalWorkReference is recommended for publishing metadataCause: No link between the sound recording and the underlying musical work.Solution: Add musical work reference if you have publishing information:Best Practices
Validate Early
Check DDEX readiness before creating products to catch issues early in your workflow.
Use High-Quality Audio
Upload lossless formats (WAV, FLAC) at 44.1 kHz or higher for best quality across all DSPs.
Maintain Metadata Consistency
Keep asset metadata synchronized with your product metadata for smooth delivery.
Monitor Readiness Scores
Aim for 100% readiness scores to ensure compatibility with all delivery providers.
Complete Integration Example
- Node.js
- Python
Delivery Workflow Integration
Once your assets are DDEX ready:- Create a product with your DDEX-ready assets
- Validate the product for delivery
- Deliver to DSPs using the Product Delivery API
Related Resources
Product Delivery
Learn how to deliver products to DSPs
Asset API Reference
Complete API documentation for asset endpoints
DDEX Standards
Official DDEX documentation and standards
ISRC Registration
Register for ISRC codes (US)