DISCO Catalogs overview
In this article, you'll learn how to:
- Prepare your content to build a Catalog
- Navigate the Content Management System (CMS)
- Add content
- Design the Catalog
- Go live and publish
Pre-build checklist
Prior to building a Catalog, you will upload files into DISCO (if you haven't already) and add clean metadata. It is also worth preparing art assets in advance to complement your design.
This checklist covers all pre-build recommendations. Click the links in the list to learn more about each subject.
- Upload files in the Playlist Creator
- Save Playlists as Albums in the Save Playlist Settings
- Auto-tag all tracks by dragging playlists, albums or tracks into the Auto-tagging zone
- Edit track metadata, artwork, lyrics
- Fill out the Comments metadata section with your contact info and master/publishing splits you control
- Curate a few themed playlists based on genre, style, mood, vibe etc.
- Create a Channel to keep all Catalog assets organized
- Add all the Playlists and Albums to a new Channel
- Gather logos and photos for artists and themed playlists
Create a new Catalog
Navigate the Catalog CMS
Each DISCO Catalog has a Content Management System (CMS).
- Use the Content section to curate content in the Catalog.
- Choose which Playlists, Albums, and Tracks to feature on the homepage and edit associated artwork.
- Add an image and bio to Artist profiles and choose which to feature on the homepage.
- Customize the design and branding.
- Invite and manage clients.
- Control access settings.
- Opt-in to the Music Supervisor Discover Music browser.
- View access stats and analytics.
You CANNOT upload tracks directly into a DISCO Catalog.
Add content
Each section under "Content" controls which playlists, albums, tracks, and artists are available and featured on your Catalog.
Published content section
Select channels or subfolders to publish the tracks inside them (this includes the tracks inside playlists that are nested in the selected channels):
Tracks from the selected folders will be displayed in the Featured tracks section.
Featured playlists section
The Featured playlists section - you guessed it! - adds playlists to the DISCO Catalog.
- Click the "+" icon to open the playlist Search area:
- Locate the playlists you wish to add, then hover over them to tick the checkbox and add them to a Catalog:
- Hover over each playlist to edit artwork and feature it on the homepage:
Featured albums section
Similar to playlists, you can add albums to the Catalog (Playlists can be categorized as albums when you save them).
- Albums appear with square artwork in the Catalog and can display release dates.
- All of the instructions from the Featured playlists section above also apply to the Featured albums section.
- Open the Featured albums tab and drag to rearrange the display order in the Catalog homepage:
Featured tracks
The Featured tracks section displays all the tracks in a DISCO Catalog, whether they were added via the Published content, Featured playlists, or Featured albums sections.
- Check the box to the far right of the track waveform to feature it on the homepage.
- View the "Featured tracks" tab (to the right of "All tracks") to rearrange the order in which they appear on the homepage.
- Hover over the Info (i) icon to the left of the waveform to see how the track was added to the Catalog. This is very helpful if you need to later remove the track.
Featured artists section
- Artist Profiles are generated automatically from the artist metadata field on tracks.
- Artist Profiles will only appear in the featured artist section after tracks have been added to the Catalog (using the options above).
- The Artist metadata field on a track creates the Artist Profile in the first place.
- All tracks with the exact same text in the Artist metadata will be appear on the same Artist Profile.
- A different Artist Profile will be created if there is a slight difference in Artist metadata, i.e., "2 a.m. Orchestra" and "2 A.M. Orchestra" would create two Artist Profiles.
An Artist Profile is not the same thing as an Artist Page (which is a playlist design template)
- To showcase an artist on the homepage, simply click on the "Featured" checkbox that appears when you hover over the profile.
- Edit Artist Profiles by clicking the pen icon (this updates the Artist Profile everywhere in your DISCO).
- Add a bio, photo, social media links, and feature tracks at the top of the profile page.
- Link related (duplicated) Artist Profiles to consolidate all tracks across multiple profiles, while hiding unwanted duplicate profiles.
- Catalog view of an Artist Profile:
Designing your Catalog
Feature content on the home page
As mentioned above, Tracks, Albums, Playlists and Artists can all be featured on the homepage to provide immediate, interactive content.
A homepage without featured content looks very empty and unappealing.
Catalog design
- Catalogs look unfinished without basic artwork and/or a name; take the time to come up with a snappy name and helpful description!
- Match the theme color to your brand.
- Here’s an example of a filled-out design section:
Access and promotion
The "Access and promotion" section controls how your Catalog can be accessed.
Some settings can’t be edited until the Catalog is live - so the first step is to activate the "Live" toggle in the top right corner.
Access settings
"View without login" vs "Login required to view"
If you curate a Catalog for a specific client or small team to access, you can ensure that only that group can access the Catalog.
Use the "Login required to view" option and invite each person from the Clients tab.
Alternatively, use the "View without login" option to share a Catalog that anyone can view, search, and stream without a log in step.
Only invited clients and people who have approved access can download files (they can request access in the Catalog).
Allow Music Supervisors to access my Catalog
"Private" vs "Limited access" vs "Easy access"
Vetted Music Supervisors have access to additional features in their DISCO accounts. The Discover music area is available to browse, discover, and access DISCO Catalogs.
Let's take a look each option:
- "Private" is the default option and your catalog is not visible to Music Supervisors.
- "Limited access" adds your catalog into the discovery area for Music Supervisors to access, search and stream, but they still have to request approval to download/Save to DISCO.
- "Easy Access" lets vetted Music Supervisors download or pull tracks to their own DISCO without needing to first request access.
- Fill out the description box to ensure your Catalog appears in search results within the Music Supervisor discovery area.
How to setup access for different scenarios
You built a private Catalog for a specific client with exclusive content access:
You built a general Catalog for vetted Music Supervisors and want to receive requests for download permissions:
You built a general Catalog for vetted Music Supervisors and want to pre-approve download permissions:
Client management
The "Clients" section displays all invited clients and anyone who has requested access.
- Invite from the top right
- Approve, reject, and delete from the menu to the right of each client
Stats
The "Stats" section displays user access analytics.
View based on user sessions:
or content activity:
Settings and notifications
The "General settings" section options:
- Enable a basic license request form that is delivered to you via email.
- Format settings let you choose whether only MP3s are available to download (optimized only), or if your high resolution (WAV/AIFF) files are also accessible.
- Nesting settings control whether nested versions and/or stems are made available.
- Custom domain set up (requires dome technical set up on your web hosting platform).
The "Notifications" section controls whether you, and chosen team members, receive in-app and/or email notifications for access requests:
Read our full Discovery Suite FAQ: What is the Discovery Suite?
Now that you've built a Catalog, start promoting it to your clients!
Wrap-up
Building a DISCO Catalog involves several key steps, from preparing your content and homepage design, to adding content and going live. By following the pre-build checklist and utilizing the CMS, you can create a visually appealing and easily navigable Catalog that effectively showcases your content.