Background
DDEX ERN (Electronic Release Notification) is the XML-based standard that music distribution platforms use to communicate release data, audio files, and rights information to DSPs. Spotify formally moved to ERN 4.3 as its preferred ingestion format in Q4 2025, with a deprecation schedule for older ERN 3.x feeds running through mid-2026.
ToneGrid's Spotify delivery pipeline has now been fully migrated to ERN 4.3. All new releases delivered through ToneGrid to Spotify go out in ERN 4.3 format as of today. Existing catalogue is being re-delivered on a rolling basis over the next 30 days.
What ERN 4.3 Changes
ERN 4.3 is not a cosmetic upgrade. The specification introduced several substantive changes that affect how releases are described, delivered, and processed at the DSP level.
AI Content Disclosure Fields
ERN 4.3 includes mandatory fields for disclosing AI-generated or AI-assisted content — both at the sound recording and composition level. ToneGrid's ingestion layer now requires rights holders and distributors to declare AI content status at upload, and this data is passed through to Spotify in the correct ERN 4.3 fields. Inaccurate disclosure is grounds for takedown under Spotify's updated content policies.
Enhanced Spatial Audio Metadata
ERN 4.3 adds structured metadata fields for Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio deliveries, replacing the informal handling used in earlier spec versions. ToneGrid clients delivering spatial audio formats will see improved processing times and fewer manual interventions at the Spotify side.
Improved Rights Expression
The rights expression layer in ERN 4.3 supports more granular territory-by-territory rights declarations, better adjacent rights holder identification (including producers and session musicians with registered shares), and cleaner handoff for releases involving multiple rights holders across jurisdictions.
Transaction-Level Acknowledgements
ERN 4.3 delivery pairs with updated ACK (acknowledgement) messaging from Spotify. ToneGrid's delivery tracking now surfaces these ERN 4.3-level acknowledgements in real time — meaning distributors and labels can see precisely where in Spotify's ingestion pipeline a release sits.
Rollout Plan
| Phase | Scope | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — New releases | All new deliveries to Spotify | Live today |
| Phase 2 — Active catalogue | Releases from the last 12 months | Next 14 days |
| Phase 3 — Full back catalogue | All historical releases | Day 15–30 |
No action is required from ToneGrid clients. The upgrade is handled entirely at the platform level.
Other DSPs
Following the Spotify migration, ToneGrid will be upgrading Amazon Music, TIDAL, and Apple Music delivery feeds to ERN 4.3 over Q2 2026. Boomplay, Anghami, and JioSaavn use derivative DDEX profiles and will be updated according to their individual specification timelines.
The full DDEX ERN 4.3 upgrade across all active DSP connections is expected to be complete by end of Q2 2026.