Releasing music online also has major benefits, with music distributors like Distrokid, your music can be uploaded to all the major streaming services and digital stores not just Spotify!
Releasing music on Spotify is a relatively straightforward process, but it does require some preparation and planning. In this guide, we'll take you through the steps you need to follow to release your music on Spotify, from choosing a distributor to creating your artist profile and uploading your tracks.
Why should I bother with Spotify?
Releasing your music on Spotify offers numerous benefits for musicians and beat makers, regardless of whether you're a newcomer or a professional. Here are some reasons why you should consider releasing your music on Spotify:
Overall, releasing your music on Spotify offers numerous benefits that can help you reach a broader audience, generate income, and grow your fanbase.
How do I post to Spotify?
Will you do well on Spotify chasing money?
While it's important to generate income from your music, focusing solely on chasing money on Spotify may not be the most effective way to succeed on the platform. Building a successful career on Spotify requires a combination of talent, hard work, strategic marketing, and a focus on creating quality content that resonates with your audience. It's important to choose a genre of music you like and enjoy to make!
To be successful on Spotify, it's crucial to build a loyal fanbase by creating music that speaks to your audience and engaging with your listeners on the platform. Returning listeners directly impact the popularity of your music. It's also important to be active on social media and other digital platforms to promote your music, connect with your audience, and build a brand that stands out in a crowded market.
While earning money on Spotify is certainly possible, it's essential to focus on creating quality music that resonates with your audience and building a fanbase rather than solely chasing money. By focusing on creating great music and building a dedicated fanbase, you'll increase your chances of success on Spotify and other streaming platforms in the long run.
What is a music distribution service?
A music distribution service is a company or platform that helps musicians and record labels get their music released on various digital music stores and streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and many others.
Music distribution services act as intermediaries between artists and streaming platforms, providing a way for musicians to get their music out to the world while handling the technical aspects of distribution. They tend to offer a range of services, including music mastering, metadata management, royalty collection, and reporting, and they may charge a fee or take a percentage of the artist's royalties in exchange for their services.
By working with a music distribution service, musicians and indie labels are able to access a much wider audience and generate income from their music without the need for a traditional distribution deal. These services also offer artists the ability to keep control over their music and have greater flexibility in terms of release schedules and marketing strategy.
What do I need to release my own music?
Releasing your own music via an online distribution platform is a straightforward process that requires a bit of preparation beforehand. By following these steps and taking the time to create quality music and artwork, you can distribute your music to a global audience and start generating income from your music in no time. For this example, we will walk through the process on DistroKid, although it’s fairly similar regardless of the platform you opt for.
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Create a DistroKid account: Sign up for a DistroKid account by visiting their website and selecting the plan that works best for you.
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Prepare your music for distribution: Before you upload your music to DistroKid, you'll need to make sure it meets the platform's formatting requirements, including the file type, quality, and metadata. You'll also need to create artwork for your release that meets DistroKid's guidelines.
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Upload your music: Once your music is ready, you can upload it to DistroKid using their web uploader. You'll need to provide information about the release, including the title, artist name, and genre.
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Choose your release options: DistroKid offers a range of release options, including selecting the stores and streaming platforms you want to distribute your music to, setting a release date, and choosing whether to release your music as a single or an album.
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Pay the distribution fee: DistroKid charges a one-time fee per release, which varies depending on the plan you've selected. You'll need to pay this fee before your music can be distributed to streaming platforms.
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Submit your release: Once you've completed the above steps, you can submit your release to DistroKid for review. DistroKid will then review your release and ensure that it meets their formatting and content guidelines.
How often does Spotify pay out?
Although most music distributors try to pay out as soon as possible, there is typically a two or three-month delay on most streaming services and online stores. This means if you upload your music to in January, you’ll likely see your first payments in March or April.
How long do services take to
Does it cost to post music to Spotify?
The cost of posting to Spotify depends on which unique distributor you want to use. Normally a basic subscription will cost you around $1 to post a song. With more expensive plans, publishing songs is inclusive and you will just have to pay the yearly fee per account. Here are DistroKids yearly costs.
For as little as $19.99 you can start posting on Spotify, Apple music and Amazon!
How much can I make from Spotify?
Generally, Spotify pays $0.004 (£0.0033) a stream. So 1,000 streams on Spotify would equate to about £3-4.
|
Spotify Streams |
£ Pounds GBP |
|
1,000 |
£3-4 |
|
10,000 |
£30-40 |
|
100,000 |
£300-400 |
Who pays more? Spotify or Apple music?
The amount paid per stream depends on several factors, such as the country where the stream occurred, the type of subscription the user has, and the specific terms of the agreement between the streaming platform and the artist or rights holder. However, in general, Apple Music pays significantly more than a Spotify stream and has higher payout rates to artists and rights holders.
The general rule is that countries where the subscription is more expensive pays out more. European streams (especially Norway) pay the most.
Can I post beats with royalty free packs to Spotify?
Yes, you can post royalty-free music to Spotify. However, it's important to note that royalty-free music is not the same as music that is in the public domain or music that you have created yourself. Royalty-free music packs or sample packs are still protected by copyright, but the copyright holder has granted you the right to use the music in a certain way without having to pay royalties for each use.
If you are using royalty-free music, you will need to make sure that you have the appropriate license to use the music on Spotify. This may involve purchasing a license from the copyright holder i.e Symitone. Some royalty-free music libraries may also provide licenses for using their music on streaming services like Spotify.
What happens if someone posts music to your page?
Often if you don't have a unique name on Spotify, many accounts can be called similar or the same thing. This leads to issues when posting songs and albums. It's fairly common for other producers to start posting music on your account by a mistake. Unfortunately on the face of it there's nothing you can directly do to stop this from happening.
If you have already claimed a profile on Spotify as an artist. Go to https://artists.spotify.com/c/content-mismatch and click "Another Artist's music os on my profile" and Spotify should take you through the steps to remove it. Failing that, the next step would be to contact your music distributor or Spotify Artist account contact via email to explain your problem.
Can I use Symitone sample packs?
All Symitone sample packs and soundbanks are 100% royalty free. However, redistribution and repackaging our products is prohibited, and will result in legal action. Rendering the project files and releasing the exact songs as your own original content is also prohibited. However, using the samples, presets, loops, rhythms, melodies, etc (including free packs) for your own projects is 100% royalty free. Meaning you don't have to pay us any royalties for your uploaded work!