How to Upload Your Music
to Spotify
Spotify doesn't let artists upload music directly to the platform. Artists must go through a music distributor to get their music on Spotify. This page covers the Spotify release process, the things Spotify will need from you, how long each step takes and what it costs to distribute your music.
Three things to sort out before you release
Pick a distributor
Spotify only accepts music from approved distributors, and there are dozens. Compare them on yearly cost, delivery speed, and whether your releases stay live if you cancel.
Choose a budget
There's no completely free route to music distribution. Expect to pay between $20–$30 a year for unlimited releases, or a one-off fee per release. Some distributors also take a cut of your royalties.
Give yourself four weeks
Set a release date at least four weeks out. That's what leaves you time to claim your Spotify profile and pitch the track to editorial playlists. Rushing this process can reduce the impact the success of your release.
Watch our video guide
Watch LANDR's video guide on how to get your music on Spotify to learn more about important topics like how to prep your music, how to choose a distributor, adding your artwork, preparing metadata, setting your release date, Spotify for Artists, pitching, promotion and more!
Every deadline, counted back from release day
Most first releases go wrong on timing, not on the music. Here's a schedule you can follow, counting back from your release date.
4 WEEKS BEFORE
Submit your song. Upload to your distributor and set a release date at least 4 weeks out. This is what makes playlist pitching possible.
2-3 WEEKS BEFORE
Claim your Spotify for Artists account. You can do this before your first song is live.
7+ DAYS BEFORE
Pitch the track to Spotify's editorial team from inside Spotify for Artists. One pitch per unreleased song.
RELEASE DAY
Your song appears on Spotify. If you skipped the release date and submitted for ASAP delivery, budget 2–5 days instead.
90 DAYS AFTER
First royalty payment lands. After that, payments arrive monthly.
Spotify Preferred Provider
Spotify keeps a public list of distributors it has vetted, called the Provider Directory. Preferred is the top tier. To be listed there, a distributor has to meet Spotify's highest standards for delivering clean metadata and protecting against copyright infringement. LANDR is one of them.
As a Spotify Preferred Provider, LANDR gets you instant access to a Spotify for Artists account and gets your music in front of your fans faster than other platforms.
Spotify for Artists accounts
Here are some of the things you can do once you create a Spotify for Artists account:
- Pitch songs to Spotify's editorial playlists
- Customize your bio, profile picture, banner image & social links
- Pin an artist pick to your profile (a song, album or playlist)
- View audience analytics and learn more about your listeners
- Manage team members with access to your profile
- Add merch and tour dates to your profile
- Create Spotify Marquee campaigns
- Access Spotify Discovery Mode
- Upload Spotify Canvas videos for your tracks
Why upload your music to Spotify?
Spotify is the biggest audience you can reach as an independent artist in 2026. Spotify now has over 777 million monthly listeners in 184 markets, 300 million of them paying subscribers.
Once your song is live, it can reach those listeners through Release Radar, Discover Weekly and editorial playlists, not just through people who already follow you.
Everything Spotify needs, in one place
Get these right and your release sails through review. (Spotify Delivery Requirements - Verified August 12, 2026)
Audio file
WAV or FLAC, 16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1 kHz or higher
Cover art size
Square JPEG or PNG, minimum 3000 × 3000 px
Cover art rules
No URLs, no social handles, no logos you don't own, no prices or promo text. Any of these can get your release rejected.
Artist name
Must match exactly across every release, character for character. "DJ Sam" and "DJ SAM" become two different artists on Spotify.
Track titles
No ALL CAPS unless it's a stylised name. Put features in brackets, "Song Title (feat. Artist)", not in the artist field.
ISRC code
Required. Your distributor issues one free if you don't have one. Bring your own if you already do, never reuse a code across two songs.
Cover songs
You need a mechanical licence before you release. LANDR handles this for $15 USD per song.
Minimum lead time
4 weeks before release date, to be eligible to pitch for playlists
Review time
1–3 days at LANDR, once submitted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you really need a music distributor?
Yes. Spotify has no direct upload tool for artists. Its earlier upload beta was discontinued, and every song on the platform now arrives through a distributor.
You also can't get on Spotify for free. Every approved distributor charges either a yearly subscription, a per-release fee, or a commission on your royalties.
How long does it take to get music published on Spotify
Two to five days from submission for most distributors. At LANDR, review typically takes 1–3 days once you submit depending on your plan level, then delivery follows. If you set a release date far enough in advance, your song appears on that exact date instead.
Can I upload music to Spotify for free?
No. Spotify only accepts releases from approved distributors, and every approved distributor charges something: a yearly subscription, a per-release fee, or a cut of your royalties. Unlimited plans generally start around $20–$30 USD per year. There's no 100% free route for independent artists.
Can I release a cover song on Spotify?
Yes, but you need a mechanical licence for the song you're covering before you release it. LANDR handles cover song licensing for $15 USD per song. Releasing a cover without a licence can get the track removed and, in some cases, the royalties redirected.
How do I claim my Spotify for Artists profile?
When your releases go live with a LANDR Distribution plan your Spotify profile will automatically be claimed, if it hasn't already. Once your profile is claimed you'll be able to log into your Spotify account via the LANDR Distribution hub and customize your profile.
Do I need a Spotify for Artists account before I upload?
No, it works the other way around. You submit your release through a distributor first, and that's what creates your artist profile on Spotify. Once the release is in the system you can claim the profile at artists.spotify.com. With LANDR the profile is claimed for you automatically.
How do I pitch my song to a Spotify playlist?
Log in to Spotify for Artists, open your upcoming release under Music, and choose "Pitch a song". Do it at least 7 days before release day. You can pitch one unreleased song at a time, and placement is never guaranteed.
When do I get paid for Spotify streams?
About 90 days after your release goes live, then monthly after that. The delay is how long it takes Spotify to report and pay out streams to your distributor. Active LANDR subscribers keep 100% of what comes in. LANDR takes no commission on streaming revenue.
How can I promote my music once it’s on Spotify?
When you have an upcoming release you can create promotional campaigns by adding your release to a LANDR promolink, which you can find in the promotion section of your LANDR Distribution account. Use this link learn more about how to promote your music to your fans and make it easy for anyone to find your tracks no matter what platform they use.
How do creators earn money with Spotify?
Artists earn money with Spotify based on its royalty pay-out system. There are many factors that determine exactly how much money is paid. In general, payouts are made per stream and are paid based on various pools of money available to various groups of artists on the platform.
That’s why it’s not possible to determine exactly how much is paid per stream since the revenue share between artists and pool size is subject to change.
Creators can also earn money by posting merch for sale directly on their artist page and selling concert tickets that also show up on their artist page.
You need a certain number of monthly listeners to access these features and your concert tickets will only show if they're listed on a major concert ticket retailer’s website.
Why isn't my music live on release day?
Usually one of three things: the release was submitted too close to the date, artwork or metadata failed review, or the song is live but not showing on your profile because it hasn't been linked to your artist ID yet. Check your distributor's release status first, then Spotify for Artists.
What happens to my music if I stop paying?
This varies a lot between distributors, so check before you commit. With LANDR, releases you've already put out stay live on Spotify even if you cancel your plan. Some distributors take your catalog down when the subscription lapses.
Ready when you are
Unlimited releases to Spotify and 150+ other platforms. Keep 100% of your royalties. Your music stays live even if you cancel.
