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Audius supports basic artist profile updates from DDEX MEAD messages. Distributors can send MEAD to update an artist's Audius profile display name, bio, profile picture, and cover photo without redelivering a release.

MEAD profile updates are processed separately from ERN release deliveries. They do not create, update, or takedown tracks or albums.

Requirements

  • The distributor must already be configured as an Audius DDEX source.
  • The artist must have authorized the distributor's Audius app before the profile update can be published.
  • The MEAD message must identify the artist by one of:
    • ProprietaryId with Namespace="AudiusUserId"
    • ProprietaryId with Namespace="AudiusHandle"
    • a PartyName or official Pseudonym matching an authorized Audius user for the source app
  • AudiusUserId values must be Audius API/SDK hash IDs, such as 7eP5n, not numeric database IDs or handles.
  • Profile and cover images must be delivered as package-relative files. Remote image URLs are not fetched by the DDEX processor.
  • Bio text must be 256 characters or fewer.

If the processor cannot match the MEAD party to an authorized Audius user, the update is stored but blocked until the artist grants access to the distributor app.

Supported Fields

Audius profile fieldMEAD source
Display nameDisplayName, DisplayArtistName, official Pseudonym/Name, or PartyName
BioBiography/Text
Profile pictureImage with ImageType such as ProfilePicture, ArtistPhoto, Avatar, or Headshot
Cover photoImage with ImageType such as ProfileBanner, CoverPhoto, Header, or Background

The image File/URI should be relative to the XML file or package root, matching the delivery style used for ERN audio and artwork assets.

Standalone MEAD Message

This example targets an artist by Audius user ID and updates the display name, bio, and profile picture.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mead:MeadMessage xmlns:mead="http://ddex.net/xml/mead/10">
  <MessageHeader>
    <MessageId>artist-profile-update-001</MessageId>
    <MessageCreatedDateTime>2026-06-22T13:00:00Z</MessageCreatedDateTime>
  </MessageHeader>
  <PartyInformationList>
    <PartyInformation>
      <PartySummary>
        <PartyReference>P-ARTIST-1</PartyReference>
        <ProprietaryId Namespace="AudiusUserId">
          <Identifier>7eP5n</Identifier>
        </ProprietaryId>
        <PartyName>
          <FullName>
            <Name>Artist One</Name>
          </FullName>
        </PartyName>
      </PartySummary>
      <Pseudonym>
        <Name>
          <FullName>
            <Name>Artist One Display</Name>
          </FullName>
        </Name>
        <IsOfficial>true</IsOfficial>
      </Pseudonym>
      <Biography>
        <Text>Short artist bio from a standalone MEAD update.</Text>
      </Biography>
      <Image>
        <ResourceReference>IMG-PROFILE</ResourceReference>
        <File>
          <URI>images/profile.jpg</URI>
        </File>
        <ImageType UserDefinedValue="ProfilePicture" />
      </Image>
    </PartyInformation>
  </PartyInformationList>
</mead:MeadMessage>

Feed Entry Message

This example uses a MEAD feed entry, targets the artist by authorized Audius handle, and includes both a profile picture and cover photo.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Feed xmlns="http://ddex.net/xml/mead/10">
  <MessageHeader>
    <MessageId>artist-profile-feed-001</MessageId>
    <MessageCreatedDateTime>2026-06-22T14:00:00Z</MessageCreatedDateTime>
  </MessageHeader>
  <Entry>
    <Party>
      <PartyReference>P-ARTIST-2</PartyReference>
      <ProprietaryId Namespace="AudiusHandle">
        <Identifier>artisttwo</Identifier>
      </ProprietaryId>
      <PartyName>
        <FullName>
          <Name>Artist Two</Name>
        </FullName>
      </PartyName>
    </Party>
    <PartyInformation>
      <DisplayName>Artist Two Deluxe</DisplayName>
      <Biography>
        <Text>Bio update sent as an entry in a larger MEAD feed.</Text>
      </Biography>
      <Image>
        <File>
          <URI>images/artist-two-profile.png</URI>
        </File>
        <ImageType UserDefinedValue="ArtistPhoto" />
      </Image>
      <Image>
        <File>
          <URI>images/artist-two-banner.jpg</URI>
        </File>
        <ImageType UserDefinedValue="ProfileBanner" />
      </Image>
    </PartyInformation>
  </Entry>
</Feed>

Delivery Notes

  • Send MEAD XML through the same configured delivery bucket or ingestion path used for DDEX.
  • Use a fresh MessageId and MessageCreatedDateTime for each update so redeliveries are not treated as stale.
  • Include profile image files alongside the MEAD XML. For example, if the XML references images/profile.jpg, the delivered package should contain that file at images/profile.jpg.
  • Do not send https:// image URLs. The processor intentionally rejects remote image fetches.