So you’ve put the final polish on your latest track, and are ready to share it with the world. Neat! Your initial question might be, “How can I get this onto Spotify?” After all, it’s one of the largest music streaming platforms in the world. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of uploading your music to Spotify and other major platforms in just minutes with BandLab Distribution. We’ll even show you how it can be done for free.
Just keep in mind, you’ll need an original track and a BandLab Membership to kick things off. Don’t have a Membership? No worries. Try it for free for 3 days!
How to post music to Spotify: Picking the right distributor
Music distributors are the middlemen between you and the platform you want to share to. They facilitate the process, making it simple, fast, and trouble-free – so you won’t have to handle the complexities of how to post music to Spotify on your own.
For emerging artists working within tight budgets and limited resources, selecting the right distributor is important. This is because not all distribution services are created equal. Some may siphon off your hard-earned royalties, others might be complicated to navigate, and a few may review your submissions at a snail’s pace. This can extend the time it takes for your music to become available on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
When making your decision on which music distribution service to use, consider factors like the speed of their system, user-friendliness, and your comfort level with the royalties and processing fees they impose.
Why use BandLab Distribution?
So, why choose BandLab Distribution? Easy. For the price of $14.99 USD a month, you unlock more than just a music distribution service. You also gain access to a whole suite of artist-centric services to fuel your music career. This includes Fan Reach for growing your fanbase, Profile Boost to reach new audiences within the community, and unlimited BandLab Opportunities for landing record deals, sync placements, radio play, and more!
Plus, you’ll enjoy an expedited review process, speeding up the process of getting your music sent out to online stores and digital service providers (DSPs). This means your music can be released to the world in record time. What’s more, you get to share an unlimited number of tracks AND retain 100% of royalties earned.
How to upload your music to Spotify
Getting your music onto Spotify via BandLab Distribution is simple! You can do this on BandLab web at the moment (keep an eye out for the mobile version rolling out soon). Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Get a BandLab Membership
To access BandLab Distribution, you must first become a member. Want to try out Membership (and all the perks that come with it) without the financial commitment? No problem. Feel free to take our three-day free trial for a spin.
Step 2: Upload your track, title, release date, and cover art
After successfully creating your account, the next step is to upload your track. Navigate to the Services tab on BandLab web and click on Digital Distribution. From there, click the New Release button to get started.
Choose your WAV file and key in the requested information such as your track title and release date. You’ll want to upload eye-catching cover art that accurately represents your new release. The cover art should be a minimum size of 640 x 640 pixels. You can find more information on Spotify’s cover art guidelines here.
Step 3: Add contributors
Collaborated with other artists on this new release? Good news – you can easily credit them as contributors. Don’t miss this step, as it guarantees that everyone gets the recognition they deserve!
Step 4: Await the stamp of approval
Once you’ve hit submit, we take care of rest. Your track will undergo a review process to ensure everything is in order before it gets sent to Spotify and other major platforms. The wait time is typically up to 24 hours. Need a deeper dive? Check out this guide on how to use BandLab Distribution.
Step 5: Watch your music go live
Once Spotify has your track, it typically takes them 24 to 48 hours to roll it out. Sit tight and you can start collecting royalties in no time.
Step 6: Collect your royalties
As your new release gains more streams, you’ll start accumulating royalties, and Spotify typically pays out monthly. The best part is, with an active BandLab Membership, you get to keep 100% of your earnings. Considering canceling your Membership after the free trial? No worries. Your tracks will stay live on the different DSPs, and you’ll continue receiving 80% of your royalties.
Now that you know how to get music on Spotify via BandLab Distribution, the rest is up to you! The key to your first 1,000 streams and beyond lies not only in publishing your music but also in making it known. Ready to add rocket fuel to your next release?
