Spotify doesn’t accept uploads directly from artists: every release reaches the platform through a music distributor or a label with a delivery agreement. Andina Music is a music distributor that prepares your release, delivers it to Spotify and the rest of the platforms, and reports the royalties it earns. Here’s everything you need to know to upload your music to Spotify without errors.
How to upload music to Spotify, step by step
Create your distribution account
Sign up at app.andinamusic.com (free, no card required) and confirm your email to log in to your distribution dashboard. If your music is already live with another distributor, say so when you upload the release: the switching process is different.
Prepare audio, artwork and metadata
A WAV or FLAC master, a 3000 × 3000 px square cover and the release data: title, artists, featured artists, songwriters, genre, language and the explicit flag. Each requirement is detailed below.
Upload the release and pick a date
You upload the single, EP or album to the dashboard, we check it against Spotify’s requirements and deliver it with the release date you set. We assign ISRC and UPC codes if you don’t have them.
Claim your profile on Spotify for Artists
Once the release is delivered you can verify your profile, complete your bio and images and pitch upcoming tracks to editorial playlists.
Go live, get reports, get paid
Once approved, the release usually appears on Spotify within 24 to 72 hours. Afterwards you get reports by country and period and royalties are paid under your agreement. How royalties work.
Why you need a distributor to get on Spotify
Spotify ingests music from distributors and labels that deliver audio and metadata in the format the platform requires and that vouch for ownership of the content. A Spotify distributor handles technical delivery, identifier codes, updates and takedowns, and collects and pays royalties. That’s what Andina Music does for independent artists and labels worldwide, and you keep your rights: there’s no transfer of ownership of the master or the composition. To understand the full process, start with how digital music distribution works.
Spotify’s requirements for your release
Audio
A WAV or FLAC master, 16 or 24 bit, at 44.1 kHz or higher, stereo. MP3 and other compressed formats don’t meet the platforms’ requirements. Check for long silences at the start or end and for audible clipping: they’re common reasons for rejection or a poor listening experience. Spotify applies loudness normalization, so mastering “louder” won’t make a track stand out.
Cover art
A square image of at least 3000 × 3000 px, JPG or PNG, RGB. The artwork can’t include URLs, social handles, prices, other platforms’ logos, the word “explicit” or low-resolution, pixelated images. Any text on the cover (artist name, title) must match the metadata.
Metadata and credits
Metadata is the data that identifies your track on Spotify: title and version, primary artist, featured artists, songwriters and lyricists, producers, label, genre, lyrics language, explicit flag and release date. Spotify shows songwriter and producer credits on every track; if they’re missing, the rights information is incomplete from day one.
ISRC and UPC
Every recording needs an ISRC code and every release (single, EP or album) a UPC. Spotify uses them to count streams and assign royalties to the right track. If you already have codes from a previous release, they’re reused; if not, Andina Music assigns them at no extra cost. The difference is explained in ISRC vs UPC.
Primary artists, featured artists and existing profiles
Write the artist name exactly as on your previous releases and on your Spotify profile. If you already have a profile, send us its link or URI so the release is attached to the right profile and no duplicate is created. Featured artists go in the artist fields, not in the title, and each one is linked to their own profile. Songwriter and producer credits are entered separately as release metadata.
Release date
Pick a date two to three weeks out. Spotify requires the track to be delivered at least seven days before the release date to pitch it to editorial playlists from Spotify for Artists, and that margin also gives you time to fix any notes on the artwork or metadata.
Spotify for Artists: claim and manage your profile
Spotify for Artists is Spotify’s free tool for artists and their teams. With your music delivered you can claim the profile, get verified, edit your bio, images and links, see listener and playlist stats, add Canvas to your tracks and pitch upcoming releases to Spotify’s playlist editors. Access is requested on the Spotify for Artists site with your profile; Andina Music helps if you need a hand with verification or with attaching a release to your profile.
Switching distributors without losing your music on Spotify
If your catalog is already on Spotify through another distributor, you can move it to Andina Music. What matters is that the releases are re-delivered with the same ISRC and UPC codes and the same metadata (titles, artists, version). That way Spotify recognizes the recording as the same one and keeps it linked to your profile. The takedown at the previous distributor is coordinated for after the new delivery is live.
What happens to your streams and playlists. When codes and metadata match, Spotify usually keeps the play count and playlist placements. We can’t guarantee it in every case: it depends on an exact match, on the timing between the new delivery and the old takedown, and on the platform’s own decisions. The full procedure is in how to switch music distributor.
Common mistakes when uploading music to Spotify
- A different artist name on each release (with or without accents, with “Official”, different capitalization): it creates duplicate profiles.
- Featured artists typed into the title (“Song (feat. Artist)”) instead of entered as featured artists.
- Artwork with disallowed text: URLs, “available on”, platform logos or blurry images.
- MP3 audio or masters with clipping and long silences.
- Wrong explicit flag: set without reason, or missing when the lyrics need it.
- Incomplete credits: no songwriters or producers.
- A release date too close: no room for the editorial pitch or for fixing notes.
- Cover songs without a license: a version of someone else’s song needs the corresponding license for the composition before distribution.
- Switching distributors with new codes: if the ISRCs aren’t reused, the platform treats the release as a different recording.
Frequently asked questions about getting on Spotify
Can I upload my music to Spotify for free, without a distributor?
No. Spotify only receives music through distributors and labels with delivery agreements. Andina Music acts as your distributor and handles delivery, codes and royalties; each release comes with its own distribution agreement, which you sign in your dashboard before submitting it.
How long does it take for my song to appear on Spotify?
Usually 24 to 72 hours after the release is approved; final timing depends on Spotify. Even so, we recommend scheduling the date two to three weeks out to pitch the track to playlists and resolve any notes.
What is the editorial playlist pitch and when is it done?
It’s the submission of an unreleased track to Spotify’s editors from Spotify for Artists. It must be done at least seven days before the release date, with the release already delivered by the distributor. Pitching a track doesn’t guarantee placement.
How do I avoid a duplicate artist profile?
Always use the same artist name and send us the link to your existing Spotify profile when you upload the release. If a duplicate was already created, the fix can be requested from Spotify through the distributor.
When does Spotify start paying for a track?
Spotify pays royalties to the distributor with a one- to two-month delay after consumption. Under Spotify’s current policy, a track must exceed 1,000 streams in the previous 12 months to generate royalties; that policy belongs to the platform and may change. Andina Music reports and pays what Spotify pays, under your agreement.
Can I release a cover on Spotify?
Yes, as long as you hold the corresponding license for the composition. The cover gets its own ISRC because it’s a new recording, and the original songwriters must be credited. Ask us about your case before sending it.
Do I keep my rights if I distribute with Andina Music?
Yes. We only receive the authorizations needed to distribute and administer your content under your agreement. Your master and your composition remain yours.
Get your music on Spotify with Andina Music
We distribute your music to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, Amazon Music, Deezer and 150+ platforms, with ISRC and UPC codes at no extra cost, clear reports and human support by email. If your project is a label with several artists, see distribution for labels; if you’re an artist or producer, distribution for artists. You can also read how to get your music on Apple Music.
