It’s quite a challenge for artists to position their musical creations, be seen, and be heard. That’s why platforms like Spotify become an important and exploitable tool for independent musicians.
This is a step-by-step guide to understand how you can start uploading your music on Spotify
Choose a Distributor.
Music reaches Spotify through a distributor. They handle licensing, distribution, and other playback services, charging you a commission and paying royalties when your listeners play your content. If you don’t have a distributor yet, you can start by checking Spotify’s directory, where they recommend some: Spotify Providers Directory.
Here’s a summary of the points to consider for providing them correctly:
1. Add the names of all the artists involved in your songs. Write the names of the artists consistently, without abbreviations or acronyms. SEO terms like “sleep music” are not allowed.
2. Add the countries where you want your music to be available to Spotify listeners. In this list, you can find the countries and territories where your music can be available on Spotify.
3. Artist roles determine which artists are credited on your song and must be set at both the song and publication levels. Some key roles to consider include main artists, featured artists, remixers, composers, lyricists, and producers.
4. Mark your explicit songs as explicit content. Spotify marks explicit songs with the E icon, so there’s no need to include this information in the title.
5. Specify the date your music will be released to Spotify listeners. We recommend setting the release date at least 7 days in advance so you have time to submit an unreleased song to our editors for inclusion in a playlist.
5. Lastly, you must include artwork that meets the following requirements:
- In TIFF, PNG, or JPG format with lossless encoding.
- Present the highest available resolution.
- Have a height and width of at least 640 px.
- Have an aspect ratio of 1:1.
- Be encoded with a 24-bit sRGB colour space, and colour profiles are applied directly.
Manage and Optimize Your Artist Profile.
Once your music is on Spotify, you can access your artist profile and the Spotify for Artists dashboard, where you can track the performance of your content and manage it.
Customize your profile by adding photos, a biography, links to your social media, promotional articles, and playlists. This step allows you to connect more deeply with your audience and make the most of your presence on Spotify.
Engage with Your Audience
Spotify offers various tools for artists to engage with their audience. Utilize features like Canvas, which allows you to add looping visuals to your tracks, and share updates on your artist profile. Respond to comments, create playlists, and actively participate in the Spotify community to foster a dedicated fan base.
Monitor Your Analytics
Keep a close eye on the performance of your music using Spotify for Artists analytics. Track the number of streams, listener demographics, and popular playlists. This data provides valuable insights into your audience, helping you refine your promotional strategies and tailor your music to better connect with listeners.
Promote Your Music
While Spotify provides a platform for exposure, proactive promotion is key to reaching a broader audience. Share your Spotify links on social media, collaborate with influencers, and explore cross-promotion with other artists. The more actively you promote your music, the greater the chances of it gaining traction.
In conclusion, uploading music on Spotify is a multifaceted process that involves strategic planning, engagement, and ongoing promotion. By following these steps, you not only make your music accessible to a global audience but also set the stage for a thriving musical presence on one of the world’s leading streaming platforms. So, gear up, upload your tunes, and let the world groove to your unique rhythm.
We believe every musician is deserving of the chance to have their music listened to and receive expert adjudicated feedback.
Our goal is to ensure that Canadian musicians earn the proper advice and guidance to help them develop musically and build their careers around their passion.
The Music in Motion Canada Awards was designed with you, the musician, in mind. We want to provide you with the resources and opportunities to grow and achieve your goals. To start the process, all you need to do is bring your talent and dedication for improvement.
