Are you a new artist and want to know how to put your music on Spotify? The distribution of your music in the digital age is very different from what it used to be.
This article explains how to get your music on one of the most popular online streaming services. Find out how to send your music to Spotify.
Music Distribution Companies
Content on Spotify is delivered by either a distributor or a record company. If you are not subscribed to a label, you will need to work with a third party distributor or aggregator to submit music to Spotify.
Spotify works with companies that distribute and license your music. They pay out the earned royalties for streaming your music.
There are many music distribution services. However, the three most popular are:
What are the differences on each platform?
All of the above sites basically work the same way and distribute your music to the same platforms. The process starts with paying a commission, uploading your song or album, and entering all the information you need.
Distrokid
DistokKid is a relatively new company. It is also the first service to offer a one-time $ 19.99 annual fee for unlimited distribution.
There is no additional charge when new songs or albums are released. The lead time is fast and they don’t charge any commission. Artists keep 100% of the royalties.
DistroKid recently introduced a new exclusive feature called Synced Lyrics
Any artist can automatically create and download synced lyrics. Listeners can sing along as the words scroll at the perfect time with music like karaoke.
CDBaby
CDBaby
CDBaby has been operating since 1998. There are no annual fees. Instead, you pay once for each piece of music.
If you are looking for a service that will offer physical distribution of CDs so you can sell them on their online store, CDBaby is the service for you.
They also charge a 30% commission on YouTube distribution and 9% on streaming your music.
TuneCore
TuneCore does not take any commission. Artists keep 100% of the royalties they receive.
TuneCore also offers reports to show where fans are streaming and downloading your music. They charge a fee for each song or album you want to distribute.
Steps to Send Your Music to Spotify
The registration process for any of the above three services is simple and relatively similar.
To send music to Spotify:
- Register with the distribution service of your choice.
- Select the release type (single or album).
- Enter the artist, release information, and song (or album) information.
- Upload your music file or files (file format: 16 bit / 44.1 KB WAV files) and cover art.
- Choose the platforms you want to distribute your music on.
- Select a release date.
- Confirm your information and submit
Spotify Playlists
Spotify playlists are the easiest way to hear your music. This is one of the best ways to introduce your music to new fans.
Playlists are owned by the people who create them. The best way for aspiring performers to get started with playlists is to create your own.
Well-crafted searchable playlists are the path from Spotify’s search box to artist profile. It may sound silly to include favorite songs of famous musicians and mix them with your own similar-sounding music, but it is not dishonest and effective.
The better an artist curates and promotes their playlists, the better their chances of getting the attention of listeners.
Of course, getting on the playlists of famous artists is the perfect way to make your music public. One way is to reach out to music authorities or regular Spotify artists who have a lot of subscribers.
You can send them a message on social media and request an exchange of information. Ask them to include your song in their playlists in exchange for their music, playlists, and posts on your social media.
How to Create a Spotify Playlist
From your desktop, open the Spotify web player. Click the New Playlist button in the lower left corner of the player.
Add a name and description to your new playlist. Use keywords to increase your chances of appearing in searches.
Select or create an image for your playlist. It is highly recommended to choose an attractive and relevant cover to attract listeners to your music.
To add tracks to your playlist, browse new episodes, featured songs, browse or search. Find the three dots next to the PLAY button and select Add to Playlist from the drop-down menu.
You can also drag and drop tracks to your playlist title on the left navigation bar.
How to Create a Spotify Playlist Cover
As discussed above, Spotify playlists go a long way in making your music heard. When a listener stumbles upon a track in a playlist, they see the cover first.
Covering your music will allow you to contextualize your song, grab attention, or tell the story of your single or album.
You don’t need to be a graphic designer or a Photoshop expert to create an attractive playlist cover. Below are a few tools you can use to create impressive and interesting artwork.
Replace cover
Replace Cover
Replace Cover is a quick and easy tool to create your own playlist cover.
You can also use the random button and switch between random combinations of images and themes to find what you like.
Bannersnack
Bannersnack is an easy-to-use drag-and-drop image editor used to create all kinds of images, including Spotify playlist covers.
Use a ready-made template and customize it or create your own. Bannersnack has more features than Replace Cover
Canva
Canva
To get started, Canva offers a library of ready-made cover templates.
Adjust colors, fonts, images and filters to create a cover that reflects your personality.
Spotify Cover Art Guidelines
When creating a playlist cover, follow these guidelines:
- Images must be square.
- Use high resolution images for quality display.
- 4MB maximum image file size
- Jpeg images only
Streaming is the most common way to listen to music today. And Spotify is one of the most popular platforms for artists to listen to their music.
When you submit your music to Spotify and add your tracks to others’ playlists, you will have the opportunity to attract more listeners.
Spotify also offers the Artists app for Android and iOS, where musicians can track their music live, learn more about their listeners, and control their presence on Spotify.
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