In this article, Insiderbits will provide a guide on how to release a song on Spotify, covering essential tips from setting up an artist profile to promoting your music effectively.
Releasing a song on a streaming platform can be a crucial step in any musician’s career, offering vast exposure to a global audience.
With Spotify’s music distribution, artists can share their music with millions of listeners worldwide.
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How to Release a Song on Spotify in 2024?
To successfully release a song on Spotify, follow these key steps:
- Set up a Spotify for Artists account: Create an official artist profile on Spotify for Artists by claiming and verifying your artist name. This will allow you to customize your profile, access analytics, and pitch your music to Spotify playlists. (Read below for more info).
- Choose a music distribution service: Sign up with a digital music distributor like TuneCore, CD Baby, or DistroKid to upload your song to Spotify. These services handle the process of getting your music reviewed and added to the platform.
- Prepare your song and artwork: Ensure your audio file is high-quality and meets Spotify’s technical requirements. Create compelling cover art that adheres to their image guidelines.
- Optimize your metadata: Provide detailed information about your song including the title, artist name, genre, mood, and other relevant tags. This helps Spotify’s editorial team better understand and promote your music.
- Pitch your song for playlisting: Through Spotify for Artists, you can pitch your unreleased song to Spotify’s playlist editors at least 7 days before the release date. This increases the chances of getting featured on their curated playlists.
- Promote your release: Spread the word about your new song across social media, email lists, and other channels to build anticipation and drive streams once it’s live on Spotify.
- Monitor your performance: Use the Spotify for Artists app and dashboard to track your song’s real-time streams, listeners, and other key metrics in the first week after release.
How do I Set Up a Spotify Artist Profile?
To release a song on Spotify, first, you will need to set up an artist profile, you need to follow these key steps:
- Choose a digital music distributor like TuneCore, CD Baby, or DistroKid to upload your music to Spotify. Spotify does not allow direct artist uploads.
- Once your music is live on Spotify, go to artists.spotify.com and click “Get Access” to claim and verify your artist profile. This links your music to your official artist page.
- On your Spotify for Artists dashboard, you can then customize your profile by uploading a profile photo, writing a biography, linking your social media, and pitching your songs to Spotify playlists.
- Promote your Spotify artist profile across your marketing channels to build your fanbase and increase streams.
By following this process, you can create an official Spotify presence to connect with listeners, share your music, and access valuable audience insights to grow your career.
Costs Involved in Releasing Music on Spotify
The main costs to consider when releasing music on Spotify are:
Music Distribution Service Fees
To get your music on Spotify, you need to use a digital music distribution service. These services typically charge either:
- A flat annual fee (e.g. $20/year with Distrokid).
- A per-release fee (e.g. $9.99 per single with CD Baby).
- A percentage commission on your royalties (e.g. 15% with AWAL).
The distribution service handles uploading your music, collecting royalties, and paying you. Choosing the right service for your needs is important.
Spotify for Artists Account
Setting up a Spotify for Artists account is free. This allows you to claim your artist profile, access analytics, and pitch your music to Spotify playlists.
Recording & Production Costs
Of course, the biggest cost is actually creating the music you want to release. This can range from a few hundred dollars for a simple home recording to thousands for professional studio time and production.
Artwork & Branding
You’ll also need high-quality cover art and branding assets to accompany your music release. This can be done inexpensively with DIY tools, or you may choose to hire a graphic designer.
Promotional Expenses
To maximize the visibility of your Spotify release, you may want to invest in marketing and promotion. This could include social media ads, influencer outreach, playlist-pitching services, and more.
The total cost to release music on Spotify can vary greatly depending on your production values, distribution strategy, and promotional efforts. However, the platform itself does not charge artists any upfront fees to upload and distribute their music.
Using Spotify Canvas to Enhance Your Song’s Visibility
Spotify Canvas can be a powerful tool for boosting the visibility and engagement of your music on the platform.
By adding a short, looping visual element to your tracks, you can capture the attention of listeners and create a more immersive listening experience.
Some key ways to leverage Spotify Canvas to enhance your song’s visibility include:
- Designing eye-catching, visually compelling artwork that reflects the mood and themes of your music. This can help your track stand out in the “Now Playing” view on Spotify mobile.
- Incorporating subtle animations or motion graphics that complement the song and draw the listener in. Spotify claims Canvases can increase track shares by up to 145%.
- Aligning your Canvas visuals with your overall artist branding and marketing to create a cohesive, memorable experience for fans.
- Regularly updating your Canvases to keep your music feeling fresh and engaging as you release new content.
What Artwork Should I Use for My First Spotify Single?
When choosing cover art for your Spotify single, it’s important to follow the platform’s guidelines to ensure your release is accepted and looks professional.
Spotify requires a square image that is at least 3000×3000 pixels, saved as a .jpg file in RGB color mode.
Avoid using blurry, stretched, or low-resolution images, as this can make your artwork appear unprofessional and unappealing to potential listeners. Additionally, ensure the text on your cover art exactly matches the artist name and song title you’ve entered in Spotify’s metadata.
Steer clear of using copyrighted characters, logos, or trademarks, as this could lead to legal issues. Watermarks from stock image sites are also prohibited.
Finally, while a parental advisory sticker is allowed if your song contains explicit content, it’s not required as you can mark the track as explicit in the metadata.
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How do I Link my Spotify Artist Profile to my Social Media Accounts?
- Go to your Spotify for Artists dashboard and click on the “Edit Profile” section.
- Under the “Social Links” heading, you’ll see options to add your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Wikipedia pages. Simply paste the URLs for each of your social profiles into the corresponding fields.
- Once you’ve entered all your social links, click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page.
- Your linked social media accounts will now be displayed on your public Spotify artist profile, allowing fans to easily find and follow you across platforms.
- You can also share your Spotify profile link directly on your social media bios and posts to drive traffic to your artist page. To get your profile link, go to artists.spotify.com, click the three dots next to your artist name, and select “Share Profile”.
How to Release a Song on Spotify in 2024 – Conclusion
In conclusion, releasing a song on Spotify is an essential step for any artist looking to grow their fanbase and generate royalties in the streaming era.
Leverage the platform’s tools like Spotify for Artists and Canvas to enhance your visibility and engagement.
Promote your release across social media and other channels. With persistence and a commitment to creating high-quality music, you can build a successful career as a Spotify artist. Happy releasing!
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