🎶 How to Get Your Music on Spotify Without a Label
For decades, musicians had to chase record deals just to get their music into the world. Labels controlled distribution, radio play, and industry connections. But today, you don’t need a label to get your songs on Spotify — one of the most powerful platforms in the music world. All you need is the right digital distributor and a smart plan.
This guide walks you through the process step by step.
Step 1: Choose a Digital Distributor
You can’t upload music directly to Spotify as an artist. Instead, you need a distributor — a company that delivers your tracks to Spotify (and usually Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube Music, etc.).
Popular distributors include:
DistroKid – Flat fee (~$22.99/year) with unlimited uploads. Great if you plan to release a lot.
TuneCore – Charges per release ($9.99 per single, $29.99 per album). Good if you release rarely.
UnitedMasters – Free option, but they take a % of royalties. Paid plans give more control.
CD Baby – One-time fee per release, plus a % of royalties.
👉 Pick based on your release style. If you want to drop singles monthly, DistroKid makes sense. If you only release one project a year, TuneCore or CD Baby might be cheaper.
Step 2: Prepare Your Music for Upload
Before uploading, double-check your files and artwork. Spotify has strict requirements:
Audio format: WAV or FLAC (lossless, 16-bit/44.1 kHz).
Artwork: 3000 x 3000 pixels, JPG or PNG. No URLs, pricing, or contact info on the cover.
Metadata: Correct spelling of artist name, song titles, collaborators. (Typos hurt your discoverability).
Tip: If you plan to collaborate with other artists, decide before uploading who will be the primary artist and who will be featured. This avoids duplicate profiles.
Step 3: Set a Release Date
Most distributors let you pick a release date. Don’t rush this. Give yourself at least 2–4 weeks before release so you can pitch the song to Spotify playlists through Spotify for Artists.
Why? If you upload today and release tomorrow, you’ll miss the playlist submission window — and playlists are where real streams come from.
Step 4: Claim Your Spotify for Artists Profile
Once your music is uploaded and live, go to Spotify for Artists. Claim your profile by verifying through your distributor or social links.
With Spotify for Artists, you can:
Add a bio and photos.
See detailed analytics (who’s streaming, where, and how).
Pitch upcoming releases to Spotify’s editorial playlist team.
Add a “Canvas” (short looping video) to your tracks.
This is free — don’t skip it.
Step 5: Promote Your Music (Without a Label Budget)
Labels usually control marketing, but you can still push your music with smart, low-cost moves:
Social media snippets – Tease 15–30 second clips on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
Smart links – Use tools like ToneDen or Linktree to create one link that points fans to Spotify, Apple, etc.
Playlists – Submit to indie curators via SubmitHub, Groover, or direct outreach. A single playlist add can drive thousands of streams.
Press releases / blogs – Write a short pitch and send it to music blogs. Even a few mentions help SEO.
Remember: consistency beats money. Releasing music regularly and engaging with your audience builds momentum.
Step 6: Collect Your Royalties
When fans stream your music, Spotify pays royalties to your distributor, and your distributor pays you. Payments vary (roughly $0.003–$0.005 per stream), so don’t expect riches overnight. The real goal is building a catalog that compounds over time.
👉 Pro tip: Connect your distributor to Songtrust or your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) to make sure you’re collecting all royalties — not just streaming, but also performance and publishing royalties.
Why This Works Without a Label
Labels still offer advantages: funding, connections, radio promotion. But they also take ownership of your masters and a huge cut of profits. By going indie:
You keep control of your masters.
You decide release dates.
You control your branding.
You collect more of the revenue.
The trade-off is you handle more of the work yourself. But tools like DistroKid and Spotify for Artists make it easier than ever.
Final Takeaway
You don’t need a label to get your music on Spotify. You need:
A distributor.
Correctly prepared files.
A release plan.
Spotify for Artists.
Consistent promotion.
The power is in your hands. Start small, release often, and treat each song like another brick in your catalog. Over time, your streams build, your fanbase grows, and you stay independent on your own terms.
Written by Elliott R Palmer 9/14/25
