Release guide · Spotify & Apple Music
How to Release Music on Spotify & Apple Music in 2026: The Complete Checklist
A good release starts before you press submit. Get the files, credits and dates right once, and avoid preventable corrections after your music reaches stores.
By DistriBeats Editorial Team ·
1. Can you upload music directly to Spotify or Apple Music?
For ordinary commercial song releases, use a distributor or your label’s existing distribution service. Spotify explains that distributors deliver music and pay streaming royalties; Apple Music’s release guidance also directs independent artists toward distribution partners. Uploading a local file into a listening app does not publish it to the public catalogue.
Compare the total cost, royalty share, release allowances, support and what happens when a subscription ends. Do not choose on the headline upload price alone. Review DistriBeats pricing for current regional amounts and plan terms.
2. Prepare the final audio and artwork
Keep a high-quality original master. Spotify’s audio guidance asks for the native stereo master, prefers FLAC and accepts qualifying WAV files. A distributor may have a narrower upload specification: the table below is DistriBeats’ specification, not a universal rule for every store.
| Asset | Prepare | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Stereo WAV or FLAC; 16- or 24-bit; 44.1 or 48 kHz | Converting a compressed MP3 into WAV does not restore quality |
| Audio size | Up to 150 MB per master on paid plans; check the displayed Free-plan limit | Confusing a transfer-part limit with the complete file limit |
| Cover image | 3000 × 3000 pixels; JPG or PNG; RGB | Upscaling a small image or exporting CMYK |
| Cover content | Release/track titles, artist names and relevant music logos | Adding URLs, prices, social handles or store logos |
Listen to the exact exported file, not only the session in your music software. Check the opening, ending, channel balance and any edits. Artwork filename and actual format must agree: renaming a PNG to “cover.jpg” does not convert it. See our loudness guide for mastering context.
3. Fill in the release and track metadata
Metadata determines how a recording is displayed and credited. Spotify’s metadata guidelines emphasise consistent artist names, separate artist fields and correctly assigned roles. Use the spelling already on your artist profile; provide its store link when requested to reduce wrong-profile placement.
| Level | Information | Check before submission |
|---|---|---|
| Release | Title, Single/EP/Album type, label, language, genre, date, artwork and UPC | Track order and artwork agree with the submitted title |
| Track | Title, version, featured artists, ISRC, language and explicit status | Clean and explicit versions are labelled truthfully |
| Credits | Songwriters/composers, producer and a named performer or instrument contributor | Producer and writer credits alone do not satisfy performance credits |
| Rights | Separate © and ℗ owner names and years | Identify the actual rights holder, not an unrelated brand |
On DistriBeats every track needs a producer and at least one named vocal, performer or supported instrument contributor. Never invent someone to pass a check. Use the supported role, language and genre selections in the form. Keep featured artists in their own fields rather than adding them to the song title.
4. What is the difference between ISRC and UPC?
An ISRC identifies a particular recording; a UPC identifies a release product, such as a single or album. They are not interchangeable. The IFPI International ISRC Agency explains recording identifiers and how they are assigned.
DistriBeats provides codes for new releases and displays saved UPC and track ISRC codes in the release archive. When moving an unchanged recording from another distributor, retain its original ISRC and supply the existing release identifiers and original date where applicable. A materially different recording may need a new ISRC. Matching codes alone cannot guarantee preservation of playlist positions, stream counts or artist placement; keep the audio and metadata consistent and check the transfer carefully.
5. Confirm the rights before paying or submitting
Confirm permission to distribute the recording, composition and artwork. A producer’s beat licence may have usage limits; samples may require separate permissions. Keep written agreements and any required clearance documents. Distribution is not a substitute for obtaining those permissions.
Declare AI involvement accurately for each track and use an eligible plan. Commercial-use permission from an AI tool is not the same as copyright protection. Read the AI copyright and licensing guide before uploading AI-generated material. This checklist is practical guidance, not legal advice.
6. Pick a date that leaves room for delivery and pitching
Work backwards from your release date. Leave time for rights checks, review, store ingestion and a correction if needed. The earliest selectable date depends on your plan and submission method; follow the date shown in your console rather than assuming every plan has the same deadline.
API submissions require at least 9 calendar days, with longer plan limits retained. Label plans require 10 working days through the API. Working days are Monday–Friday, excluding submission day. These are submission rules, not a promise that every store will publish at the same instant.
After the unreleased song appears in Spotify for Artists, submit an editorial pitch. Spotify asks for a pitch at least 7 days before release for followers’ Release Radar inclusion. That window starts after delivery to Spotify, not when you first upload to your distributor. An editorial playlist placement is never guaranteed.
“Submitted” means sent for review; “Sent to Stores” means delivery has been accepted, not necessarily that the music is live. Check the actual store pages and artist profiles, then share your DistriLinks listening link.
7. Final release checklist
- Final stereo master checked from beginning to end; no missing audio or unintended silence.
- Square artwork, correct colour mode and file format; titles and names match the release.
- Correct artist profiles, track order, language, genre and explicit-content labels.
- Real songwriter, producer and performer credits entered for every track.
- Recording and artwork rights checked; samples and AI usage declared honestly.
- Existing ISRC and UPC saved for any catalogue transfer; original dates retained where appropriate.
- Release date leaves time for review, delivery, corrections and any editorial pitch.
- After delivery, artist profile placement and store links checked before sharing.
Common questions
Do I need a record label to release a song?
No. Independent artists can use a distributor directly. A label is useful for managing a roster, funding or promotion, but it is not a requirement for a public music release.
Does an ISRC register my copyright?
No. It identifies a recording. Copyright ownership, registration and commercial licences are separate matters.
Why is my song not in Spotify for Artists yet?
It may still be under review, awaiting delivery or being ingested by Spotify. Check the release status and artist mapping; an upload confirmation is not proof that Spotify has received it.
Can I fix credits after release?
Ask your distributor to send a metadata correction. Some changes require extra review, and store updates are not immediate. Getting the original submission right is safer.
Ready for your next release?
Compare the current plans and start with a complete release package. Managing a whole roster or your own portal? Continue with our white-label and music distribution API launch guide.
Choose a distribution planSources and verification
Checked 10 November 2026. Store guidance can change; DistriBeats file and timing requirements are taken from the current release forms and public API documentation.