How to Release a Song on Spotify in
6 steps. No fluff.
Pre-flight: 5 things to lock first
If you licensed a beat from Nogar Beats, refer to your license contract for the exact credit format. The standard is “(prod. by Nogar)” in the title or metadata.
Step 1 — Pick a distributor
You can’t upload directly to Spotify. You need a distributor to deliver your track to all platforms.
| Distributor | $/year | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | $24.99 | 1–2 days | Fast & simple |
| TuneCore | $24.99 | 3–5 days | Publishing admin |
| UnitedMasters | $19.99 | 2–3 days | Brand deals |
All three keep you at 100% royalties. Pick one and move on.
The upload takes 10 minutes — the strategy behind it takes weeks.
Step 2 — Upload
Drop files
WAV + cover art
Fill metadata
Title, artists, composers
Set date
4+ weeks out
Select all stores. Submit. Your distributor delivers to Spotify in 1–5 days.
Step 3 — Claim Spotify for Artists
Go to artists.spotify.com, claim your profile. Free. Gives you analytics, profile editing, Canvas videos, and most importantly — playlist pitching.
Step 4 — Pitch to editorial playlists
This is the step most artists skip. Spotify lets you pitch your unreleased track to their editorial team — RapCaviar, New Music Friday, Fresh Finds. One placement = tens of thousands of streams.
Go to Music → Upcoming → Pitch a song.
Description
“A dark dancehall riddim inspired by Masicka and Skeng. Produced by Nogar Beats — heavy 808 bass, minimal melodics, built for late-night energy.”
7 days before release = minimum. 14+ days = roughly 2× more editorial consideration. Aim for 3–4 weeks.
Spotify for Artists is where you pitch, track, and grow your audience.
Step 5 — Pitch to independent curators
Editorial playlists are the dream. Independent playlists are where discovery actually happens. Multiple placements trigger Discover Weekly and Daily Mix — responsible for ~40% of all streams.
Step 6 — Release day
External traffic in the first 24–48 hours tells Spotify’s algorithm the track has momentum.
Keep releasing — one single every 4–6 weeks. Don’t buy fake streams. Monitor Spotify for Artists analytics and double down on what works.
The beat is the foundation
Every type beat in the catalog comes with a clear license and full distribution rights. Instant download.
The release timeline is probably the biggest takeaway here because a lot of independent artists wait until release day to start thinking about promotion. One thing I’d add is to make sure all your metadata and artist profiles are consistent across platforms before uploading, since even small mistakes can make it harder for listeners to find your music and for algorithms to connect your releases.
I completely agree. Being meticulous throughout the entire process is essential. Taking the time to make sure everything is accurate and consistent across platforms can make a real difference, both for discoverability and for building a strong, professional artist presence.