How to Release Music on Spotify Without Record Label - TechWiser (2024)

Spotify is in a unique position. It is one of the biggest music streaming services in the world with 83 million paid subscribers at the time of writing this article. Spotify changed the game long before Apple Music and YouTube Music came along. It already has a large and loyal userbase and now, you can tap that userbase to get exposure for your music. I think it makes a lot of sense for Spotify. They already have a partnership with record labels and iconic stars around the world in place. The perfect platform for budding musicians to showcase their talent.

Enter Spotify for Artists that will allow folks to release music on Spotify with the help of a distributor or record label. We will show you how it all works and what you need to know.

Let’s understand how the whole thing works in real life.

Also Read: How to Use Shazam to Play Spotify Music Rather Than Apple Music

Spotify for Artists Beta Closed

Yup, that’s right. Spotify for Artists launched a beta program that allowed creators to upload music directly to the platform. Without any intermediaries like record labels or distributors. The beta was closed in 2019 though, but Spotify for Artists is still going strong. This means you will need a distributor (we will share some options below) or sign a contract with a record label that gives indie musicians a chance. Either way, your music is getting out there.

How Spotify for Artists Works

Here is the process meanwhile for those who don’t have access to Spotify for Artists and can’t wait. You will produce music and use a service like Tunecore to upload music to Spotify. Major record labels have direct access to Spotify for Artists platform and can upload music easily. You aren’t signed with a record label yet and so don’t have that luxury.

Your best option is Tunecore or one of the other distributors we share below if you want to release music on Spotify. Tunecore also works with Apple Music, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music among others. The platform is not free though and you will have to subscribe to a plan that begins at $9.99 per year. That’s pretty low in my opinion and well worth every penny.

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Note that Tunecore is not the only distributor out there. In fact, Spotify has signed contracts with some before they closed the door on direct uploads. Some of these are DistroKid, CD Baby, and EmuBands. You can find the full list here. You will also find label distributors there. Tunecore is not part of the list but is a favorite among budding artists community.

Also Read: DistroKid vs Tunecore – the Best Digital Music Distribution Service?

How Music Is Uploaded and Released

Spotify is making it easier for artists to communicate with the team. You will now be able to not only release music on Spotify, but also connect with the team behind that will help you every step of the way. A service like Tunecore works with other streaming platforms too, giving your music a wider reach.

Spotify has released separate and dedicated Android and iOS apps for Spotify for Artists.

Unlike SoundCloud where you upload the music and it is instantly available for the world to listen to, Spotify for Artists gives you more time and control. You will upload your song, artwork, and lyrics if you want and preview how it looks to the end-user/listener before you OK it. You will then choose a release date and time for your music. That gives you time to make changes in the music or artwork and do some much-needed marketing. Let the world know that your music is releasing on this day and time including your social circle. Note that direct upload will be completely free. That’s pretty awesome on part of Spotify.

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Spotify recommends that artists should pick a launch date that’s at least five days ahead of the upload date. That will give Spotify team time to listen to your music and make sure it meets the terms and norms. For example, content that’s prohibited or infringe upon other artist’s work is a strict no-no. You can create your artist profile with interesting details and tidbits easily and it is recommended that you do. Check out what other artists are doing for inspiration.

What About Revenue Split

The revenue will be split 50-50 which means whatever Spotify makes on your music, it will share half of it with you. You will have full access to the analytics dashboard where you can view the number of listens, followers milestones, downloads, playlists, likes, locations, duration, and so on. All the data metrics you need to make informed decisions.

Note that in the case of royalties, you will get to keep 100% of it. The checks are issued on a monthly basis.

Also Read: How to Transfer Playlist from Spotify to Apple Music? (or any other Music Service)

Marketing and Spotify’s Role

What I like even more is Spotify’s role in the whole process. They will be sharing some interesting and insider tips and tricks with artists on how to make the most of their time on the platform. What to do and what to avoid. You will receive feedback and your questions will be answered.

Not sure about your music or need feedback? Pitch it to their team of playlist editors and they will guide you.

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Most artists created ad spots to market their new releases. You can do that too using Spotify’s Ad Studio. They have different products for artists with different budgets. You will have to write the script because you know your music best. You will then select a background track and Spotify has plenty to choose from. And Spotify will then add voiceovers to produce the complete ad.

Wrapping Up: Release Music on Spotify

I believe using a service like Tunecore is better because that way, your music will be available across streaming services rather than just Spotify. You want your music to be available to a wider audience and not be restricted to a particular section of the society, no matter how large that society is. If you are using another service than Tunecore, make sure you read the terms and understand where your music will land up. Go for cross-platform, always.

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Gaurav Bidasaria

Gaurav is an editor here at TechWiser but also contributes as a writer. He has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and has written how-to guides, comparisons, listicles, and in-depth explainers on Windows, Android, web, and cloud apps, and the Apple ecosystem. He loves tinkering with new gadgets and learning about new happenings in the tech world. He has previously worked on Guiding Tech, Make Tech Easier, and other prominent tech blogs and has over 1000+ articles that have been read over 50 million times.

How to Release Music on Spotify Without Record Label - TechWiser (2024)

FAQs

How to Release Music on Spotify Without Record Label - TechWiser? ›

There are services that an independent artist can use to submit their music to digital service providers such as Spotify, separate from any record label. Tunecore and Distrokid

Distrokid
DistroKid principally offers musicians and other rights-holders the opportunity to distribute and sell or stream their music through online retailers such as Spotify, Pandora, iTunes/Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Tidal, Deezer, iHeartRadio, and more.
https://en.wikipedia.org
are popular choices. There are others, but you can research from there.

Can you release on Spotify without a label? ›

When you've decided you want to release your music by yourself without a label, you'll need a Spotify aggregator or Spotify distributor to upload to Spotify. However, the services offered vary greatly, as do the costs. There are many different Spotify distributors available that upload your music to Spotify directly.

Can I upload my music to Spotify without a distributor? ›

Because it isn't possible for you to directly upload your music to Spotify anymore, you'll need to go through a music distributor like Amuse in order to get your music out there and start earning money from your tracks. Once you're all signed up, we'll take care of the uploading process for you.

How do you release music without labels? ›

With so many options available, this can feel like an overwhelming task — but it's possible with the right knowledge. Selecting an independent music distributor, such as TuneCore or DistroKid, is one of the best ways to get started on releasing your tracks without needing record label backing.

How do I release a song directly on Spotify? ›

Spotify doesn't allow artists to directly upload their music themselves, so you need to use a music distributor like Ditto. We take care of everything on your behalf and will make sure your songs get uploaded quickly and correctly. Start uploading music to Spotify with your free 30-day Ditto trial now!

Can artists release music without a record label? ›

It is possible because of the development of digital technologies and the internet. Thus, the question now arises: Is a record label truly necessary for the release of music? The answer is 'No'. Independent music artists now have more options to release their music without a record label.

How do independent artists release songs on Spotify? ›

How to Publish Your Music on Spotify as An Artist
  1. Create a Spotify account.
  2. Claim your artist profile.
  3. Upload your music.
  4. Fill out the information about your songs.
  5. Submit your music and that's it!

How to be successful without a record label? ›

When it comes to promotion, independent artists can use social media, music blogs, playlists, and streaming services to reach new audiences and gain exposure. By creating compelling music videos, and engaging with fans on social media, independent artists can increase their visibility and attract new fans.

What artist has no label? ›

Notable artists who have never been signed to a major record label include Tom MacDonald, Chance the Rapper, Macklemore, Noname, David Choi and Ryan Upchurch.

Is it illegal to release unreleased music? ›

Legally, leaking unreleased music without the artist's or record label's consent is a violation of copyright and intellectual property rights. Legal action can be pursued against the person or group responsible for the leak.

How do I pitch my first release on Spotify? ›

Pitching music to our playlist editors
  1. Log in to Spotify for Artists.
  2. Find unreleased music to pitch: At the top of. Home, select PITCH FROM NEXT RELEASE. On web, you can also pitch from the. Music tab under Upcoming.
  3. Choose a song and fill out the info. The more info we get, the better chance it has.

Can anyone release a song on Spotify? ›

Anyone can be an artist on Spotify. However, you can't simply upload your tracks to Spotify. Music can only be uploaded by record labels or aggregate services. In order to get you music on Spotify through a record label you'll need to get signed by a record label.

Does it cost money to release music on Spotify? ›

How Much Does It Cost To Put Music On Spotify. Spotify doesn't charge artists a fee to upload songs, however, they require you to use a distributor, who will charge you in some way. Often distributors will package other services alongside their distribution, which increases the price of their services.

Do I need a label to post on Spotify? ›

One important thing to say right away is that you do not need to be signed to a record label to add your music to Spotify. However, you also cannot upload your music directly to Spotify yourself — there is no 'upload' button on Spotify.

Is it possible to release music without a distributor? ›

Aggregators play a vital role in the process of how to release music without a distributor. They act as intermediaries between artists and streaming platforms, helping to distribute your music to multiple platforms at once.

Can you release a cover on Spotify without permission? ›

How To Release a Cover Song on Spotify or other streaming platforms? As mentioned above, you do not actually need to license a track to cover it if you're releasing it on Spotify only. Via your distributor, simply select the relevant (audio-only) option, and they will process any royalties owed on their end.

What do you need to release music on Spotify? ›

How to Get Your Music on Spotify
  1. Sign up for a TuneCore account to get your music on Spotify.
  2. Select the type of release you want to get on Spotify: single or album.
  3. Upload your music and cover art to put your songs on Spotify.
  4. Add music contributors so they get credited when your songs are played.

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