As an independent artist, one of the most important steps in releasing your music is getting it onto streaming platforms. A key platform for artists is Spotify, a popular streaming service with over 248 million users worldwide. For artists looking to get their music onto Spotify, the process may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the main questions many artists have when first beginning this process is “How much does it cost to publish a song on Spotify?”
The short answer to this question is that it does not cost anything for an artist to publish a song on Spotify. Before a song can be published on the platform though, an artist must first sign up for a free account with either TuneCore, DistroKid or CD Baby. These companies act as digital ‘distributors’ and are responsible for getting music onto streaming platforms such as Spotify.
TuneCore charges $9.99 per single and $29.99 per album upload fee in addition to taking 9% of the royalties earned from streams (per year). DistroKid charges $19.99 per year for unlimited uploads and takes 15% of the royalties earned from streams (per year). CD Baby charges $9.95 per single and $29.95 per album upload fee in addition to taking 9% of the royalties earned from streams (per year). All three companies offer various plans to fit different release strategies.
Once you have signed up for an account with one of these distribution companies and paid any applicable fees, you will then be able to submit your tracks for review by Spotify’s content team. It typically takes about 2-3 weeks for them to review your music before deciding if it will be accepted onto their platform or not.
In conclusion, it does not cost anything upfront for an artist to publish their song on Spotify; however, there are fees associated with signing up for an account with one of the digital distributors mentioned above that are required before submitting your music for review by Spotify’s content team.
Conclusion:
In summary, there are no upfront costs associated with publishing a song on Spotify; however, there are fees associated with signing up for an account with one of the digital distributors like TuneCore, DistroKid or CD Baby that must be paid before submitting your music for review by Spotify’s content team.