How do I distribute my music to Spotify and Apple Music?

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Title (unchanged): How do I distribute my music to Spotify and Apple Music?

You can't upload music directly to Spotify or Apple Music. You go through a distributor — a service that delivers your release to 150+ streaming and download platforms, collects royalties, and pays you. Here is exactly how to do it, what it costs, and which service to use for which situation.

Step 1 — Pick a distributor

The three honest categories in 2026:

Flat annual fee, you keep 100% of royalties: DistroKid (~~$23/year unlimited), TuneCore (~~$15/single, $50/album, getting cheaper), Amuse Pro.
Free tier, you keep ~85%: Amuse Free, Spotify for Artists (limited), Boost Collective. Good if you have zero budget.
Revenue share + label services: UnitedMasters, Stem, Vydia, AWAL (invite-only). Higher cut but real artist services.

Default pick for most independent artists: DistroKid. Lowest friction, fastest delivery, owns the workflow most managers/labels know.

Avoid: any service that asks for ownership of your masters, locks you into multi-year deals, or charges per-stream fees.

Step 2 — Prepare your files correctly

Audio: 16-bit or 24-bit WAV, 44.1 kHz minimum. No MP3s. Mastered with appropriate loudness (−14 LUFS integrated is the streaming sweet spot, but don't crush a quiet song to hit it).
Cover art: 3000×3000 px, RGB, JPG or PNG, under 36 MB, no logos of streaming services, no website URLs, no misleading text. Spotify rejects covers with social handles.
Metadata: Exact artist name (consistent across releases), correct featured artist credits, ISRC codes (your distributor generates these automatically if you don't have your own), UPC code (also auto-generated).
Songwriter credits: Real legal names. This matters for publishing royalties.

Step 3 — Schedule the release

Always schedule at least 3 weeks ahead. Why:

Spotify editorial playlist pitching requires submission 7+ days before release.
Apple Music editorial likes 2–4 weeks notice.
You need time to claim your Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists profiles.
Pre-saves and pre-adds need time to build.

Friday is the global new music day. Schedule for Friday at 00:00 local time.

Step 4 — Claim your artist profiles

Spotify for Artists: spotify.com/artists. Lets you pitch to editorial, customize your profile, see analytics, post Canvas videos.
Apple Music for Artists: artists.apple.com. Similar feature set.
YouTube Music: claimed through a YouTube channel or via Content ID through your distributor.

Pitch to Spotify editorial inside Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release. Be specific about mood, instrumentation, and similar artists.

Step 5 — Register for publishing royalties separately

This is the step most independent artists miss and it leaves real money on the table.

PRO (Performing Rights Organization): ASCAP, BMI, SESAC in the US. PRS in the UK. SOCAN in Canada. They collect performance royalties.
Mechanical royalties (US): Register with The MLC (themlc.com). Free. Collects mechanical streaming royalties.
Sync/publishing administration: Songtrust, Sentric, CD Baby Pro, or a real publisher if you have one. Collects international and sync royalties.

DistroKid and TuneCore offer publishing add-ons. They're convenient but take a percentage. Songtrust at a flat fee is usually a better long-term choice.

Common mistakes

Uploading 48 hours before "release day" and being shocked when it isn't live.
Inconsistent artist name across releases (creates duplicate Spotify profiles).
Cover art with social handles or streaming logos → automatic rejection.
Never claiming Spotify for Artists, so you can't pitch to editorial.
Ignoring publishing royalties for years.
Releasing on too many distributors over time — pick one and stay.

Pro tip

Use a "pre-save" link service like Linkfire, ToneDen, or Hypeddit. Send fans there 2–4 weeks before release. Every pre-save acts like a release-day stream and helps trigger Spotify's algorithmic playlists (Release Radar, Discover Weekly).

When to hire a pro

Hire a publicist or radio plugger when you have a real budget ($1,500+) and a release worth pushing. Hire a publishing administrator (Songtrust etc.) as soon as your music is on streaming — it's a 15-minute setup that pays for itself with one decent placement.

asked by anonymous· 5/10/2026

Instant AI Answermedium confidenceGeneral Knowledge

12d ago· last updated 12d ago

AI starter answer — please verify with real-world experience. Awaiting trusted contributor review.

To get your music on major streaming platforms, you must use a third-party distributor. These services act as the bridge between your master recordings and the digital storefronts, handling the licensing, metadata, and royalty collection.

What to do

1.Select a Digital Distribution Service (DSP) like DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby, as you cannot upload directly to these platforms as an independent artist.
2.Prepare your assets by ensuring your audio is a high-quality WAV file (24-bit/44.1kHz) and your cover art is a square JPG or PNG, at least 3000x3000px.
3.Enter detailed metadata, including the legal names of all songwriters and producers, to ensure everyone receives proper credit and publishing royalties.
4.Review and submit your release, selecting the global territories and specific platforms where you want your music to be available.

Common mistakes

×Avoid using copyrighted images or samples without a license, as this will lead to your release being rejected or taken down.
×Ensure your artist name is spelled exactly as you want it; changing it across platforms after a release is difficult and often results in lost data.

Pro tip

Upload your music at least 3-4 weeks before the release date. This gives you time to submit your track to Spotify’s editorial team via 'Spotify for Artists' and ensures your lyrics and credits are synced correctly.

Based on AI training data — may not reflect current information.

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