πΆ STEP 1: Prepare Your Song Properly
Before you upload anything, make sure you have:
1. Final Mastered Audio — WAV or FLAC format (16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz).
2. Artwork — Square image (minimum 3000×3000 px, JPG or PNG, no text cutoff).
3. Song Info:
Title
Artist name
Featuring artist(s) if any
Songwriter(s) / Composer(s)
Genre and language
4. Lyrics (optional) — If you want synced lyrics later (via Musixmatch or Spotify for Artists).
5. ISRC code — DistroKid will generate this for you (used for royalty tracking).
An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique, 12-character alphanumeric code that identifies a specific sound or video recording. It is a digital "fingerprint" for a track that is permanently encoded into the recording to track sales, streams, and royalty payments, independent of the physical format it's on. Each unique recording, including different versions like live or remix, needs its own ISRC. Purpose:
An ISRC uniquely identifies a specific recording, enabling automatic identification for sales, streaming, and royalty collection across different formats. Uniqueness:
Each ISRC represents a single recording and can never be reused or reattributed. For example, an album with 15 tracks requires 15 separate ISRCs. Structure:
The 12-character code is divided into four parts: a 3-character country code, a 3-character registrant code (issued to a record label or rights holder), a 2-digit year, and a 5-digit unique designation code for that specific recording. Application:
You need an ISRC code when commercially releasing music. It is typically assigned by the record label or distributor, but you can also apply for them through the official International Standard Recording Code website or national agencies like Recorded Music NZ and ARIA Charts.
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STEP 2: Create a DistroKid Account
1. Go to https://distrokid.com
2. Choose a plan (most musicians use the Musician plan or Musician Plus if you want more control over release dates and credits).
3. Fill in your artist name (as it will appear on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.).
4. Enter payment info (DistroKid is a yearly subscription, usually around $22.99/year for 1 artist).
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STEP 3: Upload Your Song to DistroKid
1. Click “Upload” on your dashboard.
2. Fill out:
Services: Choose Spotify (and any other platforms like Apple Music, Deezer, etc.).
Artist/Band Name: Must exactly match your Spotify artist name (or create a new artist if this is your first release).
Release Date: Choose immediate release or schedule a future date.
Record Label: You can write your own label name or leave blank (independent).
Song Title: As it appears publicly.
Upload Audio: Your final mastered WAV or FLAC file.
Upload Artwork: As described above.
3. Optional extras: “YouTube Content ID,” “Shazam,” etc. (some have extra fees).
Then click “Done” or “Submit.”
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STEP 4: Wait for Approval & Distribution
DistroKid will send your song to Spotify and other stores.
Usually takes 2–5 days for Spotify to approve and go live (can be up to a week).
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STEP 5: Claim Your Spotify Artist Profile
Once your first song is live:
1. Go to https://artists.spotify.com
2. Click “Claim Your Profile.”
3. Log in with the same email used on DistroKid (or any Spotify account).
4. Verify your identity as the artist.
5. Now you can:
Customize your Spotify artist page (bio, photo, banner)
See stats, streams, and listener data
Submit new songs for Spotify editorial playlists
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STEP 6: Get Paid
All your royalties from Spotify and other platforms will appear in your DistroKid dashboard.
You can withdraw anytime via PayPal or bank transfer.
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π Bonus Tip: Protect Your Copyright
If it’s your own composition:
Register your song with a copyright office (e.g., U.S. Copyright Office or your country’s version).
If your country has a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like BMI, ASCAP, or MACP (Malaysia), register there too to receive performance royalties.
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DistroKid Upload Walkthrough (Example: Rock/Metal Single)
Let’s say your song is titled “Broken Wings” by GORGON
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1️⃣ Choose “Upload Music”
You’ll see a form like this π
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2️⃣ “Services”
✅ Check all streaming platforms you want:
Spotify
Apple Music / iTunes
YouTube Music
Amazon Music
Deezer
How much does Deezer pay per 1000 streams?
Current Rates and Calculations. Deezer pays approximately $0.0064 per stream. This means for every 1,000 streams, an artist could earn about $6.40. The calculations are straightforward but crucial for maximizing earnings.
TikTok & Instagram Reels (important for short clips)
Shazam & iPhone Siri
(All included for free under your plan)
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3️⃣ “Artist / Band Name”
Type: Gorgon
If it’s your first upload, DistroKid will create a new artist profile on Spotify.
If you already have one, choose “Yes, use an existing artist.”
π§ Tip: The artist name must exactly match your Spotify name (spelling, capitalization, spacing).
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4️⃣ “Release Date”
Choose “As soon as possible” if you want it live fast (2–5 days).
Or pick a future date if you want to promote before release.
(If you have the “Musician Plus” plan, you can set an exact date & time.)
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5️⃣ “Pre-order Date” (optional)
Skip this unless you’re building hype with a pre-save or pre-order campaign.
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6️⃣ “Record Label Name”
Type your own custom label name (optional).
Example:
> Label Name: Iron River Records
If you’re independent, you can write anything or leave it blank.
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7️⃣ “Album Cover”
Upload your 3000x3000px JPG/PNG artwork.
Rules:
No URLs, social handles, or price tags.
Must look professional (no blurry or stretched images).
Example:
πΏ Broken Wings – artwork with metallic theme and burning guitar background.
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8️⃣ “Album Title” or “Single Title”
If this is a single:
> Broken Wings
If it’s part of an album or EP, include the album title instead.
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9️⃣ “Upload Audio File”
Upload WAV or FLAC format (recommended).
Bitrate: 16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1kHz or 48kHz.
Make sure it’s mastered properly — Spotify normalizes loudness to around -14 LUFS.
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10️⃣ “Songwriter(s)”
Select:
✅ “I wrote this song (original)”
Then enter your real name or stage name as the composer.
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11️⃣ “Explicit Lyrics”
If your lyrics contain swearing, select “Yes.”
Otherwise, “No.”
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12️⃣ “Primary Genre / Subgenre”
Example:
Genre: Rock
Subgenre: Metal / Alternative Metal
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13️⃣ “Language”
Pick the main language of your lyrics, e.g.:
English
Bahasa Melayu
Instrumental (if no lyrics)
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14️⃣ “YouTube Content ID” (optional add-on)
This feature detects when others upload your song to YouTube and collects ad revenue. π‘ Recommended if you post music videos or playthroughs.
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15️⃣ “Store Maximizer / Leave a Legacy” (optional)
Store Maximizer: Automatically adds your song to new streaming services that DistroKid partners with in the future.
Leave a Legacy: Keeps your song up forever even if you cancel your subscription (one-time fee).
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16️⃣ Click “Done”
✅ DistroKid will process the upload.
✅ Within a few days, you’ll get an email:
> “Your release ‘Broken Steel’ is now live on Spotify!”
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π§ Step 17: Claim Your Artist Profile on Spotify
Go to artists.spotify.com → Claim your artist name.
Then you can:
Add your bio, header image, and social links
View live streaming stats
Submit your song to Spotify editorial playlists (under “Music > Upcoming > Submit a song”).
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π΅ Step 18: Track Royalties
Inside DistroKid:
Go to “Bank” tab to see your Spotify & Apple Music earnings.
Payouts available monthly via PayPal, Wise, or bank transfer.
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⚖️ Step 19: Register with a PRO
If you want performance royalties (radio, live shows, public plays):
Join your country’s Performing Rights Organization (PRO).
Malaysia: MACP (Music Authors Copyright Protection)
US: BMI / ASCAP
UK: PRS
Register the same song title and writer credits there.
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