How To Get My Music On Spotify

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Do you have music of your own that you want to upload to Spotify but can't quite figure out how to do it? Unfortunately, that is because Spotify doesn't allow you to upload music directly. If you are an unsigned artist, you will need to sign up with a music distributor to get your music uploaded to Spotify. In addition to Spotify, most music distributors will upload your music to other music services, such as Pandora, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon MP3, and more. ^[1]

Steps

1
Sign up with a music distributor. There are a variety of music distributors that can help you get your music on Spotify and other music services. The pricing for these services vary. Some services allow you to upload your music for free, but may take a cut of your royalties. Other services allow you to keep 100% of your royalties but may charge a fee to upload music or a monthly subscription fee. Some music distributors offer other services, such as promotion, mixing and mastering, and performance tracking and boosting to get you more plays and added to official playlists.^[2] Some music distribution services include:
- TuneCore: https://www.tunecore.com
- CD Baby: https://www.cdbaby.com
- RouteNote: https://routenote.com
- AWAL: https://www.awal.com
- LANDR: https://www.landr.com
- DistroKid: https://distrokid.com
2

Upload your music to the music distributor. The music distributor will upload your music to Spotify and other music streaming services. The files you upload to the music distributor should be a high-resolution mp3 file or lossless wave file. Some less costly music distributor plans may limit the quality of the mp3 file you are allowed to upload. For best results, upload MP3 files that are 320 kbps. 120 kbps is the minimum file quality you upload.
3

Provide the music distributor with the appropriate metadata. When you upload a song to a music distributor, you need to provide more than just the artist name and song title. You should also include information such as the album title, track number, music genre, and copyright information. You can add metadata directly to your music files using your music or mp3 creation software. Your music distributor may also have a form for you to fill out. Fill out these forms, and all metadata for your music as completely as possible.
4

Provide artwork to the music distributor. If you have recorded an album, you should have album artwork available to provide to the music distributor. If the music you are uploading is a demo, you can provide a photo of the artists with artist's name or logo on the image. Once the distributor has your music and all the appropriate information, it goes through an approval process. Once the approved, your music will be uploaded to Spotify and other music stores and streaming services. In general, it takes about 3-5 business days for your music to go live on Spotify. The time may vary depending on the music distributor you go through. It may take longer for your music to go live on other streaming services. You may have the option to schedule a specific date for your music to go live. If you choose to schedule a release date, be sure to provide the music distributor with the appropriate files well in advance.

Add New Question

Question

How long is the RouteNote approval process?

According to their website, it takes 24-72 hours to be approved.
Question

Can I release an EP as a teenager?

Gal Barden

Community Answer

You can release music at any age. However, the T&C's of distributors, e.g. DistroKid, are a minimum of 18. Since a distributor is required to get music on Spotify this can prevent a minor from uploading their music to the platform. However, an adult can sign the agreement on a minor's behalf.
Question

Can someone download the music you upload on Spotify?

Gal Barden

Community Answer

Premium Spotify users can download music to 3 devices. However, the music is only playable while the user has an account. The downloaded music can only be played with the Spotify app. It is against the Spotify T&C's, and illegal in most countries, to 'rip' music from Spotify and download it outside of the service.
Question

How do you make money from putting a song on Spotify?

Gal Barden

Community Answer

Spotify pays a small royalty each time your music is played. This is paid to your distributor, e.g. Distrokid. You collect any earned royalties via your distributor.

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

If you want to put your own music on Spotify, sign up with a music distributor like TuneCore or CD Baby. Some of these services might charge you an upload fee, while others allow you to upload for free but take a cut of your royalties. Read online reviews to find a trustworthy distributor with a history of successful clients. Once you choose your distributor and upload your music, they will upload your music to Spotify and other music streaming services. To learn the best type of file to upload, keep reading!

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