You have done the hard part. The song is written, the mix is balanced, and the master is hitting all the right levels. The only thing left to do is send the files. This should be the easiest part of the process, but it is actually where a lot of professional relationships hit a snag.
File sharing mistakes are usually invisible to the producer, but they are glaringly obvious to the client. When a link does not work or a zip file is incomplete, it creates headaches that distract from the music. Avoiding these common traps is the best way to ensure your tracks get the respect they deserve.
1. The "Private" Link That Isn't Accessible
The most common mistake is sending a link that requires the recipient to log in or "request access."
The Permission Wall
If you send a Google Drive link but forget to change the settings to "Anyone with the link can view," your client is going to hit a wall. They click the link, get a "Request Access" screen, and then have to wait for you to see your email and click "Approve."
The Momentum Killer
This might seem like a small thing, but if a busy A&R or artist finally sits down at 10:00 PM to listen to your work and they can't open the link, they aren't going to wait. They are going to move on to the next person in their inbox. You want to use flexible, non-expiring share links that work instantly, every time.
2. Sending "Mystery" Files
We have all been guilty of this: exporting a file and leaving it with a name like Bounce_1_final_2.wav.
The Naming Crisis
When a client or a label receives twenty tracks a week, a file with a generic name gets lost immediately. If they download it to their desktop and look at it two days later, they might have no idea who sent it or what project it belongs to.
How to Fix It
Always include your name and the song title in the filename. Even better, use a tool that allows you to add artwork and descriptions to your playlists. This provides a visual "anchor" for the music, making it much harder for your work to get lost in a cluttered downloads folder.
3. Ignoring the Mobile Experience
Producers tend to work on big monitors with studio speakers. Clients, however, are almost always listening on their phones.
The Download Trap
If you send a raw WAV file via a service that doesn't have a high-quality mobile player, the client is forced to download the whole file before they can hear it. On a mobile data plan, a 60MB file can take a while to load. Most people will give up before the download finishes.
The Solution
You need a workflow that offers original quality streaming directly in the mobile browser. Seeing a waveform display or a spectrum analyzer on their phone makes the experience feel interactive and professional, rather than just a boring file transfer.
4. Using Expiring Links for Long-Term Projects
Services like WeTransfer are great for sending a quick photo, but they are dangerous for music projects.
The "Expired" Email
There is nothing more awkward than a client reaching out three weeks after a project is finished because they finally went to download the stems and the link has expired. Now you have to find the project, re-export or re-upload it, and send a new link.
The Better Way
Store your work in a way that keeps links active and organized in nested folders. This allows the project to live in a "Knowledge Base" format where the client can always find their files, whether it is tomorrow or six months from now.
5. Over-Engineering the Delivery
On the flip side, some producers go too far in the other direction. They use enterprise-level tools that are built for massive publishing houses with thousands of assets.
The Complexity Burden
As we mentioned when discussing tools like DISCO, these platforms are incredible for metadata management and watermarking, but they can be a massive overkill for a single producer. If your client has to navigate a complex database just to hear a song, you have traded one kind of friction for another.
Finding the Middle Ground
The goal is to find a tool that feels right for you. You want the professional features, like timestamped comments and file versions \- without the enterprise price tag or the administrative bloat. Tools like Echoe or Samply occupy this middle ground, giving you a professional dashboard without making the process feel like a chore. Make sure that all features that you actually need are included at the price point that is matching your budget, and take things like user experience well into account.
Conclusion: Professionalism is in the Details
Sharing your music should be a moment of pride, not a source of technical stress. By avoiding these simple mistakes, like broken permissions, poor naming, and expiring links \- you make sure that the focus stays exactly where it should be: on the music.
When the delivery is seamless, the client feels taken care of. That is how you turn a one-time gig into a long-term professional relationship!
Related guides
Best way to share WAV files with clients (without compression)
How to get mix feedback without endless email threads
Tools mentioned
Echoe | Samply | DISCO | Google Drive | WeTransfer