How to Put Music on Spotify: Distributors, Timing and Profile

You put music on Spotify by sending it through a distributor, a service that delivers your tracks to Spotify and pays you the streaming royalties. Spotify's own help center points independent artists to a distributor, and signed artists to their label. Pick one, upload your release at least a week before release day, then claim your Spotify for Artists profile so you can pitch the song and see your stats.

Spotify takes music from distributors, not from you

There is no upload button for independent artists on Spotify. The Spotify for Artists help center says distributors handle music distribution and pay streaming royalties, and that is the route it describes for getting music onto the platform.

Two things follow from that:

• If you are signed, Spotify says your record label likely already works with a distributor who can deliver your music. Ask your label before you sign up for anything.
• If you are independent, you choose a distributor yourself. Spotify notes that most distributors charge a fee or a commission, and that each service is different, so it is worth comparing a few before you commit.

Spotify keeps a public list of preferred distributors that it says meet its highest standards for quality metadata and anti-infringement measures. Picking one from that list matters later, because it makes claiming your artist profile faster (more on that below).

Choose a distributor: DistroKid, CD Baby or TuneCore

DistroKid, CD Baby and TuneCore are all tagged as preferred artist distributors on Spotify's list. They charge in different ways, which is the main thing to compare. Prices below are from each company's own pricing page as of October 2026.

What each one suits:

• DistroKid suits artists who release often. The Musician plan covers one artist or band with unlimited songs. Musician Plus covers two artists and adds daily stats and the ability to set custom release and preorder dates. Ultimate covers 1 to 100 artists.
• CD Baby suits artists who release occasionally and would rather pay once per release than every year. Its pricing page also mentions an "initial setup fee" alongside the 9% commission without saying plainly whether that fee is the $9.99 and $14.99 price, so check the total at checkout.
• TuneCore suits artists who want either a yearly unlimited plan or a pay per release option in one place. Its album price is listed as $44.99, with "$56.49 each following year." It also lists $14.99 per additional artist profile.

Whichever you pick, read its terms on what happens to your releases if you stop paying a yearly fee before you upload. Moving a catalog later is more work than choosing well once.

Upload early: Spotify needs at least five business days

Timing is where most first releases go wrong. Spotify says it needs 5 business days to get new music live. If your distributor delivers within 5 business days of your release date, the music might not be live until a few days after the date you announced.

For a release you plan to promote, aim for more than a week. Spotify asks for music to be delivered at least 7 days before release so its playlist editors have time to listen, and that window is also what earns you a spot in your followers' Release Radar (see the pitching steps below).

A simple schedule:

1. Finish your audio and cover art before you open the distributor's upload form.
2. Upload and pick a release date at least two weeks out, so the distributor's own processing has room.
3. Once the release shows up as upcoming in Spotify for Artists, pitch it.
4. Share a pre-save link while you wait.

If your release date passes and the music still is not live, and you delivered it more than 5 business days early, Spotify says to contact your distributor. They can see the delivery details you cannot.

Claim your Spotify for Artists profile

Spotify for Artists is where you manage your artist profile and pitch new songs to Spotify's editors. You claim the profile once, and Spotify's access guide covers every case.

1. Submit a request to claim your artist profile in Spotify for Artists.
2. Add a link to your website or social channels so Spotify can verify you.
3. Wait for review. Spotify reviews requests by hand, and it can take a few days.

A few cases change the steps:

• Your distributor is a preferred provider. Submitting the request through that distributor gets you access automatically.
• You have not released anything yet. Ask your distributor or label for your Spotify artist link or URI, then contact Spotify support with that link and the UPC or EAN of your upcoming release.
• Someone already claimed the profile, such as a manager or bandmate. You cannot request access yourself; ask the team's Admin to invite you.
• A request is already pending. Only one request can be active per artist profile at a time. If a request is rejected, Spotify emails you the next steps.

Pitch your song before it comes out

Once you have access, pitch the release while it is still upcoming:

1. Log in at artists.spotify.com.
2. Open the Music tab and select Upcoming.
3. Choose a song and complete the pitch form.

You can pitch one song at a time, and only unreleased songs qualify. If you pitch at least 7 days before release, Spotify adds the song to your followers' Release Radar playlists, so the people who already follow you hear it even if editors pass.

Promote the release before and after it lands

Getting the song onto Spotify is the start. The first days after release are when your existing fans decide whether to listen, so give them an easy way in.

• Before release: share a pre-save link so the song lands in fans' libraries on release day. Our guide to Spotify pre-save links walks through setting one up.
• On release day: post to Instagram and TikTok with a clip of the song and a clear pointer to your bio link. The Instagram music promotion guide covers Reels, Stories and collabs.
• After release: keep the song in your bio link, and add other ways to support you, such as merch or downloads. See how to sell music online for options beyond streaming.

Put your Spotify release on your Olaa page

Olaa is a link in bio tool: one short link, olaa.im/yourname, that opens a page with everything you want fans to find. On the free plan, you can add a Spotify player that plays on the page, alongside Apple Music, SoundCloud and YouTube players, so a fan tapping your bio can hear the new single without leaving.

The free plan also includes unlimited links, featured cards for the new release, social icons, a QR code for gig posters and 7 days of analytics. Olaa Pro ($8 a month or $72 a year) adds products from Stripe, Etsy, Shopify or Gumroad with no cut taken by Olaa, email signups sent to Mailchimp, countdowns for a release date and scheduled links. Setup takes a few minutes with no code. See how musicians use it on the Olaa for musicians page.

FAQ

Can I upload music to Spotify directly?

Not as an independent artist. Spotify's help center sends artists to a distributor, which delivers the music and pays the royalties, or to their label if they are signed. Spotify for Artists is for managing your profile and pitching, not for uploading audio.

How long does it take for music to show up on Spotify?

Spotify says it needs 5 business days to get new music live once your distributor delivers it. Delivering inside that window can push your song a few days past its release date. Deliver at least 7 days ahead if you want to pitch it to editors.

Is there a free way to put music on Spotify?

All three distributors covered here charge something: DistroKid and TuneCore charge yearly, and CD Baby charges a one-time fee per release plus a 9% commission on digital revenue. Spotify itself notes that most distributors charge a fee or commission. Compare the total cost for how often you plan to release.

How do I get verified on Spotify for Artists?

Submit a request to claim your artist profile and add a link to your website or social channels so Spotify can confirm it is you. Spotify reviews requests manually, which can take a few days. If your distributor is on Spotify's preferred list, requesting through it gives you access automatically.

Can I claim my profile before my first song is out?

Yes. Ask your distributor or label for your Spotify artist link or URI, then contact Spotify support with that link and the UPC or EAN of your upcoming release.

Do I keep my royalties?

It depends on the distributor. DistroKid's pricing page says you keep 100% of earnings, CD Baby keeps 9% of digital distribution revenue, and TuneCore lists a 20% fee on earnings from TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Check the current terms on each company's own page before you sign up.