Artists who wish to flourish their music on Spotify have to tackle a lot of problems. Among these problems is the hurdle to upload the music on Spotify for free. Now you might be thinking, does uploading the music on Spotify charge you money? Well, it does!
You have to create an Artists page to get your music uploaded. But that is not just enough. You also need the services of a Digital Service Provider (DSP) to distribute your music on Spotify. Without DSP, you cannot upload your songs on Spotify directly. And DSPs have a fee. So, it means that uploading the songs on Spotify is not free.
Why is Music Distribution Important?
Imagine making the coolest song ever, but nobody hears it. That’s where music distribution comes in! It’s like opening the doors to a huge party where everyone wants to hear your music.
The following are the advantages of getting your music distributed.
-
Reach a Wider Audience: Think of it like putting your music on a global stage. Distribution gets your songs on platforms where millions of people hang out, like Spotify and Apple Music.
-
Earn Cash: When people listen to your music on these platforms, you earn money. It’s like getting paid for your efforts!
-
Protect Your Music: Distribution helps keep your music safe from being used without your permission. It’s like putting a lock on your creative work.
-
Build Your Brand: The more places your music is available, the stronger your brand becomes. It’s like building a loyal fanbase.
What Are the Requirements to Upload Songs on Spotify
Spotify has a few terms and conditions that must be fulfilled to upload your music.
-
The music must have FLAC or WAV format.
-
The cover of the album must be in JPEG or PNG format.
-
3000 x 3000 pixels are required for the cover.
-
The songs must be owned by you and you must have your master recording rights.
-
Covers of the songs can be added with the creator’s permission.
5 Best Free Music Distributors
There are maany music distributors in the market. But not all of them are free. Some of them have high fees and maintenance charges. We understand that ir ishard for a beginner artist to bear this cost. Hence, we will discuss the 5 free music distributors that can help you to distribute your music completely free of charge.
-
Unchained Music
It distributes to 220+ streaming platforms, with 100% royalties and unlimited access.
-
Freshtunes
It has a free worldwide distribution with full royalties and free uploads.
-
AWAL
It is easy to deploy and offers to hold 100% royalties. Deals with diverse geographical areas.
-
STEM
It has fast services and diverse distribution. Customization is also available.
-
Music Gateway
It distributes to over 150 DSPs, with the offer to hold 100% royalties and free uploads.
How to Upload Songs on Spotify for Free?
In this section, we will discuss the steps to upload your songs on Spotify for free using the above distributors.
-
Choose a digital service provider from the above.
-
Upload your music. Make sure the music is properly formatted.
-
Arrange your metadata. Add bandmates and the contributors of the music.
-
Upload the music.
-
The chosen DSP will review your music.
-
Your music will be uploaded on Spotify.
Which Songs Are Not Uploaded?
Spotify has certain demands that must be fulfilled in order to upload the music.
-
Content that has royalties or copyright protection. This refers to the publication of a copyrighted track without the owners’ permission or the use of a sample without first obtaining permission from the sample’s owner.
-
Hateful material that encourages violence against people or communities and fosters hatred toward race.
Conclusion
Uploading your music to Spotify for free is indeed possible with the right approach and tools. While it may initially seem fearful and expensive due to the need for a Digital Service Provider (DSP), several platforms offer free distribution services. By using free music distributors you can get your music on Spotify without any cost. After successful music distribution, it is important to grow Spotify monthly listeners with PayPal or credit cards. Many artists use this strategy. Growing the listeners is as important as distributing your music.