Abstract: The illustrative embodiment of the present invention enables the delivery of digital media source material from a content provider to a consumer in a manner designed to protect the finished composition and digital media distribution quality source material from being distributed to unauthorized users. A digital media content provider delivers source material that is less than distribution quality (“edit quality”) to a distributor. The distributor forwards the edit quality material to an outside editor for editing. The editor performs the editing process and returns the edited material to the distributor in the form of a composition list. The distributor combines the composition list with additional distribution quality digital media source material to produce a finished composition. By applying just-in-time inventory concepts to the process, the finished composition is produced only as needed and is sent to the consumer upon completion.