HOW TO UPLOAD SONGS TO SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC AND MORE

Discover step by step how to upload songs to Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Learn about the best digital distributors, prices, promotion tips, and everything you need to know to get your song to your listeners.

IMPORTANT !

You need the Best Sound

Thousands of songs are published daily. To stand out, it’s no longer enough to just have an acceptable sound. You need to sound professional to get into more playlists, reach more listeners, and have your music valued as it deserves. If you want the best sound, I can help you.

👇

Mixing Mastering Online

Before uploading your songs to Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms, make sure the song is completely finished, including:

High-quality WAV master file.
ADM | Dolby Atmos file (optional).
Cover art in JPG (3000×3000 pixels).

1. Choose a Digital Distributor to Upload Songs to Spotify and Other Platforms

Uploading songs to Spotify and other streaming platforms requires a digital distributor, which acts as an intermediary between you, the artist, and the online music services. There are various options, each with different features, prices, and benefits. Here are some of the best platforms for distributing your music, with a special focus on how to upload songs to Spotify.

DistroKid – Fast, Easy, and Affordable Song Uploads to Spotify

Pricing:

Basic Plan: $19.99 USD per year for unlimited song distribution.
Musician Plus Plan: $35.99 USD per year (includes access to advanced statistics and music video distribution).
Label Plan: $79.99 USD per year (ideal for record labels with multiple artists).

Advantages:

Unlimited song uploads: One of DistroKid’s main advantages is that you can upload as many songs as you want to Spotify and other platforms, which is perfect if you’re a prolific artist.
Fast payments: You receive your royalties on a monthly basis, much quicker than with other distributors.
100% royalties: You keep all the earnings from your streams on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
SEO optimization: DistroKid helps ensure your music is correctly tagged and visible in Spotify searches.

Disadvantages:

You need to pay annually. You have to renew your subscription every year to keep your music on platforms, although you can also pay a one-time fee to leave your song as a legacy. This means that for $29 per single or $49 per album, your music will stay online even if you don’t pay the annual subscription.

CD Baby – A Complete Service for Independent Artists

Pricing:

Single song distribution: $9.95 USD (one-time fee).
Album distribution: $49 USD (one-time fee).
CD Baby Pro Plan: $79 USD per album (includes copyright registration and royalty management for composers).

Advantages:

Global distribution: CD Baby ensures your music reaches over 150 platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others.
YouTube monetization: With CD Baby, you can register your music in their YouTube monetization system and earn revenue from videos that use your music.
Copyright registration: The CD Baby Pro plan offers a service to register your compositions so you can receive royalties as a composer and publisher.

Disadvantages:

Commission on royalties: CD Baby takes a 9% commission on the royalties you generate, meaning you won’t receive 100% of your earnings like with DistroKid.

Amuse – Free Distribution and Premium Options

Pricing:

Free Plan: Unlimited music distribution for free, with some restrictions.
Amuse Pro Plan: $24.99 USD per year (includes faster distribution and additional services like access to detailed statistics).
Amuse Pro Plus Plan: $59.99 USD per year (more advanced analytics options and greater control over distribution).

Advantages:

Free distribution: Amuse offers a completely free plan, allowing you to upload songs to Spotify and other platforms without any initial cost.
Distribution to over 30 platforms: Amuse distributes your music not only to Spotify but also to Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, and more.
Fast distribution option: If you choose the Pro or Pro Plus plan, you can speed up the distribution process and have your music available on platforms faster than with other distributors.
Full control over royalties: Like other distributors, Amuse lets you keep 100% of your royalties.

Disadvantages:

Limitations on the free plan: The free plan has some restrictions, such as delays in distribution and more limited customer support.

Diskover – Specialists in New Artists and Independent Labels

Pricing:

Distribute your music: You can distribute both singles and albums for free. The platform takes a percentage of what your song generates in streams, paying you 75% of what your song earns.

Advantages:

Free music distribution: If you’re just starting out, Diskover can help you distribute your music for free, which is a great advantage when you’re getting started.
Pitch for exclusive access to their playlists: Diskover has its own playlists that perform very well. If they like your music, you could be added to one of them.
Support service: They offer excellent support, always ready to help you with anything you need.

Disadvantages:

Control panel: The dashboard could be improved to provide more detailed statistics on where your income is coming from.

Conclusion: Which Is the Best Distributor for Uploading Songs to Spotify?

All these options are valid for uploading songs to Spotify, but the choice depends on your specific needs:

If you’re looking for an affordable option and want to upload music quickly, DistroKid is one of the best choices because of its low price and unlimited distribution. However, Diskover is also a platform worth considering, especially because they will help you with everything you need.
In the beginning, when you start releasing music, it can be confusing, and having good support is crucial to solve any doubts. Diskover has that covered.

I’ll explain how to use these distribution platforms

2. Register Song Details

Once you’ve chosen a digital distributor such as DistroKid, Diskover, Amuse, or CD Baby, the next step is to register your song’s details. These details are crucial to ensure your music is properly distributed and that you receive the correct royalties. Below, I explain each step and the key elements to consider when registering your song’s details.

Song Title

The song title is one of the most important details to register. It’s what listeners will see on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and others. Here are some points to keep in mind:

Accuracy and consistency: The title must be written correctly, without spelling errors or unnecessary special characters. A song with a misspelled or inconsistent title can cause issues with searchability and cataloging.
Avoid special characters: Some platforms may not recognize or have problems with special characters (like “&” or “@”), so it’s better to use a simple, clear title.
Review before uploading: Always double-check the title before submitting. This includes verifying capitalization and ensuring there are no unnecessary words or characters.

Main Artist(s)

The main artist’s name should exactly match the stage name you use on other platforms and social media. This step is crucial for ensuring your listeners can easily find you on services like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and more. Here are some considerations:

Unique artist name: Make sure your stage name is not being used by another artist, as this could confuse listeners and make it harder for them to find you.
Featurings or collaborations: If your song features guest artists, be sure to correctly include their names. Some platforms allow you to add multiple collaborators, which can help increase the visibility of the song.
Version and format: If you’re an artist known for different versions (for example, if you have a DJ or band project), make sure the name reflects the correct format and is consistent.
Splits: Some platforms allow you to set splits, meaning you can assign a percentage so that each artist involved in the creation of the song receives a share according to prior agreement. The artists must be registered on the platform to receive those payments.

Songwriters and Producers

Correctly registering songwriters and producers is crucial because they are responsible for receiving royalties from copyright and publishing. Here’s where it’s important to be as detailed as possible:

Songwriters: If you wrote the lyrics and music for the song, you should register as a songwriter. If there are other people involved in the writing process, be sure to add their names and roles in the composition. You can also specify how royalties will be split among the songwriters (for example, 50/50, 70/30, etc.).
Producers: If a producer worked on the song, it’s important to credit their work. While producers generally don’t receive royalties from copyright (unless they have a specific agreement with the songwriter), they may have production rights or a share of the recording royalties. Make sure the producer is properly credited.
Using rights platforms: If you’re using a distribution service like TuneCore or CD Baby Pro, these services can help manage royalties and payments for songwriters, producers, and other contributors. If you’re not registered with any copyright organization, you can do it yourself through agencies like SGAE, ASCAP, BMI, etc.

Music Genre

Selecting the correct music genre for your song is vital for it to be found by the right listeners on streaming platforms. Spotify, Apple Music, and other music services have playlists that are organized by genre, so classifying your music correctly can increase its visibility.

Accurate selection: Most distributors will let you select one or more genres for your song. Make sure the genre you choose best represents your music. This can also help your song get added to specialized playlists in that genre.
Consider sub-genres: If your music belongs to a specific subgenre (e.g., indie pop, trap, or alternative rock), make sure to select that subgenre to improve accuracy in classification.
Mixed genres: If your song has a fusion style, some platforms allow you to upload songs to Spotify with more than one genre to represent the song’s diversity. However, avoid using too many genres, as this could dilute your song’s searchability.

Release Date

Registering the release date in advance is essential to ensure your music is published on time. Most distributors require you to upload your music at least two or three weeks ahead of the release date. This gives streaming platforms time to review and approve your song before it’s available to the public. Here are some points to consider:

Sufficient time for promotion: If you plan to run a promotion or pre-release campaign on social media, make sure you have enough time to build anticipation.
Flexible date: In some cases, if necessary, you can change the release date after registering the song. However, making changes last minute may delay the process, so it’s best to plan ahead.
Pre-sale or exclusive release: Some distributors, like DistroKid, offer the option to set up a pre-sale for your song on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. This is a great strategy for generating excitement.

ISRC Code (International Standard Recording Code)

The ISRC is a unique code that identifies your specific recording. It’s essential for ensuring that distribution systems and streaming platforms can properly track and pay royalties. Many distributors like DistroKid, Diskover, or CD Baby generate an ISRC automatically when you upload your songs to Spotify and other platforms. However, if you already have an ISRC code for the song (for example, if the recording was done previously), be sure to enter the correct code.

Why it’s important: The ISRC is key to tracking your music and ensuring royalties are properly paid. Without it, platforms won’t be able to uniquely identify your song.
DistroKid and other distributors: As mentioned, many distributors generate the ISRC automatically, but if you already have yours or prefer to use your own, you can enter it in the distribution form.

Copyrights and Licenses

While this isn’t strictly a “song detail,” it’s important to clarify whether you’ve registered your music with a copyright organization (like SGAE, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.) or if you’re using the copyright registration services offered by some distributors like Diskover or CD Baby Pro.

Copyright registration: Make sure your compositions are registered to receive the corresponding royalties. If your distributor doesn’t offer copyright registration services, you can do it independently through a copyright organization.
Licenses: If your music includes samples or licensed elements from other artists, make sure you have the necessary permissions and register any agreements or licenses. This is very important as you may face issues later. If you’ve purchased the license for an instrumental, make sure to register it when uploading songs to Spotify and other platforms, as specified in the licensing agreement.

Conclusion

Correctly registering your song details is a crucial step to ensure your music is smoothly distributed on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer. Make sure to enter all the information accurately to avoid errors and ensure you receive all the royalties and credits you deserve. Additionally, having all these details clear and complete can help you gain more visibility and success on streaming platforms.

Steps and strategies you should keep in mind

3. Pre-Launch Promotion

To maximize the impact of your release, you should plan a marketing campaign in advance:

Social Media: Create a campaign to generate excitement before the release date. Use platforms like Instagram or TikTok, with TikTok being particularly effective for content virality. Consider strategies like “Day 1 trying to get my music to…” for engaging content.
Send your song to playlist curators: Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have user and artist-curated playlists. Sending your music to these curators is crucial for gaining exposure. Platforms like Submithub allow you to send your music to curators (people who select music for playlists or platforms).
Create visual content: Consider making a music video, a lyric video, or even a short video for social media. It’s essential that your song not only gets heard but also gets seen, as sometimes a song may not grab attention through sound alone, but the artist’s image, video concept, or ambiance can help the listener connect.

4. Review and Follow-Up After the Release

After the release, it’s important to closely monitor the performance of your music:

Spotify for Artists: Access detailed statistics, such as the number of streams, followers, and demographic data of your audience.
Apple Music for Artists: Similar to Spotify, this provides access to statistics, earnings, and followers.
YouTube Analytics: If you upload a music video, make sure to review the statistics on YouTube to optimize your content.

5. Create an Artist Account on Spotify for Artists

After distributing your song and setting the release date, it’s highly recommended—I’d say it’s essential—to create an account on Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists. Why?

To control everything: Detailed stats, streams, audience insights, playlists, and much more.
To pitch your music: Pitching is the process where you tell Spotify and Apple Music about your music—what artists it resembles, the genre, etc. This helps your music reach more listeners and increases the chances of being included in more playlists.
To manage your image: From Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists, you can change your artist photos, your branding, and ensure your profile looks professional for listeners.

6. Register Your Music with SGAE, BMI, ASCAP, etc.

It’s crucial to register your songs with an organization that handles the protection and collective management of your intellectual property rights. This will give you a registration number for your songs and allow you to collect royalties from your own songs or songs you collaborate on. Some of the major organizations include:

In Spain: SGAE
In Germany: GEMA
In the United States: ASCAP or BMI
In France: SACEM

These entities are among the largest sources of income for artists and businesses in the music industry.

Additionally, there are publishers like Clipper’s, Warner Music, or Sony Music Publishing, which also collect royalties from various sources. Although these services are not accessible to all artists, if you have good music, strong numbers, or you’re collaborating with notable people, you can try reaching out to them.

Links of Interest When Uploading Songs to Spotify, Apple Music, and More

Here are some useful links for you when uploading your music to streaming platforms:

Distrokid: https://distrokid.com
Diskover: https://diskover.co
Amuse: https://www.amuse.io
Spotify artists: https://artists.spotify.com
Apple for artists: https://artists.apple.com
Submithub: https://www.submithub.com