How to Upload Music to Spotify: A Step-by-Step Guide
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In the age of digital music streaming, Spotify has become a powerhouse platform for artists to showcase their work. Independent artists and established performers can now reach worldwide audiences by uploading their songs on Spotify. But getting your music onto Spotify can be confusing for independent artists. We are here to help.
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The Basics of Spotify Music Distribution
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Instead of allowing artists to upload music directly onto the platform, Spotify relies on distribution partners to get the work done. This allows the streaming company to focus on developing features like Spotify for Artists and the playlist pitch tool. These features have benefited over 300,000 creators and helped 36,000 artists get playlisted for the first time.
The role of digital distributors
By acting as an intermediary between artists and streaming platforms, they mirror sound files and metadata to various streaming services. This process simplifies music release across multiple platforms for both independent and professional artists. Distributors also handle licensing and royalty payments, making it easier for artists to manage their music careers.
Spotify's quality standards
Spotify maintains high standards for audio quality and artwork. They require audio files to be in a lossless format (WAV or FLAC) with a minimum sample rate of 16 bits and 44.1 kHz. Artwork should be in lossless TIFF, PNG, or JPG format with a 1:1 aspect ratio and sRGB color profile. The minimum image size is 640 pixels, with 1,500x1,500 px or 3,000x3,000 px being popular choices.
Organizing your track information
Proper organization of track information is essential for discoverability on Spotify. Using accurate and consistent metadata, including track title, artist name, album name, and release date helps listeners find and organize your music easily.
When submitting your music, select appropriate genres and subgenres that best describe your sound. You can choose one main genre and up to three subgenres. Additionally, include up to two moods and two song styles to help editors place your track on mood-based playlists.
Don't forget to specify if your release is a cover, remix, or instrumental, and whether it was recorded live or in studio.
Evaluating Music Distribution Services
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When choosing a music distribution service, artists should consider several key features.
Fast distribution, typically within 72 hours.
The ability to upload unlimited music
Distribution services pricing models and royalty splits
Distribution services employ various pricing models. For instance, Anti-Joy offer free unlimited uploads while allowing artists to keep all rights and royalties. DistroKid charges $22.99 per year for unlimited uploads, while CD Baby uses a one-time fee model. Royalty splits differ among services:
Anti-Joy, DistroKid, Ditto: 100% royalties to artists
Landr: 85-91% royalties to artists
OneRPM, Songtradr: 85-90% royalties to artists
Uploading Your Tracks to Spotify
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Step-by-step upload process
To get music on Spotify, artists need to follow a straightforward process:
Sign up for a free account with a digital music distributor like DistroKid, Anti-Joy, Ditto, Landr, OneRPM, or Songtradr.
Create a release (single, EP, or album) in the distributor's dashboard.
Upload music files (WAV format) and artwork (3000 x 3000 pixels).
Add contributor information for proper royalty distribution.
Submit the release for review and distribution.
Estimated timeline for going live
Once submitted, it may take up to two weeks for songs to appear on Spotify. However, some distributors offer express delivery options, reducing the timeline to one week or even 48 hours. To ensure the song is released on time, artists should deliver their music at least five business days before the intended release date. If delays occur, contacting the distributor or Spotify's Content Operations Ingestion team can help resolve issues.
Maximizing Your Spotify Presence
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Claiming your Spotify for Artists profile
To take control of their artist profile, musicians need to access Spotify for Artists. This tool allows them to update their image, write a bio, and post playlists. For artists with releases distributed by EmuBands, instant access is available through the EmuBands Account. They can connect their Spotify account via the 'Toolkit' tab. If an artist's first release isn't live yet, they should claim directly through Spotify's system using the release URI provided in an email from EmuBands.
Playlist submission tactics
Playlists are crucial for music discovery on Spotify. Artists can submit unreleased songs for playlist consideration using Spotify for Artists. It's important to deliver music at least seven days before the release date to give editors time to listen. Artists should choose one song that best represents their story and provide detailed information about the track, including genres and sound description. While pitching doesn't guarantee placement, it increases the chances of being discovered by playlist curators.
Leveraging Spotify's promotional tools
Spotify offers various tools to help artists promote their music effectively. The Showcase feature allows artists to promote specific releases on Spotify's Home page, targeting likely listeners across over 40 markets. This tool has shown to increase streaming likelihood by six times. Artists can also use personalized assets to promote their playlist placements on social media. Additionally, Spotify provides detailed reporting on campaign performance, helping artists track audience engagement and growth over time.
Conclusion
Uploading music to Spotify has become a game-changer for artists looking to reach a wider audience. Remember that success on Spotify isn't just about uploading your music; it's about engaging with your audience and using the platform's features to your advantage. Claiming your Spotify for Artists profile, submitting tracks for playlist consideration, and leveraging promotional tools are all crucial steps to increase your visibility.
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