Releasing music isn’t just uploading a file: it’s a six-to-eight-week timeline in which the master, the artwork, the metadata, the artist profiles and the delivery to the platforms have to land in order. This guide sums up what to prepare, when and why, so your single, EP or album goes live without rejections and with time to promote it.
Before you start: what are you releasing?
Decide the format (single, EP or album), the target date and the exact name of the artist and of the release. A single every few weeks keeps the profile active on the platforms; an album concentrates the effort. If you already have music out, confirm you’ll use the same artist name and the same Spotify and Apple Music profile: consistent metadata is the basis for everything else.
Release timeline
6 to 8 weeks out: master and artwork
Finish the final master in WAV or FLAC (16 or 24 bit, 44.1 kHz or higher), without long silences or clipped edges. Commission the square 3000 × 3000 px artwork with no URLs, prices or platform logos. Collect the songwriters’, lyricists’ and producers’ real names.
4 to 5 weeks out: codes and metadata sheet
Reuse the ISRC and UPC if the content already exists; if it’s new, the distributor assigns them. Complete the release record: title and version, primary and featured artists, genre, language, explicit flag, label, ℗ and © lines, date and territories.
3 to 4 weeks out: deliver to the distributor
Upload the release in the distribution dashboard with the final date. This margin lets you fix review notes from the platforms (especially Apple Music) and gets the release delivered in time for the pitching tools.
2 to 3 weeks out: profiles and pitching
With the release delivered, pitch the track to editorial playlists from Spotify for Artists (at least seven days before the date). Check the profile is claimed in Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists and the YouTube Official Artist Channel, and update bio and images. If the platform allows it, enable pre-save or pre-add.
1 week out: communication assets
Prepare the release links, snippets for social media, a video or visualizer if you’ll use one, and a posting plan for release day and the following week. Check that the lyrics, if you delivered them, display correctly.
Release day and after
Verify the track is live on every platform under the right profile, share the links and follow the stats in the artist dashboards. The first month’s royalties reach the distributor with a one- to two-month delay; check the reports when they’re available.
Platform requirements worth checking
Platforms share most technical requirements, but there are nuances: Spotify needs the delivery at least seven days ahead so you can pitch the track to its editors; Apple Music applies a stricter style guide for artwork and titles and supports lossless audio; YouTube Music automatically generates an art track and, for eligible content, Content ID; TikTok and Instagram can take a little longer to add the audio to their libraries. Details in get your music on Spotify, get your music on Apple Music and the platform list.
Mistakes that delay a release
- Delivering with less than two weeks of margin and no time to fix a rejection.
- Changing the artist name or typing featured artists into the title.
- Requesting new codes for music that’s already out.
- Artwork with disallowed text or low resolution.
- Incomplete credits, or stage names instead of real names.
- Releasing a cover without the corresponding license.
- Forgetting to claim the artist profiles before the date.
Checklist
- WAV/FLAC master reviewed.
- 3000 × 3000 px artwork approved.
- Complete, consistent metadata sheet.
- ISRC and UPC assigned or reused.
- Release delivered 3–4 weeks ahead.
- Artist profiles claimed.
- Editorial pitch submitted (Spotify).
- Pre-save or pre-add enabled if applicable.
- Lyrics delivered if they’ll be shown.
- Release-day communication plan.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I deliver my track to the distributor?
Ideally three to four weeks. The practical minimum to be able to pitch the track to Spotify is seven days before the date, with the release already delivered and approved.
Is it better to release singles or an album?
It depends on your plan. Singles keep the profile active and let you test songs; an album works well once you have an audience. Many artists release two or three singles before the album and include those same recordings (with the same ISRC) on it.
Can I change the date once the release is delivered?
Yes, as long as it hasn’t been published. Moving it earlier can leave you without margin for editorial pitching; pushing it back is usually simple.
Release your music with Andina Music
We distribute your release to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, Amazon Music, Deezer and more than 150 platforms, with ISRC and UPC at no extra cost, clear reports and support by email. You keep your rights and release on a timeline that works.
