While Spotify's streaming payouts are modest, having your music on the platform is essential for discoverability and reaching new fans. Here's how to release your music on Spotify effectively:

Prepare Your Music

• Ensure professional production quality
• Get proper mixing and mastering
• Create high-quality album artwork (not pixelated, matching artist name)
• Prepare metadata (genre, BPM, songwriters, publishing info)
• Secure necessary agreements from all contributors

Choose a Digital Distributor

Top distributors and their key features:

CD Baby:

• Single: $9.95 + $5 UPC
• Album: $29 + $20 UPC
• 9% commission
• 1-2 day delivery

DistroKid:

• $19.99/year for unlimited releases
• 0% commission
• Payment splitting available
• 2-7 day delivery

Soundrop:

• Free distribution
• 15% commission
• Cover songs made easy
• 3-5 day delivery

Songtradr:

• $20/year unlimited releases
• 0-10% commission
• Licensing opportunities
• 2-7 day delivery

Amuse:

• Free or $60/year Pro account
• 100% royalties kept
• Label opportunities
• 14-day delivery (Pro)

Set Up Your Spotify Presence

1. Register for Spotify for Artists:

• Visit Spotify's artist claim page
• Sign in and verify your identity
• Access your dashboard and analytics

2. Submit to Playlist Editors:

• Access the Music tab in Spotify for Artists
• Select "Upcoming"
• Submit track before release

3. Launch Pre-save Campaign:

• Enables automatic library saves
• Converts listeners to followers
• Collects email addresses
• Improves algorithmic performance

Timeline Tips:

• Submit music 4 weeks before release
• Plan marketing strategy
• Monitor analytics post-release

Best Practices:

• Maintain consistent release schedule
• Engage with listeners
• Update profile regularly
• Track performance metrics
• Build playlist relationships

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