How to upload music to Spotify: a step-by-step guide

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If you are a musician, you definitely want your music to be heard by as many people as possible. And if you are a beginner artist, you want to find your audience and become famous as soon as possible. In both cases, in the era of information technology, nothing will help you better than streaming services!

First, streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and others provide access to a huge user base around the world. This allows up-and-coming artists to introduce their music to potential listeners who might not otherwise know about them. Additionally, being featured on popular platforms helps artists increase their visibility. Streaming services can recommend their tracks in playlists, which greatly increases the chances of new listeners discovering their music. Streaming platforms can also be a powerful tool for music promotion. Artists can use their profiles to highlight new releases and connect with fans through social media and communication channels associated with these platforms. Being able to see how many people are listening to their music and leaving reviews helps create closer connections with fans and is also a great source of inspiration.

Many streaming services provide artists with access to analytics that help them understand who is listening to their music, where they are from, what songs are popular, etc. This information can be useful for further planning of promotion and entering new markets. And while the income from streaming can be modest, it still provides musicians with an opportunity to make money. Each play brings in royalties, and as streams increase, this can lead to more significant income.

Why is it worth paying attention to Spotify?

One of the most popular music streaming services in the world is Spotify. This is a popular streaming service for listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks, launched in 2006. It allows users to discover and listen to millions of tracks from different genres and artists. Spotify is available on a variety of devices, including laptops, smartphones, and smart speakers. As of April 2024, there are over 615 million monthly active users on Spotify, including 239 million users with a Premium subscription.

More and more people around the world are choosing Spotify as the main source of music, as this service provides wide opportunities for its users.

  • Spotify offers access to millions of tracks across a variety of genres and artists, allowing users to find music to suit every taste.
  • The service uses algorithms to make suggestions that take into account user preferences. Convenient features help users find new music that matches their style.
  • Spotify also offers a wide selection of podcasts and audiobooks, making it an all-in-one platform for audio content.
  • Spotify is available on multiple platforms, including mobile devices, computers, smart speakers, and gaming consoles, allowing users to listen to music anytime, anywhere.
  • Many people prefer the Spotify mobile app because it has an intuitive interface, making it easy to use for both beginners and experienced users.
  • The ability to create your own playlist and share it with friends makes using the service more social and interactive.
  • Users can follow friends, see what they are listening to, and share music, creating a community of music lovers.
  • The service can be used for free or by signing up for a paid subscription. Spotify offers a free plan with ads and several levels of paid subscriptions, allowing users to choose the option that suits them best. In addition to listening to ad-free music, a Spotify premium subscriber can choose the sound quality, as Spotify Premium streams at 320kbps. With a paid subscription, users can download songs and playlists for offline listening, as well as have full control over playback, the ability to replay and select specific tracks. On the other hand, the free version offers limited track selection options, especially on mobile devices, as tracks can be played in random order. If you’re still unsure, Spotify offers a free trial for new users to try out the Premium versions.

Given the wide range of opportunities that Spotify provides to its users, as well as the constant growth of the audience, it is vital for musicians, especially independent artists, to have their music on this streaming service.

Spotify's global reach with diverse content on multiple devices, connecting a vibrant, worldwide community

How to legally upload your music to Spotify?

If you are an artist and want to upload your tracks to Spotify, you need to know that in addition to the service for listeners, there is also Spotify for Artists. It is a platform built for musicians and artists that provides tools and resources to manage their presence on Spotify. Artist profile is a convenient service that allows you to promote your music more effectively thanks to the following features:

  • Artists can edit their bio, add photos, upload music, and customize their profiles to better represent themselves and their work.
  • The platform provides detailed data on listening, user demographics, and other aspects that help artists better understand their audience and adapt their marketing strategies.
  • Artists can manage and promote their music releases, create pre-orders and set track release dates.
  • Spotify for Artists allows artists to submit their tracks to be added to playlists, which can significantly increase their visibility and streams.
  • Artists can create and manage various types of advertising and marketing campaigns to promote their music.
  • Spotify for Artists allows artists to connect with their fans and share content and updates through social media and other channels.

As you can see, this is a very convenient service that will help new musicians build their careers and achieve greater success in the music industry. But how to create an account on Spotify as an artist? Here is a detailed guide on how to do it easily and quickly:

  1. Sign up for Spotify for Artists by going to the Spotify for Artists website and clicking the “Get Access” button.
  2. Choose an account creation method. You can sign up using an existing Spotify account or create a new one.
  3. Verify your identity. You will need to provide information about yourself or your music project. This may include your music releases, social media, and contact information.
  4. Waiting for approval. Your application will be reviewed by the Spotify team. This usually takes some time.
  5. Set up your profile. Once you have access, you can set up your profile, add a bio, photos, and upload tracks.
  6. Manage your music. You’ll be able to see your listening statistics, manage your playlists, and interact with your audience.

If you have any difficulties or questions at any stage of registration, you can always feel free to contact Spotify technical support. Specialists will quickly help you solve your problem and give recommendations on further actions. Of course, major artists have a label and their own team of managers who create an account in Spotify and monitor all updates. But if you are an independent musician without a label or just starting out, there is no difficulty in doing everything yourself.

It is important to note, however, that Spotify itself doesn’t designed to directly upload music, because the platform prohibits downloading songs from artists or users. Instead, you should use aggregators or distributors that put your music to the platform. Here are some steps to help you upload music to Spotify:

  1. Choose a distributor. There are several platforms that will help you upload your music to streaming services like Spotify. Popular music distributors include TuneCore, DistroKid, CD Baby, iMusician, Amuse, and others. Check out the terms and rates and choose the right distributor to whom you are ready to trust your music.
  2. Create an account. Register on the distributor’s platform. Usually, you will need to provide your contact information and possibly information about your music project. Your Spotify profile may also be required. For example, a digital music distributor like Amuse allows you to verify your Spotify for Artists profile and access it from your Amuse account.
  3. Prepare your music. Make sure your tracks are high quality (usually WAV or FLAC formats). You will also need album covers, which must meet the size and quality requirements.
  4. Upload audio files and publish information. On the distributor’s digital music platform, upload your tracks and fill in information about them – album title, artist name, genre, release date and everything you consider necessary and important.
  5. Specify distribution platforms. Select Spotify and other streaming services as part of your music distribution.
  6. Pay for the distributor’s services. Depending on the distributor you choose, you may have to pay a registration fee or a commission.
  7. Submit your music and wait for release on Spotify. After uploading your music and all the necessary data, the distributor will send your tracks for moderation. This can take from a few days to a few weeks.
  8. Get your music on Spotify and start promoting it.

Let’s see how to add your tracks to Spotify using one of the above-mentioned music distributors, for example, TuneCore. The process of registration and interaction with different distributors is approximately the same, with some exceptions.

TuneCore is a platform that allows musicians and artists to independently distribute their music to various streaming services and digital stores such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and others. TuneCore acts as a distributor that helps artists upload their music tracks, manage the rights to the content and receive royalties from sales and streaming. This service can automatically send music to more than 150 digital platforms. You can also get help with managing copyrights and royalties. The distributor provides income reports and listening statistics. And artists receive 100% of the royalties from sales, but must pay a fee to use the service (usually a flat fee or a percentage of revenue). TuneCore is popular among independent musicians because it offers a convenient way to reach a larger market without having to sign to a major label.

So, you have decided to choose TuneCore as your distributor:

  • Go to the TuneCore website and register if you don’t have an account yet.
  • Log in to your account and select the option to download the new release.
  • Follow the instructions to download the audio files and album cover.
  • Make sure the files meet TuneCore’s format and quality requirements.
  • Enter information about your track or album, including title, artist, genre, and other details.
  • Make sure you choose Spotify as the platform to host your music. At this stage, you can choose an unlimited number of platforms, which will help more listeners discover your music.
  • TuneCore may require a distribution fee. Check the pricing information and make a payment if necessary.
  • Once you have completed the upload and filled in all the data, submit your release for review.
  • You will be able to track the status of your release through your TuneCore account.
  • Once approved, your music will be available on Spotify. Now you’re all set! And people can enjoy your work.

If you decide to post your songs on Spotify, then you should know that you can also make money, which the platform will pay you. It is noteworthy that from 2006 until the end of 2018, the company was unprofitable, it existed on investors’ funds and paid more royalties than it earned.

There are several ways to earn money from Spotify. First up are streaming payments. Spotify pays artists for every song that is streamed. The amount of money an artist receives depends on several factors, including how many times their music is streamed and the type of subscription the listener has (e.g. paid or free). Additionally, some artists may participate in paid promotions where their music is promoted on popular Spotify playlists. This can increase the number of plays and, therefore, revenue. The higher the listener engagement (number of followers, number of track saves, etc.), the more likely Spotify is to recommend that artist’s music, which can lead to more streams and revenue.

As you can see, everything is much simpler than it may seem. If you love creating music, but did not know how to share it with listeners around the world, then this is a great opportunity to put your tracks on music streaming services. Upload your songs, find fans and earn money from listening to your music!

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