How to credit a producer on Spotify, YouTube and more
How to credit a producer the right way: what Prod. by means, where the credit goes on Spotify, YouTube and DistroKid, and what your beat licence requires.
Here is how to credit a producer: write the credit line from your beat licence, such as 'Prod. by' and the producer's name, in your song title or description. Then add the producer in your distributor's credits, so Spotify and other services show it. Spell the name exactly as the licence does. Most beat licences, including Airtune's, require this credit.
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How to credit a producer comes down to two steps: put the producer’s name on the song where listeners see it, and add it to the song’s official credits through your distributor. The usual written form is “Prod. by” followed by the producer’s name. If you licensed the beat, your licence tells you the exact credit line to use.
In short
- “Prod. by” means “produced by”: it names who made the beat.
- Credit in two places: the title or description, and your distributor’s credits.
- Copy the credit from your licence, spelled exactly as written.
What does “Prod. by” mean?
“Prod. by” is short for “produced by”. It names the music producer who made the beat or produced the song. You see it in song titles such as “Song name (Prod. by Name)”, in YouTube descriptions and on cover art. In Hindi, it means “द्वारा प्रोड्यूस किया गया”, or simply “produced by”.
In hip hop, the producer is usually the person who made the instrumental: the drums, the bass, the melody and the arrangement. That is why rappers credit beat makers with “Prod. by”. In film, “produced by” means something different: a film producer funds and runs the project.
A producer credit means public recognition that this person made the music. It is not the same as a beat tag, which is an audio clip inside a preview. Our guide to beat tags explains the difference. A credit is a written line that stays with the released song.
| Credit | What it means in music | Example of who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Producer (Prod. by) | Made the beat or produced the record | The beat maker |
| Co-producer | Shared the production work | A second beat maker |
| Composer or songwriter | Wrote the music or lyrics | Producer, rapper, singer |
| Executive producer | Oversaw or funded the project | Label head, manager, the artist |
Where should you put a producer credit?
A producer credit should go everywhere your song appears, so listeners and the industry can find the producer. The two places that matter most are the visible title or description and the official credits your distributor sends to streaming services. The first is for fans. The second is for the record.
For YouTube, put “Prod. by” and the name in the video title, or at least in the first lines of the description, and for Instagram Reels and posts, tag the producer’s account and write the credit in the caption. On cover art, a small “Prod. by” line works well.
For Spotify, Apple Music and JioSaavn, the title alone is not enough. Streaming services show credits from the metadata your distributor sends. So add the producer in your distributor’s credits form before release. Our guide to releasing a song on Spotify in India covers the rest of the upload.
- Song title: “Song name (Prod. by Name)”, if your licence asks for it there.
- YouTube: title or the first line of the description.
- Instagram: tag the producer and credit them in the caption.
- Streaming services: the producer credit field in your distributor.
How to add producer credits on Spotify?
You add producer credits on Spotify through your distributor or label, not inside Spotify. Spotify’s song credits page says it shows all credits from the metadata your label or distributor sends. Producers, engineers, songwriters and featured artists can all appear there.
Artists cannot edit credits directly in Spotify. If a credit is missing or wrong, Spotify says to contact your label or distributor. Ask them to resend the track’s metadata with the correct credits. Spotify says updates usually appear within 7 days of receiving them, and some distributors do not support credits yet.
So check your distributor before you choose one, because if it has no credits field, your producer may never show on Spotify, even if the title says “Prod. by”. Our comparison of music distribution in India helps you pick a service. Then add the producer at upload, and check the credits on Spotify after release.
How to credit a producer on DistroKid?
To credit a producer on DistroKid, open your release, go to its Credits page and add a new producer credit. DistroKid’s help pages describe choosing “Producer” from the “Add New” menu, picking a producer type, typing the name and saving the credit. You then submit the update to streaming services.
DistroKid’s help pages add some useful rules. You can add producer credits even after a release is live. When you add credits to a song for the first time, you must first credit a songwriter. For Apple Music, at least one performer credit and a producer credit are required.
Other distributors use their own forms, but the idea is the same. Look for a credits, contributors or liner notes section in the upload form. Enter the producer’s name exactly as it appears in your licence. If the producer is also a co-writer of the music, add them as a songwriter or composer too.
- Open your release in your distributor’s dashboard.
- Find the credits section and add a new producer credit.
- Type the name exactly as your beat licence writes it.
- Add songwriter credits for everyone who wrote the song.
- Submit the update, then check the credits on Spotify.
What does your beat licence say about producer credit?
Your beat licence usually says producer credit is required and tells you the exact wording. Most beat stores make credit a condition of the licence. If you leave it out, you may be breaking the licence, even though you paid for the beat. Read the credit clause before release.
On Airtune, the default licence terms always require producer credit, on leases and exclusives alike. The licensing page says credit is given as written on your licence, in the form “Prod. by [producer name]”. Your licence PDF shows the exact line, so copy it as it is. You can check any licence on the Airtune licensing page.
Loops work differently. Under the Airtune Loop & Sample License, crediting the loop maker is appreciated but not required for normal use. For loops marked attribution-eligible, a credit becomes required once your track passes a verified 1,000,000 streams or comes out on a major label. Our guide to loops and samples covers those rules.
Tip: paste the credit line from your licence into your notes app the day you buy the beat. Then it is ready when you upload.
Worked example. Say you are a rapper in Jaipur and buy an Easy WAV licence on Airtune for ₹999. Your licence PDF shows the producer’s credit line. You title the YouTube video “Song name (Prod. by Name)”, tag the producer on Instagram, and add them as producer in your distributor’s credits. Your licence terms are met, and the producer’s name reaches every service.
How do producers get a producer credit?
Producers get a producer credit by writing the credit rule into every licence and asking artists to follow it. Put your exact producer name in your licence terms, so there is no doubt about spelling. When an artist releases a song on your beat, check the title, the description and the streaming credits.
Indian law backs the credit. Section 57 of the Copyright Act, 1957 gives the author of a work the right to claim authorship. That right holds even after the copyright is assigned. A beat maker is usually the composer of the music, so this right can apply to their work.
If a credit is missing, ask politely first. Most artists simply forgot or did not know how to add credits. Send them your licence line and the steps above. A clear credit helps both sides: the artist meets their licence, and the next artist can find you.
This is general information, not legal advice. For a big deal, ask a music lawyer.
Next steps
- Learn the difference between a tag and a credit in our guide to beat tags.
- Release your song properly with our guide to releasing a song on Spotify in India.
- Find a beat with clear credit terms on Airtune Explore.