How to Release Music on Spotify: Steps, Costs and Tips
To release music on Spotify, upload your song through a distributor, which delivers it to Spotify and Apple Music. Here are the steps, costs and free options.
You can't upload songs directly to Spotify. Instead, you release music there through a digital distributor, a service that delivers your audio, cover art and credits to Spotify, Apple Music and other stores. Pick a distributor, upload a finished WAV file and a square cover image, fill in the song details, and set a release date two to four weeks out so you have time to pitch the song to Spotify's editors.
Costs range from free (the distributor keeps a share of your royalties) to an annual or per-release fee. The rest of this guide covers each step, what it costs, what the files need to look like, and how to avoid the problems that get releases rejected.
Can you upload music directly to Spotify?
No. Spotify briefly tested direct uploads for a small group of artists and shut that program down in 2019. Since then, every song on Spotify arrives through a label or a distributor.
What you can do directly is manage your artist profile in Spotify for Artists. That free dashboard lets you edit your bio and photos, see listener stats, and pitch unreleased songs to Spotify's editorial team. It does not let you upload audio.
How do you release music on Spotify step by step?
The short version is: finish the song, prepare the files, choose a distributor, submit, then claim your profile and pitch. Here is the full sequence most independent artists follow.
- Finish and master the song. Export a final master as a WAV file. Listen on earbuds, car speakers and a phone speaker before you call it done.
- Confirm you own the rights. You need rights to the lyrics, the melody, any samples and any beats you bought or licensed. Covers need a mechanical license (more on that below).
- Make the cover art. Most distributors ask for a square image of at least 3000 x 3000 pixels, JPG or PNG, with no web addresses, social handles or blurry text.
- Choose a distributor. Compare pricing model, what share of royalties they keep, how fast they deliver, and their rules on covers and AI-made audio.
- Enter the metadata. That means artist name, track title, songwriter names, genre, language, explicit-content flag, and release date. The distributor assigns an ISRC (track code) and UPC (release code) if you don't already have them.
- Pick a release date two to four weeks out. Spotify only accepts editorial pitches for songs that are already scheduled, and it asks for at least 7 days' notice. More lead time is better.
- Claim your Spotify for Artists profile. Once the release appears as upcoming, request access through Spotify for Artists or through your distributor's dashboard.
- Pitch the song. In Spotify for Artists, choose the upcoming release and fill in the pitch form with genre, mood, instruments and a short story about the track.
- Register the song for publishing royalties. Sign up with a performing rights organization and, in the US, The MLC. This step is separate from distribution and easy to forget.
Releasing on a Friday is common because most new-music playlists refresh at the end of the week. It isn't required, but it lines you up with how listeners discover new tracks.
How much does it cost to release music on Spotify?
Releasing a single costs anywhere from $0 to roughly $30, and unlimited yearly plans are around $20 to $60 a year (estimates; prices change often, so check each distributor's current pricing page). Spotify itself charges nothing to host your music. What you are paying for is the distributor's service.
Distributors use three main pricing models:
| Pricing model | How it works | Typical cost (estimate) | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual subscription | Pay once a year, upload as many songs as you want | About $20 to $60 per year for basic tiers | People releasing several songs a year | Some services remove your music if you stop paying |
| Per-release fee | Pay once for each single or album | About $10 to $30 per single, more for albums | Occasional releases, one-off gift songs | Gets expensive if you release often; some take a royalty cut too |
| Free with revenue share | No upfront fee; distributor keeps a percentage of royalties | $0 upfront, often 10% to 20% of earnings | Testing the waters, very small budgets | Fewer features, slower support, sometimes slower delivery |
Well-known distributors include DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Ditto, RouteNote, UnitedMasters and Amuse. Their plans change frequently, so compare them on the day you sign up rather than relying on older reviews.
Watch for add-on fees too. Common extras include cover song licensing, YouTube Content ID, keeping a release online permanently ('legacy' options), custom label names and faster delivery. A $20 plan can turn into $50 or more once you add a few of these.
How do you release music on Spotify for free?
Use a distributor with a free tier, where you pay nothing upfront and the service keeps a share of your royalties. RouteNote and some other distributors have offered free plans like this, though terms change, so read the current page before signing up.
Free tiers usually come with limits:
- A revenue cut on every stream, for as long as the song stays up.
- Slower review and delivery, sometimes a week or more.
- Fewer stores or social platforms included.
- Limited support if something goes wrong with your release.
For a single song you mostly want to share with friends or family, free is usually fine. If you plan to release music regularly, a paid plan that lets you keep 100% of royalties often makes more sense over time.
How do you release music on Spotify independently, without a label?
Exactly the way described above: an independent artist signs up with a distributor, not a label, and keeps ownership of their recordings. Most self-serve distributors don't take any rights to your master recordings.
Releasing independently means you handle everything a label would normally do:
- Production and mastering, either yourself or by hiring someone.
- Artwork and metadata, including correct songwriter credits.
- Pitching and promotion, from the Spotify editorial pitch to posting short clips on social media.
- Royalty registration with a performing rights organization and, in the US, The MLC.
Before you upload, read the distributor's terms closely. Check whether they take any ownership, how you can remove music later, and what happens to your releases if you cancel. That last point matters most with subscription services.
Hear your idea as a finished song
Describe a song or paste your lyrics. Remixy writes the music, sings it and makes the cover art. New accounts get 150 free credits, about 3 songs.
Make a song freeHow do you release music on Spotify and Apple Music at the same time?
Choose both stores in the same distributor submission. Every major distributor delivers to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, TIDAL and others at once, usually on the same release date.
After the release goes live, claim your Apple Music for Artists profile as well as Spotify for Artists. Apple's dashboard shows plays and Shazams, and it lets you update your artist image.
A few things are different on Apple's side. Apple Music has its own editorial team and no pitch form like Spotify's, and lyrics are often handled through your distributor or a lyrics service. Apple also tends to be strict about artwork and title formatting, so follow the style rules your distributor lists.
What files and details do you need before you upload?
You need a high-quality audio file, a square cover image and accurate credits. Getting these right the first time is the easiest way to avoid a rejected release.
| Item | What distributors usually ask for | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | WAV, 16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1 kHz or higher; some accept 320 kbps MP3 | Uploading a low-bitrate MP3 or a file with silence at the start |
| Cover art | Square JPG or PNG, at least 3000 x 3000 pixels | Adding a website, social handle, price or brand logo |
| Artist name | Exactly as it appears on your existing profile, if any | A small spelling change that creates a second artist profile |
| Songwriter credits | Legal first and last names of everyone who wrote lyrics or music | Listing only a stage name, which can cause royalty problems |
| Title | Plain title; features and versions in the right fields | Typing 'feat.' or 'Official' into the title field |
| Explicit flag | Marked if the lyrics include explicit language | Leaving it off, which can get the release pulled |
If you're still finishing the song, it's worth tightening the hook before you spend money on release. Our guide on how to write a chorus that sticks covers length, structure and repetition.
How do you get paid when your music is on Spotify?
Spotify pays royalties to your distributor, which passes your share to you, usually monthly and a couple of months behind. There is no fixed per-stream rate, and earnings depend on where listeners are, whether they pay for Spotify and how the overall royalty pool shakes out.
Spotify also has a minimum activity rule: since 2024, a track needs at least 1,000 streams in the previous 12 months to earn recorded-music royalties. Check Spotify for Artists for the current rules, since policies change.
There are two separate income streams to set up:
- Master (recording) royalties: collected by your distributor automatically.
- Publishing (songwriting) royalties: collected only if you register. In the US, that means joining a performing rights organization such as ASCAP or BMI and registering with The MLC for streaming mechanicals. In Canada, songwriters typically join SOCAN, and mechanical rights are handled through organizations such as CMRRA.
Many distributors sell publishing administration as an add-on that handles some of this for you. You don't need to buy it, but if you skip it, register yourself so songwriting income doesn't go unclaimed.
Can you release AI-made songs or covers on Spotify?
Generally yes, if you have the rights and follow the platform and distributor rules. Spotify's published policies focus on banning impersonation of real artists, spam uploads and misleading metadata, and the platform has moved toward supporting AI disclosures in song credits.
Each distributor sets its own rules for AI-generated audio, and some ask you to declare it during upload. Read your distributor's content policy before submitting, and never use a real artist's name or a cloned voice of a real person.
You also need a license that allows commercial release. With Remixy, the free plan is for non-commercial use only and streams songs without downloads, so it can't be used for a Spotify release. The paid Premium and Pro plans include a full commercial license and 320 kbps MP3 downloads, and Pro adds lossless WAV downloads, which suits distributors that prefer WAV (see plans and what each includes).
Copyright is a separate question from licensing. The US Copyright Office has said that material generated entirely by AI isn't protected by copyright, while human-written parts, such as your own lyrics, can be. Writing your own words and turning them into a track with an AI song from lyrics tool keeps more of the creative work yours. This is general information, not legal advice.
For covers, you need a mechanical license to release your version of someone else's song in the US. Several distributors offer cover licensing for an extra fee. Covers can't change the original lyrics or melody substantially without permission from the publisher.
What mistakes get a Spotify release rejected or removed?
Most rejections come down to rights problems, misleading metadata or artwork issues. These are the ones to watch:
- Uncleared samples or beats. A free beat from a video site may not allow streaming release; check the license.
- Using another artist's name in your artist field, title or keywords to borrow their audience.
- Duplicate uploads of the same audio under different titles, or many near-identical tracks.
- Artwork problems such as low resolution, logos, social handles or mismatched text.
- Buying streams or playlist placements. Services that guarantee streams often use bots, and Spotify can remove tracks and withhold royalties for artificial streaming.
- Very short tracks. Spotify only counts a stream after 30 seconds, and extremely short or padded tracks can be flagged as spam.
If a release is rejected, the distributor usually tells you why. Fix the issue and resubmit, then push your release date back if needed so you still have time to pitch.
What should you do after your song is live on Spotify?
Share the link, update your profile and plan the next release. Nothing guarantees streams, but a few habits make it easier for people to find and come back to your music.
- Finish your Spotify for Artists profile: photo, bio, and a Canvas (the short looping visual) if you have one.
- Share the song link rather than a search term, so people land on the right track.
- Post short clips of the hook on social platforms.
- Check your stats after the first week to see where listeners come from.
- Release again. Many independent artists put out singles every 4 to 8 weeks rather than waiting for a full album.
If you need the next song faster, you can describe one in plain words; our guide to writing prompts for an AI music generator from text explains how to get closer to the sound you want. If you're working on a gift song or a demo, you can also try the song maker at create a song, where new Remixy accounts get 150 free starter credits, enough for about 3 songs, with no card needed. Just remember that releasing on Spotify requires a commercial license.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload music to Spotify without a distributor?+
No. Spotify ended its direct-upload test in 2019, so independent artists need a distributor or a label to get songs onto the platform. Spotify for Artists lets you manage your profile and pitch songs, but not upload audio.
How much does it cost to put a song on Spotify?+
Spotify charges nothing. Distributors range from free plans that keep a share of royalties, to per-release fees of roughly $10 to $30 per single, to annual plans of roughly $20 to $60. These are estimates, so check current pricing.
How long does it take for a song to appear on Spotify?+
Distributor review and delivery often takes a few days to a week, sometimes longer on free plans. Submit two to four weeks before your release date so you have time to pitch the song in Spotify for Artists, which needs at least 7 days.
Will my song be on Apple Music too?+
Yes, if you select it. Distributors deliver to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music and other services in one submission, usually on the same date.
Do I keep the rights to my music if I use a distributor?+
Most self-serve distributors don't take ownership of your recordings, but terms vary. Read the agreement for ownership, takedown rules and what happens if you stop paying.
Can I release AI-generated music on Spotify?+
Generally yes, if you hold a commercial license for the track and follow Spotify's and your distributor's policies, which ban impersonation and spam. Some distributors ask you to declare AI content. This is not legal advice.
Do I need to register my song anywhere else?+
Yes, for songwriting royalties. In the US, join a performing rights organization such as ASCAP or BMI and register with The MLC; in Canada, songwriters typically join SOCAN.
Written by
Remixy TeamWe build Remixy, an AI music studio that turns a text idea or your own lyrics into a finished song. We write about songwriting, music production and making music with AI — what works, what doesn't, and how to get a result you're proud of.
