Why you can't upload a track directly
The main thing a beginner musician needs to understand: Spotify does not accept music directly from artists. You can't just open the app and hit "upload a track". All music reaches Spotify through intermediaries — digital distributors. These are services that deliver your release to every platform at once: Spotify, Apple Music, VK Music, Yandex Music and dozens of others.
What to prepare before uploading
So the release is accepted without edits, prepare in advance:
- A high-quality audio file (usually WAV, with no clipping or clicks).
- A cover — a square at least 3000×3000 pixels, with no extraneous logos or links.
- Metadata: track title, artist name, genre, music and lyrics authors.
- A release date, if you want to schedule the drop in advance.
The more accurately the data is filled in, the lower the chance moderation rejects the release.
How to choose a distributor
There are many distributors, and they split into two types by pricing. Some charge a yearly subscription and leave the artist almost all royalties. Others work for free but keep a percentage of streams. For a first release any trusted service will do — delivery speed and support for local platforms matter more. Pay attention to whether the distributor grants access to Spotify for Artists.
Step by step: from upload to release
The general path is nearly the same everywhere:
- Sign up with your chosen distributor.
- Create a new release, upload the audio and cover.
- Fill in the metadata and select platforms, including Spotify.
- Set the release date and submit for moderation.
- Wait for review — usually from a few days to a couple of weeks.
After approval the track appears on Spotify on the scheduled date. That's also the time to claim your Spotify for Artists profile to manage the page and see statistics.
What to do after release
Just uploading a track isn't enough — by default no one will see it. The first days after release are critical: Spotify algorithms watch how quickly streams and saves accumulate. Add the track to your own playlists, ask friends to listen and save it, and pitch for editorial playlists through Spotify for Artists.
How to ramp up streams at the start
For Spotify algorithms to notice a new track it needs an initial flow of streams and listeners. Organic reach on a cold profile builds slowly, so artists often help a release at the start with a boost of Spotify streams: the first numbers raise the chance of landing in algorithmic playlists like Radio and Discover Weekly, and then the track grows organically. More on this in our Spotify promotion guides.