How to Upload Your Own Music to Spotify (and What You Can Earn)

Publishing your own music on Spotify used to be a far-fetched dream unless you had a record deal, access to a professional studio, and an industry insider as your manager. Today, all you need is a laptop, a microphone, and a good song. Streaming platforms like Spotify have dramatically reshaped the music industry. As an independent artist, you can now reach listeners worldwide—without a label or massive budget.

But how does it actually work? What do you need, how much does it cost, and—most importantly—how much can you earn? This article breaks it all down: from distribution and royalties to promotion and common pitfalls.

1. Why Choose Spotify?

With over 600 million users worldwide, Spotify is the largest music streaming platform on the planet. In many countries—including the Netherlands, the UK, and the US—it dominates the market. For independent artists, it’s the go-to platform to get heard, grow a fanbase, and possibly make a living from music.

Key reasons to use Spotify:

• Accessibility: You don’t need a record label to get your music on the platform.
• Global audience: Your music becomes instantly available to listeners worldwide.
• Data and insights: Track who’s listening, where, and how often.
• Revenue: Although royalties per stream are low, they can add up with a growing fanbase.
• Playlists: Spotify’s curated and algorithmic playlists are powerful tools to increase exposure.

2. Can Independent Artists Upload Directly to Spotify?

Not quite. You can’t upload directly to Spotify like you might with YouTube or SoundCloud. Spotify only accepts submissions through official partners—called aggregators or music distributors. These platforms ensure your song meets all technical and legal requirements (file format, metadata, rights, artwork) before sending it to Spotify and other streaming services.

In short: the distributor is the bridge between your song and Spotify. You upload it to them, and they handle the rest.

3. What Is a Music Distributor (and Which One Should You Use)?

A music distributor is a company that gets your tracks on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more. They collect your royalties and either take a fee or a cut. Some offer extra services like promotion, mastering, or sync licensing.

Here’s a comparison of the most popular options for independent artists:

Choose based on your needs: DistroKid is great for frequent releases; Amuse has a solid free tier; TuneCore offers more services for advanced users.

4. Step-by-Step: How to Upload a Song to Spotify

Here’s how to get your music from your hard drive to Spotify listeners:

1. Choose a distributor: Research pricing, royalties, features, and turnaround times.
2. Create your account: Register with the distributor and enter basic info (name, artist name, payment details).
3. Upload your track: Use a high-quality WAV or FLAC file, upload cover art (min. 3000×3000 px), and provide all required metadata (title, genre, release date, contributors).
4. Select platforms and release date: Choose where you want your music to appear and when.
5. Distributor delivers the track: After review, your song is sent to Spotify—usually within 2 to 7 days.
6. Claim your Spotify for Artists profile: This lets you customize your artist page, track data, and pitch songs for playlists.

5. What Is Spotify for Artists?

Spotify for Artists is a free dashboard that gives you control over your artist profile and offers detailed insights into your music’s performance. If you’re serious about growing your fanbase, this is essential.

Main features include:

• Real-time stats: See how many streams, listeners, and followers you have—even live during a release day.
• Profile customization: Add a bio, social media links, promo images, and upcoming concert dates.
• Playlist pitching: Submit unreleased songs to Spotify editors for possible playlist inclusion (must be done at least 7 days before release).
• Audience insights: Discover which cities and countries your fans are from, and what other artists they listen to.

In short: if you plan to grow on Spotify, don’t skip this step.

6. How Do You Make Money on Spotify?

Spotify pays artists based on the number of streams their music receives. However, you don’t get paid directly by Spotify. Instead, your distributor collects the money and pays it to you—usually monthly.

The amount you earn per stream varies depending on:

• The listener’s country (streams in the U.S. and Europe tend to pay more than those in Asia or Latin America).
• Whether the stream came from a premium or free (ad-supported) user.
• Your distributor’s fee or commission model.

On average, artists earn between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream. That may seem small, but with enough listeners, it adds up—especially if you keep releasing music over time.

7. How Many Streams Do You Need to Earn Something?

Let’s break it down with a simple table:

Keep in mind: this is gross revenue. If your distributor keeps a percentage (e.g., CD Baby or Amuse Free plan), you’ll receive less. If you use a paid distributor like DistroKid, you keep 100% (after your subscription cost).

As a rule of thumb, if you earn over 10,000 streams per year, your Spotify income can cover basic distribution costs and leave room for profit.

8. How to Get More Listeners on Spotify

Uploading your track is only the beginning. Getting people to actually listen to your music requires strategy, consistency, and creativity.

Here are some tried-and-true methods:

• Release music regularly: Spotify’s algorithm favors active artists. Try to release something new every 1–2 months—remixes, singles, demos, or acoustic versions all count.
• Pitch your track: Use Spotify for Artists to submit unreleased songs to editorial playlist curators (must be at least 7 days in advance).
• Target independent playlists: Thousands of user-generated playlists have large followings. Find curators on sites like SubmitHub, Groover, or Daily Playlists.
• Leverage social media: Short-form video content on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts is powerful for building buzz.
• Collaborate with other artists: Feature each other on tracks to expand your audience. Cross-promotion is key.
• Make your profile attractive: Add high-quality photos, a compelling bio, and links to your website or merch.

9. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Spotify offers amazing opportunities, but it’s easy to fall into traps—especially when you’re just starting out.

• Buying fake streams: Never pay for “guaranteed” streams. Spotify tracks abnormal behavior and may remove your song or ban your account.
• Bad distribution deals: Some distributors take a huge cut or lock you into long-term contracts. Always read the fine print.
• Copyright confusion: If you work with other musicians or producers, make sure ownership and royalty splits are clearly agreed upon in writing.
• Metadata mistakes: Wrong artist names, missing ISRC codes, or incorrect titles can lead to delays or misplacements on Spotify.
• Unrealistic expectations: Most indie artists grow slowly. Focus on building an engaged fanbase over time rather than chasing viral fame.

10. Indie Success Stories

Plenty of artists have made it on Spotify without a label. Here are a few inspiring examples:

• Russ (USA): Released one track a week on SoundCloud and Spotify, building momentum until he became a multi-platinum artist—entirely self-funded.
• Girl in Red (Norway): Started as a DIY bedroom project. Her honest, raw indie pop spread quickly online, making her one of the most streamed queer artists globally.
• Froukje (Netherlands): Released her debut song independently. Thanks to Spotify playlists and social media, she became a rising star in the Dutch pop scene.

All of these artists have a few things in common: they created consistently, connected directly with fans, and used streaming platforms as launchpads—not finish lines.