Digital is where almost every listener finds you, and for most artists it’s not really a choice — it’s the baseline. But “release it digitally” glosses over a real question that comes up at the end of every project: what file are you actually handing over, and does it matter which one?

This is one piece of a bigger picture — see the full breakdown of release formats here.

What “Deliverable” Actually Means

Recording studios, post houses, and mastering facilities use the word “deliverable” to describe whatever gets handed to the client at the end of a project. For a digital release, that’s almost always a WAV file, sometimes alongside an MP3. Standard spec is 44.1kHz / 16-bit — that’s the format nearly every streaming platform expects, and it’s what your file will get converted to no matter what you hand over.

Standard vs. High-Resolution Files

Some services now accept “high-res” files — typically 48kHz–96kHz / 24-bit. These capture more detail than a standard file, at least in theory. But there’s a catch worth knowing before you pay extra for a hi-res master:

• Most streaming platforms will transcode a high-res file down to their own standard anyway, so you’re not always hearing the extra resolution when you stream it back.
• Most listeners are streaming at standard or even compressed quality unless they’ve specifically paid for a lossless tier, like Tidal HiFi.
• The benefit is real in theory — more captured detail — but whether it’s audible to your average listener, streaming through phone speakers or earbuds, is genuinely debatable.

“Streaming services dumb down your audio when people stream it, unless they’ve set their service to high quality or pay for lossless.”

So should you ask for a high-res master? If you have the budget and want the extra headroom for future use — a vinyl pressing down the line, a placement that needs a specific spec — it’s a reasonable thing to request. If you’re purely optimizing for how your music sounds on Spotify today, a standard WAV does the job.

Where You Release Matters as Much as What

The major platforms — Spotify, Apple Music — are built around subscriptions, not individual sales. What drives a subscription isn’t any single song; it’s exclusives, back catalog access, and algorithms built to keep people listening. That changes how you should think about a release: it’s one entry in an ongoing relationship with a platform, not a standalone transaction.

Platforms like Bandcamp work differently — “pay what you want” or a set price, direct support from fans who already know your music. If you’re trying to build real revenue from a release rather than just streams, that’s often a better fit than chasing algorithmic reach.

Either way, the file only gets you in the door. The marketing — socials, an email list, staying visible between releases — is what actually grows an audience once you’re there.

Not sure what to ask your mastering engineer for, or which platforms make sense for your release?