The Ultimate Guide: How to Upload Your Music to Spotify in 2025

Getting your music on Spotify is a defining moment for any artist. It's a chance to share your creativity with millions of listeners worldwide.

If you're new to music distribution, the process might feel overwhelming. This guide will walk you through every step in clear, simple terms.

Why Spotify Matters for Independent Artists

With over 600 million active users and 200 million premium subscribers, Spotify is the world's largest music streaming platform. For independent artists, it offers:

• Global Reach: Your music becomes available to listeners in 184 markets
• Playlist Opportunities: Editorial and algorithmic playlists can expose your music to thousands of new fans
• Revenue Streams: Earn royalties from streams (we'll explain how this works)
• Professional Tools: Spotify for Artists provides analytics, customization, and promotional features

Step 1: Prepare Your Music Files

Before uploading, ensure your music meets technical requirements:

Audio File Specifications

• Format: WAV or FLAC (lossless formats)
• Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz (CD quality) or higher
• Bit Depth: 16-bit minimum, 24-bit preferred
• Channels: Stereo (2 channels)

Cover Art Requirements

• Dimensions: 3000 x 3000 pixels (square)
• Format: JPEG or PNG
• File Size: Under 10MB
• Content: No URLs, social media handles, or promotional text

Step 2: Choose a Music Distributor

Artists cannot upload directly to Spotify. You need a music distributor to deliver your tracks. Think of distributors as the bridge between your music and streaming platforms.

Key factors to consider when choosing a distributor:

• Pricing Model: Annual fee, per-release fee, or commission-based?
• Royalty Split: Do you keep 100% of your earnings?
• Release Speed: How quickly can they deliver to stores?
• Additional Features: Analytics, playlist pitching, royalty splits for collaborators
• Support: How responsive is customer service?

ALERA offers unlimited releases for $9.99/month with 100% royalty retention and next-day delivery on Pro plans. Plus, features like automated royalty splits and unified analytics make it ideal for independent artists.

Step 3: Create Your Account and Upload

Once you've chosen a distributor, the upload process typically follows these steps:

1. Create an Account: Sign up and complete your profile with accurate artist information
2. Start a New Release: Click "New Release" or similar and choose your release type (single, EP, or album)
3. Upload Audio Files: Drag and drop your WAV/FLAC files in the correct track order
4. Add Cover Art: Upload your 3000x3000 artwork
5. Enter Metadata: Fill in all required information (covered in detail below)
6. Select Stores: Choose Spotify and any other platforms you want
7. Set Release Date: Pick a date at least 2-4 weeks in the future
8. Review and Submit: Double-check everything before hitting submit

Step 4: Perfect Your Metadata

Metadata is the information attached to your release. Accurate metadata ensures your music is discoverable and properly credited.

Essential Metadata Fields

• Track Title: Exact title as you want it displayed (avoid ALL CAPS)
• Artist Name: Your primary artist name (use consistent spelling)
• Featured Artists: Anyone who should be credited with "feat." or "with"
• Songwriters: Everyone who wrote the lyrics and music (legal names)
• Producers: Who produced the track
• Genre: Primary and secondary genres
• Release Date: When the track goes live
• Language: Primary language of the lyrics
• Explicit Content: Mark if lyrics contain explicit content

"The difference between a searchable track and an invisible one is often just accurate metadata. Spell names correctly, choose the right genre, and your music becomes discoverable."

Step 5: Claim Your Spotify for Artists Profile

Once your first release is live (or during the review process), claim your Spotify for Artists profile. This free tool gives you:

• Profile Customization: Add bio, photos, and pinned content
• Real-Time Analytics: See who's streaming your music and where
• Playlist Pitching: Submit unreleased tracks to Spotify's editorial team
• Canvas: Add looping visuals to your tracks
• Artist's Pick: Highlight a release or playlist on your profile

How to Claim Your Profile

1. Go to artists.spotify.com
2. Search for your artist name
3. Click "Claim" and verify your identity
4. Wait for approval (usually 24-48 hours)

Step 6: Pitch to Playlists Before Release

This is crucial. Spotify allows artists to pitch unreleased music to their editorial playlist team—but you must do this at least 7 days before release.

Writing an Effective Pitch

When pitching, you'll describe:

• The story behind the song
• The mood and vibe
• What instruments are featured
• Cultural influences or inspirations
• Any marketing plans or press coverage

Step 7: Promote Your Release

Getting on Spotify is just the beginning. To maximize streams:

• Pre-Save Campaigns: Let fans save your track before release to boost day-one streams
• Social Media: Share snippets, behind-the-scenes content, and countdown posts
• Spotify Promo Cards: Use Spotify's free promotional graphics
• Collaborate with Curators: Reach out to independent playlist curators
• Email Your Fans: If you have a mailing list, announce your release

Understanding Spotify Royalties

Artists often ask: "How much will I earn per stream?"

Spotify pays between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream on average, though this varies based on listener location and subscription type. Premium streams pay more than ad-supported ones.

Your royalty split typically looks like this:

• Spotify's Share: ~30%
• Rights Holders' Share: ~70% (split between recording and publishing rights)

If you own your masters (recording rights) and are self-published, you keep a larger portion. Your distributor may take a percentage or charge a fee, which is why choosing the right one matters.

Timeline: From Upload to Live

Here's a realistic timeline for your release:

• 4 weeks before: Upload your release to your distributor
• 3 weeks before: Release should be approved and in Spotify's system
• 2 weeks before: Pitch to playlists via Spotify for Artists
• 1 week before: Promote pre-saves and build anticipation
• Release day: Your music goes live at midnight local time

Final Thoughts

Uploading to Spotify is simpler than it seems once you understand the process. Focus on quality—both in your music and your presentation. Take the time to perfect your metadata, create compelling artwork, and plan your promotion strategy.

Remember: getting on Spotify is the first step. Building an audience takes consistent releases, engagement with fans, and patience. Every successful artist started with their first upload.

Ready to release your music? ALERA makes distribution simple with our all-in-one Artist Cockpit. Start distributing to Spotify and 150+ other platforms today.