At this point, pretty much everyone is aware of the fact that Spotify is the world’s most popular music streaming platform. It has over 170 million paying subscribers and it gives up and coming artists a direct way to promote their music. Regardless if you’re signed to a label or not, Spotify can help you reach as many people as possible while also giving you access to some sweet monetization options through royalties.
So how do you start distributing your music on major platforms to make a name for yourself? We’ve created this guide to help clear up any confusion.
How to upload your music on Spotify.. step by step
Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually pretty simple to upload your music to Spotify, you just need to learn how it’s done. Here’s how to do it:
So, how should you begin uploading your music and making a name for yourself? To clear up any confusion, we’ve put together a handy guide to using Spotify as an independent artist.
1. Find a digital music distributor
Sometimes you can see online that Spotify allows artists to upload their music directly to the platform. But this actually isn’t correct. It’s actually an outdated piece of information, as this was indeed a feature between 2018 and 2019. But it is no longer available.
This beta testing feature was stopped by Spotify after executives assessed the results and decided that direct uploads will no longer be available.
Today, in order to upload your music to Spotify you’ll have to go through a music distribution company. Music distributors help artists upload their music to Spotify and their function is to get your music on major platforms in general. Usually we’re talking Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and more.
Thankfully, there are tons of online distribution companies and signing up isn’t difficult. With that said, not all distributors are created equal. At Novecore, our primary offer is music distribution to all major platforms and we offer both a premium plan where you keep 100% of your royalties, or a free plan without a monthly subscription cost.
Pricing models for distributors can vary widely. Some permit free uploads while taking a cut of your royalties, while others charge a monthly fee and allow users to keep their royalties (and some offer both models!).
With so many digital distribution businesses out there, researching and selecting the perfect subscription service will probably feel a little overwhelming. With this in mind, we’ll cut to the chase — Novecore has everything you need to disseminate and monetize your music.
We offer two fabulous subscription packages, including a free music distribution service and a highly affordable premium offer. At only $5 per month, you could enjoy a whole host of excellent features designed to supercharge your career in the music industry. If you want to discover more about how Novecore could support your artistic endeavors, we’ve added more information at the end of this article.
2. Upload your music
Once you’ve completed the signup process, you can get to work. Simply start uploading your music as soon as your music is actually ready to be played around the world. Make sure you attempt to upload high-res files and make sure your music sounds as professional as humanly possible. We recommend aiming for files that hover around 320 kbps, although you can probably get away with around 120 kbps (but no lower!). Virtually every music distributor will accept mp3 files, although many also accept lossless wave files.
3. Upload your metadata
Metadata refers to the bits of information related to a given track, including (but not limited to):
- Artist name
- Song title
- Album title
- Track number
- Copyright information
- Music genre
Most distribution services provide intuitive upload forms that make adding metadata as straightforward as possible. Try to fill in all possible data points, as this will help new fans find your music and could help distributors promote your work.
4. Upload your artwork
If you’re hoping to promote an album or demo, you’ll need to provide your distributor with memorable artwork. If you’ve not got the resources to produce something highly polished and professional, you may wish to upload a logo or photograph related to your brand. Don’t underestimate the power of stylish artwork, however. Spending a little time and money on perfecting your album artwork could help draw in new listeners, particularly if your fanbase is relatively small.
So, now that your distributor has everything they need from you, what happens next? Well, your distributor will basically get to work uploading your materials to Spotify and other major platforms. It could take up to five days for your music to go live, but the wait time varies by time of year as well. If you decide to schedule a specific release date, you have to provide the distribution company with all of the crucial files way before the release date.
5. Curate your “Spotify for Artists” profile
The moment your music gets on Spotify, you’re now able to create a “Spotify for Artists” profile. This is different to a standard listener profile, allowing you to verify yourself as a creator and promote your work. When you create your profile, you have to choose your role. Are you an artist, manager or a member of a label? Then you can start modifying your profile and account, with the goal of boosting engagement from your audience. Say, for example, your artist photos are looking a little dated. With an artist’s profile, you can upload new shots to your official bio.
Finally (if you have the time), why not boost your credibility with a carefully curated Spotify playlist? Artist playlists allow you to place your own tracks alongside other songs potential fans may enjoy. As well as giving your current followers something to listen to, creating a playlist increases the chances that new listeners will stumble upon your profile, particularly if it’s featured as an official playlist! In the long term, curating artist playlists could also lead to exciting collaborations with other bands and musicians you admire.
Why should you upload your music to Spotify?
There are plenty of perks to distributing your work via streaming services, including:
1. Combat piracy
Piracy remains a massive problem for the music industry. The increase in the ability to steal music using illegal websites has severely negatively impacted the artists and their ability to earn an income. While artists make much smaller returns for a single stream compared to a physical record or legal download, services such as Spotify are helping to reduce piracy rates. According to recent stats, 27% of consumers listened to pirated tracks in 2019, down significantly from 37% in 2018. By adding your music to streaming platforms, you can support legal consumption models and reduce the number of people prepared to steal your music.
2. Increase the visibility of your music
Over half of young adults now stream music every day, which tells us that streaming services such as Spotify are the future of the music industry around the world. So it’s never been so crucial to get your music to all the major music streaming platforms, especially if you’re trying to reach younger listeners.
3. Streaming counts toward music charts
All official video and audio streams within the US count toward the singles charts, with 150 streams equivalent to the sale of one track. Artists hoping to secure hit singles are therefore at a significant advantage if their music is available across different streaming platforms.
4. Followers can keep on top of new releases
Whenever you release a new track or album, your followers will receive a notification, including email and push notifications. This feature means it’s never been easier to promote new music to fans.
5. Spotify tunes are ultra-shareable
Sharing Spotify tracks is easy — in fact, it’s actively encouraged. The platform gives users the option to share links to their favorite tracks or post them directly via social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The ‘Friend activity’ column also allows users to view what their friends are listening to and try them out for themselves. Who knows — you could end up going viral!
6. Promote your gigs and merch
Spotify’s “On tour” and “Offers” features allow artists to promote their upcoming gigs and merchandise to followers and profile visitors. Tickets and branded merch are a great way to earn income as well, so it’s worth working on your online presence, especially on Spotify.
What are some of the biggest mistakes you need to avoid when you upload music to Spotify?
If you’d like to upload music to Spotify, here are some of the common mistakes you need to avoid:
Mistake #1. Sloppy album artwork
Pixelated, boring, or unprofessional album artwork will cause listeners to believe that you’re not a serious artist. Rather than rush the job, it’s worth asking for help from a professional graphic designer or even experimenting with custom designs on a program such as Canva.
Mistake #2. Making extra-long artist playlists
Try not to make artist playlists that last longer than three hours. Few people have the concentration span or the will to wade through hundreds of tracks, and adding too many could mean your playlist goes ignored by Spotify’s algorithm.
Mistake #3. Investing in the wrong distribution service
Many artists believe that investing in a more expensive distribution service will boost their chances of making it big. This simply isn’t the case! Selecting low-cost or even free distribution services reduces financial risk while maximizing potential gains. Similarly, you should assess whether the distributor charges high commission costs and other hidden fees that could impact your return on investment.
Why Novecore?
Congratulations! You’re now ready to start your Spotify journey. But which distribution service should you invest in? If you’re keen to make the most of low (or free) joining fees, same-day distribution, playlist monitoring, email and chat support, SoundCloud monetization, and much more, you won’t do better than Novecore.
We offer a free standard package and a $5 premium package, each of which promises to distribute your music across as many reputable streaming platforms as possible. If you want to offload the confusing administrative work associated with uploading and monetizing tracks, don’t hesitate to sign up today!
