How Do I Release a Song: The Complete Checklist
How do i release a song is a music marketing practice for independent artists. If you're asking how do I release a song, here's the short answer. Upload a final master plus artwork and metadata to a distributor like DistroKid or TuneCore at least two to four weeks before release day, pitch it to Spotify editors through Spotify for Artists, set up pre-saves. Next, follow up with smart links and curator pitches.
Key takeaways
- Upload your master to a distributor two to four weeks before release day so stores process it and Spotify editorial pitching stays possible.
- Cover art must be 3000x3000 pixels, JPG or PNG, RGB, with no URLs or social handles, or most distributors will reject it.
- DistroKid's flat annual fee suits frequent releasers, while TuneCore's per-release pricing can cost less for one or two singles a year.
- Pitch one unreleased track to Spotify's editorial team at least seven days before release via Spotify for Artists.
- Test smart links before spending ad money, since the ToneDen shutdown left artists running ads to dead pages for weeks.
What do I need ready before I release a song?
Final master and audio file specs
Distributors like DistroKid and TuneCore want WAV files, typically 16-bit/44.1kHz or higher. Master your track before upload; replacing audio after a release goes live means re-uploading and losing stream counts on some platforms. If you plan to pitch to Spotify's editorial playlists, your song must be uploaded at least 7 days before release day, per Spotify for Artists.
Artwork requirements
Cover art needs to be 3000x3000 pixels, JPG or PNG, RGB color, with no URLs, social handles, or pricing on the image. Most distributors will reject anything else, so build the artwork before you start the upload form.
Decide your release date before you upload
Your date drives everything: pre-save setup, curator pitching lead times, and social posts. Pick it first, then work backwards. Tools like AmpliHit handle the pre-save and follow-up side once that date is set. If you're comparing options, see how AmpliHit stacks up against Feature.fm.
How do I choose a distributor to release a song?
For a DIY artist releasing one or a few songs a year, the distributor choice comes down to pricing model and how you work, not brand names. DistroKid charges a flat annual fee for unlimited uploads, which is cheap if you release often. TuneCore charges per release, which can cost less if you only put out a single or two annually. Both get your music on Spotify and Apple Music and both pay 100% of streaming royalties to you on standard plans.
What to compare beyond price
Check payout speed, whether you can edit metadata after submission, and what extras cost. Some distributors charge annual fees per store or per release renewal; others keep releases live indefinitely. If you plan smart links, pre-save pages, or curator pitching around release day, pick a distributor that delivers pre-save URLs early enough to use them. Budget matters too: your distributor fee plus a smart link tool should fit one yearly budget, not five subscriptions.
How long distribution takes to go live
Neither Spotify nor Apple Music goes live instantly after you upload. Plan several weeks of lead time so your release date, pre-save links, and playlist pitching all line up. A realistic timeline looks like this:
| Step | Typical lead time |
|---|---|
| Upload to distributor | Day 1 |
| Stores accept and process | 1–2 weeks |
| Pre-save links live | After store approval |
| Release day | 3–4+ weeks after upload |
If your distributor offers expedited delivery, treat it as a backup, not the plan. Once you know your go-live date, you can budget the rest of your promo spend, from pitching tools to link platforms, with pricing examples at AmpliHit's pricing page.
How do I release a song on Spotify?
Upload your master to DistroKid or TuneCore with the release date set at least a week out. Next, claim your profile on Spotify for Artists so you control your photo, bio, and Artist Pick.
Claim Spotify for Artists and verify your profile
Verification unlocks the artist dashboard where you will track pre-save counts and day-one streams. Do it before your pre-save campaign starts, not after release day.
Pitch to Spotify's editorial team before release day
Inside Spotify for Artists you can pitch one unreleased track per release to the editorial playlist team. Submit at least seven days before your release date, pick the most accurate genre tags. Also, write a short, factual pitch note about the song's story.
Pre-saves and why the timing matters
A pre-save is the Spotify equivalent of a pre-order: fans click once, and the song lands in their library the moment it drops. That release-day burst of saves and streams is what signals momentum to Spotify's algorithmic playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly. That is why you start collecting pre-saves at least a week out, and ideally two or three. Apple Music runs the same mechanic through pre-orders, which your distributor sets up when you schedule the release. Apple documents the pre-order and release-day availability flow for artists at Apple Music for Artists. Tools like Hypeddit, Feature.fm, or our own AmpliHit handle pre-saves alongside fan email capture, so every pre-save also builds a follow-up list you own. If you want to push a release to radio as well, our free radio boost gets your track in front of station programmers alongside the pre-save push.
How do I release a song on iTunes and Apple Music?
Both stores come from one Apple submission through your distributor, but they behave differently. iTunes sells downloads; Apple Music streams. You set them up together in your DistroKid or TuneCore upload, then confirm both are selected before you submit.
Setting up a pre-order
Pre-order on Apple is worth using because it lets fans commit early and your pre-saves stack up before release day. In your distributor dashboard, set a release date at least a few weeks out and tick the pre-order option. Your track goes to the iTunes store page immediately, while the audio stays locked until release. Check the date shows correctly on the live page.
Release day on Apple Music vs iTunes
On release day, Apple Music makes the full track streamable at midnight in each territory, and pre-orders convert to downloads automatically. What your distributor handles: delivery, store placement, and sales reporting. What you control: the release date you set, whether pre-order is on, and pricing tier for downloads in some cases. Verify the track is live in both stores that morning, not just one.
What metadata and artwork does a release require?
The metadata fields that get releases rejected
Every distributor asks for the same core fields: track title, artist name, genre, language, explicit flag. Also, an ISRC plus UPC (your distributor assigns these if you do not have them). Get the explicit flag wrong and Apple Music can reject the release or hide it in some regions. Featuring credits go in the featured artist field, not inside the title, or streaming services may split your song into duplicate artist pages. Distributors charge different amounts for extras like stored credits and same-day releases, so check DistroKid's pricing page and TuneCore's before you pay for add-ons.
Why consistent artist name spelling matters for your profile
Spelling your artist name the same way on every release is what merges your songs into one Spotify for Artists profile and one Apple Music page. "Sarah J" and "Sarah J." can create two separate profiles that are painful to merge later. Pick one spelling, one featuring format, and reuse it on every upload, your smart links, and your pre-save pages.
What is the best day to release a song and why?
Why Fridays became the standard
Since 2015, the global release day has been Friday. Billboard counts chart weeks from Friday to Thursday, so a Friday release gets a full seven days of tracking. Spotify also refreshes its editorial playlists like New Music Friday on Fridays, which is where most curators expect to find new submissions.
When a non-Friday release makes sense for an indie
If you are not chasing charts, the Friday crowd can work against you. Thousands of releases land the same day, so playlist curators and blogs are flooded. Releasing on a Tuesday or Wednesday gives you a quieter window to pitch. Also, your pre-save and follow-up emails can land before the Friday rush if you still want playlist attention that week.
One honest caveat: if you run ads to a smart link, a midweek release means your first-week Spotify numbers are split across two chart weeks. For a DIY artist without chart ambitions, that trade is usually worth it.
What should I do in the weeks after I release a song?
Smart links and why broken ones burn ad money
Your smart link is where every release-day click lands, so test it before you spend a dollar on ads. The ToneDen shutdown left artists running ads to dead pages for weeks, burning cash with no warning email. Set up your link days ahead, verify the Spotify and Apple Music destinations yourself, and use a custom domain you control.
Curator pitching and follow-up
Pitch playlist curators one to two weeks before release day, since most want lead time. Keep a simple tracker of who you pitched, when, and their reply, then send one polite follow-up after a week. Check your Spotify for Artists data to see which playlists actually moved streams.
Running the whole workflow from one studio
AmpliHit puts smart links, curator pitches, radio spins, and analytics in one place. As a result, you stop stitching together a link tree, a spreadsheet, and separate promo tools. One caveat: at $149–$490/year it costs more than a free link tree, so it only pays off if you release and promote regularly.
Which tools should I use for the post-release workflow?
The criteria every smart link tool must pass
Five tools cover this job: Hypeddit, Linkfire, Feature.fm, PUSH.fm, and our own AmpliHit. Judge each the same way. First, link reliability: ToneDen users watched custom domains and fanlinks die mid-campaign. As a result, ask whether the provider hosts your custom domain and what happens if it goes down. Second, fan email capture, so release-day followers become follow-ups you own. Third, curator pitching: SubmitHub charges per submission, so a tool that bundles pitches saves a subscription. Fourth, cost against what you'd otherwise stitch together.
Where AmpliHit falls short too
AmpliHit bundles smart links, pitches, radio spins, and analytics from $149-$490/year. This is more than PUSH.fm's free tier and more than a bare link tree. If you only need one landing page per release, that price buys things you won't use. Hypeddit also has a longer track record, with users on it since 2019. Choose AmpliHit when you want pitching and links in one studio; choose a cheaper tool when you don't.
FAQ
How much does it cost to release a song independently?
Budget for a distributor fee plus a smart link tool. DistroKid charges a flat annual fee for unlimited uploads. Meanwhile, TuneCore charges per release, which suits artists putting out one or two singles a year. Add artwork costs if you hire a designer, and factor promo tools into one yearly budget rather than five subscriptions.
How far in advance should I upload my song to my distributor?
Upload at least two to four weeks before release day. Spotify requires submissions at least seven days ahead if you want to pitch editorial playlists. Also, stores typically take one to two weeks to process a release. That lead time also lets pre-save links go live early enough to collect saves before release day.
Can I release a song without a distributor?
Practically, no, not on Spotify or Apple Music. Both require an approved distributor to deliver audio, artwork, and metadata to their stores. Going direct is not an option for independent artists, so the distributor is the one non-negotiable piece of the release process. You still control the release date, pre-orders, and pitching yourself.
Do I need to copyright my song before releasing it?
Your song is copyrighted automatically once it exists in a fixed form, so registration is not required to release. Formal registration matters mainly if you expect to enforce rights in court or pursue infringement claims. Many independent artists release first and register later, since the distributor assigns an ISRC and UPC either way.
How long does it take for a song to appear on Spotify after upload?
Stores usually need one to two weeks to accept and process a submission. That is why the recommended upload window is three to four weeks before release day. The track stays hidden until your set release date, then goes live at midnight in each territory. Expedited delivery exists but should be a backup, not the plan.