Desert vs. the Platforms: The Challenge of Authenticating an Old Song
How can artists prove the authenticity of old songs like Desert? Challenges, history, and solutions for independent musicians.
Exclusive music report from JM Musique.
Hello,
Some songs carry decades of history, digital wanderings, and multiple transformations. Desert, an original composition by Jeff Maheux written in 2002, is a perfect example. From its first instrumental sketch to a mix in 2007, from scattered online appearances in 2018 to its recent revival as an Official Visualizer clip on YouTube, the song has lived many lives.
But today, when trying to distribute it officially through a modern platform like TooLost, one pressing question arises: how can an artist prove the authenticity of an old composition?
This dilemma, illustrated by Desert, is far from unique. Many independent artists who want to release old demos, youthful drafts, or forgotten songs face the new requirements of the digital market: ISRC codes, copyright deposits, clean master files, and impeccable traceability.
So what can be done when music already exists in different forms, but the official paperwork is missing?
Looking Back at Desert’s Journey
The story of Desert began in 2002 with a first melody, later completed with lyrics written on a bus ride to a Saint-Léonard studio. Initially an instrumental track, it took shape as a demo when last-minute lyrics were added. This spontaneity — a cry for freedom after a breakup — made it raw, sincere, and deeply personal.
In 2007, an early mix circulated privately. In 2018, the instrumental was publicly presented during the launch of jeffmaheux.com. Then, in 2024, the project reached another milestone: an Official Visualizer (OV) clip, created on a modest budget but with impact, published on the JM Musique YouTube channel.
Two previously published W+M articles retrace this journey:
Today, Desert exists in many forms — original MIDI files, vocal demos, OV clips, instrumental snippets. But none of these versions qualifies as “official proof” for modern distribution platforms.
The New Rules of the Game
Over the past few years, distributors such as TooLost, DistroKid, or TuneCore have tightened their criteria. Their goal: to prevent fraud, duplicates, and copyright disputes. Concretely, this means that to release a song today:
Each track must have its own ISRC (International Standard Recording Code).
The artist must prove their authorship or production rights (contracts, registrations, certificates).
An official master audio file must be delivered in a standardized format.
Traceability must be crystal-clear: who composed it, who produced it, when and where it was released.
In Desert’s case, the long and fragmented history becomes an obstacle. The 2002 MIDI files aren’t considered masters. Past online appearances weren’t consistently archived. And while the song’s authenticity is undeniable, gathering all the evidence into one clean file is a challenge.
The Archive Puzzle for Musicians
This is the heart of the problem for artists who want to bring old works back to life. Personal archives are rarely organized with rigor. In the early 2000s, CDs were burned in haste, files were stored on fragile hard drives, demos were emailed without keeping proof.
When these tracks resurface today, the artist faces a true musical archaeology project: finding the original versions, identifying exact dates, proving ownership of the work.
Desert perfectly illustrates this challenge: its traces are scattered across old laptops, CDs, clips, articles, and memories.
Solutions for Artists
The good news is that several paths exist to regularize the situation, even years later:
Recover Early Proofs
Emails, burned CDs, screenshots, archived websites — any document showing prior existence can serve as evidence.Make an Official Deposit
With SOCAN, the Copyright Office, or international equivalents.
This legally establishes ownership of the work.Create a New Official Version
Even a minimal one: a remixed or reissued instrumental version.
This “new master” becomes the official reference for distribution.Publish a Public Authentication Note
Articles like this one act as public, dated documentation of the song’s history — a proof in themselves.Adopt a Rigorous Future Workflow
Systematically archive all new creations.
Register works as soon as they’re written.
Keep a clear timeline of each release and publication.
W+M exclusive music features — That’s Rock!
Conclusion
Desert is more than a song — it is a case study. It highlights the dual challenge every independent artist faces: the passion of creation versus the demands of administration.
Yes, platforms like TooLost can feel strict. But their requirements reflect a necessary reality: in today’s digital economy, authenticity must be proven.
For Jeff Maheux and JM Musique, Desert has become a symbol of a broader issue shared by countless creators: how to give a second life to an old composition without losing its soul, while complying with evolving industry rules.
And maybe that’s Desert’s final mission: to spark a debate, to inspire artists, and to remind us all that beyond the codes and the files, it’s passion that fuels music.
Thank you,
Jeff Maheux
Production and writing: Services W+M.
Visit the JM Musique Instrumental Tracks Gallery on YouTube! Enjoy!
How can artists prove the authenticity of old songs like Desert? Challenges, history, and solutions for independent musicians.