Singles, EPs, and albums: which format should you release on DistroKid? – DistroKid Help Center

Q: Which format should you release?

There's no single right answer. It depends on your goals. Singles let you release often and maintain a steady presence. One track, one focused rollout, easy to pitch. EPs group a few songs into a small body of work without the scope of a full album. Albums suit a complete project you want listeners to experience in sequence. DistroKid's plans include unlimited uploads for a flat annual fee, so the format choice is creative, not based on your budget.

Q: What are the cover art requirements?

One square .jpg image, minimum 1000×1000 pixels (3000×3000 is ideal), RGB color mode. Avoid URLs, QR codes, third-party logos, prices, or nudity. Stores will reject artwork that includes them.

Streaming services automatically classify your release based on how many songs and its length.

Here's the breakdown:

Single:
- 1–3 songs, each under 10 minutes.
EP:
- under 30 minutes total or 1–3 tracks with at least one 10+ minutes, still under 30 minutes total.
Album:
- 7 or more songs.

All three formats are uploaded the same way on DistroKid.

Want more details? Here's the long version

How to upload each format on DistroKid

Uploading a song with DistroKid is easy and the same for each format.

Before you start, make sure you have the following ready:

Final mastered audio file (WAV or FLAC recommended)
Square cover art (minimum 1000×1000 pixels)
Metadata: song title, artist or band name, genre
A release date (you will need to be on Musician Plus or Ultimate to select a custom release date. To upgrade go to distrokid.com/plan)

Sign into DistroKid.
Click "Upload music" (top right corner).
Select the stores you want your songs to be delivered to.
Pick the number of songs you're uploading in the "Number of songs" section. This will determine if you're releasing a single, EP, or album to stores.
Upload your audio files and album artwork.
Fill out the rest of your release details.

Can I release a single now and add it to an album later?

Yes. Upload the single first, then upload the full album (including that song) as a separate release whenever you're ready.

Once the album is live, you can keep the original single up or take it down.

If you're on the Musician Plus or Ultimate plan, reusing the single's ISRC on the album version will help preserve play counts and playlist placements, though it's not guaranteed.

Here's some more info on how to do that: Can I Upload a Single Before My Album, and then Include that Single on My Album?

Which format should you release?

There's no single right answer. It depends on your goals.

Singles let you release often and maintain a steady presence. One track, one focused rollout, easy to pitch.

EPs group a few songs into a small body of work without the scope of a full album.

Albums suit a complete project you want listeners to experience in sequence.

DistroKid's plans include unlimited uploads for a flat annual fee, so the format choice is creative, not based on your budget. You can release a single this month and an album next month at no extra upload cost.

More stuff to know

How many songs is an EP?

4–6 songs under 30 minutes total, or 1–3 songs where at least one runs 10+ minutes (still under 30 minutes total).

Does it cost more to release an album?

Nope. DistroKid comes with unlimited releases.

What audio file formats does DistroKid accept?

WAV, FLAC, MP3, M4A, AIFF, and WMA. Lossless formats (WAV or FLAC) preserve full audio quality. Files must be under 1 GB.

What are the cover art requirements?

One square .jpg image
minimum 1000×1000 pixels (3000×3000 is ideal)
RGB color mode.
Avoid URLs, QR codes, third-party logos, prices, or nudity. Stores will reject artwork that includes them.

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