In this article

You'll learn how to:

• use alias metadata to customize how tracks appear for a specific pitch
• control download access and file formats
• add password protection and link expiry
• use streaming only mode for sensitive material
• disable individual access links after sharing

The job: sending the right version of the music to the right person

Most pitching situations involve some version of the same tension - you want to share music openly enough that the recipient can engage with it, but controlled enough that you protect your rights and your relationships.

A sync pitch to a music supervisor might need tracks presented without artist names to reduce bias. A pre-release share with a label might need to be streaming only with no downloads. A sensitive delivery to a specific client might need to expire after a week. DISCO's sharing tools are designed to handle all of these scenarios without creating duplicate files or rebuilding playlists from scratch.

Use alias metadata to customize a pitch without changing the original

Alias metadata lets you change how tracks appear on a specific shared playlist without altering the original track information anywhere else in your DISCO.

This is useful in several situations:

• Music supervisors or music houses often want their clients - especially in advertising - to review tracks without being influenced by artist names or track titles. They rename tracks "client name 1, client name 2, client name 3" or use the client name as the album field.
• A compilation album needs consistent artwork and a unified album name across all tracks in the playlist, even though they come from different releases with unique metadata in your DISCO.
• A metadata field contains internal information you want hidden from external parties.

To apply alias metadata, save the playlist and open the Alias Metadata tab. You can batch edit all tracks at once - adding new artwork, changing the album field, or hiding specific fields like composer, genre, or ISRC. Or edit tracks individually to change titles and artist names on a track-by-track basis.

The key thing: none of this affects the original metadata anywhere else. The track in your library stays exactly as it was. The alias only applies to that specific playlist.

Control what recipients can download

When you save a playlist, the Security Settings section lets you control which file types are available for download.

Including original formats makes the full-resolution file - WAV, AIFF, or FLAC - the default download option. Optimized only restricts downloads to MP3, which is useful when you want to share music for review without delivering high-resolution files.

The Streaming only toggle removes download options entirely. Recipients can listen but cannot save or download anything. This is the right setting for pre-release material, sensitive pitches, or any situation where you want the music heard but not yet in anyone else's hands.

To update these settings after sharing, find the playlist, select Playlist settings from its menu, untoggle the settings, and save. Recipients just need to refresh the link.

Add password protection and link expiry

The Security Settings section in the Playlist Share area gives you two straightforward controls for sensitive shares.

A link expiry date automatically disables all playlist URLs on a specific date. This is useful for pre-release pitches with a hard deadline, or for time-limited access to sensitive material. You can edit the expiry date at any time using the pen icon.

Password protection adds a login step before anyone can access the playlist. The same password applies to all recipients, so share it separately from the link itself. This adds a meaningful layer of friction for anyone who receives the link without authorization.

For maximum security, combine streaming only, watermarking, password protection, and link expiry - and assign individual URLs to each recipient so you can disable specific contacts if needed.

Assign individual URLs and disable access per contact

When you share a playlist by emailing it directly from DISCO or by assigning a URL to a specific contact, each recipient gets their own unique link. This means you can disable one person's access without affecting everyone else.

Open the Assign a URL tab in the Share area to see everyone you have shared with and their individual links. Click the X next to any contact to disable their URL. You can re-enable it with the circular arrow if needed.

The general Playlist share URL cannot be selectively disabled - if you use that link, access is all or nothing. Individual assigned URLs are the right approach for sensitive pitches where you need precise control.

Wrap up

A well-prepared pitch controls more than just which tracks are included. It controls what the recipient sees, what they can do with the files, how long they have access, and how the music is presented in context. Alias metadata, format controls, security settings, and assigned URLs all give you that control without creating extra work or duplicating files. Used together, they turn a shared playlist into a professional, targeted delivery.