Uploading a Release

  • How to Release Music on DistroKid: Step-by-Step for New Members

    Getting your music into stores is quick and simple. Sign up for DistroKid, then head here:https://distrokid.com/newFrom there, you'll add: The streaming services & stores you want your music in Your audio Your cover art Release info (track titles, release date, genre, & more) Click Continue, and we'll send your music to the streaming services & stores you picked.That's it.The long version (only if you want a step-by-step walkthrough)What to have ready: Your audio file (WAV or FLAC sound best) Square cover art (3000 x 3000 pixels) Step 1: Pick your stores DistroKid delivers to 150+ stores:...

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  • Entering Track Information on the Upload Form

    When you reach the "Track" section of the upload form, you will need to enter specific information for each track of your upload before submitting your release to services. Information Required for Each TrackSong titleEnter the title of the track in the "Song title" section, without version information or the names of additional artists. Version information and additional artists will be added in later sections of the track menu.Parenthetical information is okay, as long as it is part of the title and not used to indicate an additional artist or version information. For example, the title o...

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  • Setting a Future Release Date

    You can set up a custom future release date for an upload if you are subscribed to the Musician Plus or Ultimate plan. To set a future release date, use the calendar-style date selector under the "Release date" section of the upload form.When a future date is selected, you can also set a specific release time for your upload to go live in Spotify. For all other services, your release will go live on release day at around midnight in your listeners' time zones. If you already have a DistroKid account and want to upgrade to access this feature (and more), sign in to DistroKid and click "Upgra...

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  • Setting Up Pre-Orders For Your Music

    With DistroKid, you can set up a pre-order period for your releases in iTunes, Amazon, Qobuz, and Beatport (if you have the Beatport Album Extra). Setting a pre-order period will allow your fans to pre-purchase your release before its release date. Note that pre-ordering is not available in other stores and streaming services at this time.To set up a pre-order period for your release, you'll need to set a release date to at least 5 days in the future (Musician Plus or Ultimate plan required) on the DistroKid upload form. After you have chosen a future release date, you'll see the "Preorder?...

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  • What Are Album Extras?

    Album Extras are optional add-ons you can opt into on any one of your uploads. While not mandatory for store distribution (except for cover licenses), they can enhance your music's accessibility for fans.Album Extras can be opted into on the upload form during the upload process, or from your "My Music" page after the upload process.Some Album Extras are one-time payments, while others are subscription-based, just like our membership subscriptions. Available Album Extras Discovery Pack: $0.99 per song, per yearDiscovery pack adds your release to the global databases that people use to match...

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  • Can I Add or Remove a Track from an Album That's Already Uploaded?

    Once you upload an album to DistroKid, it is not possible to add any tracks to it or remove any tracks from it. If it's crucial that you need to add a track to a release or remove one from it, you will need to delete the release from your DistroKid account, and then re-upload it with the intended tracks. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Can I Add or Remove a Track from an Album That's Already Uploaded?", "inLanguage": "en", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "about": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid", "url"...

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  • What is Store Maximizer?

    The Store Maximizer album extra will automatically deliver your release to new online stores and streaming services as we add them to our distribution network. We'll always give you notice before the Store Maximizer adds your music to a new service. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "What is Store Maximizer?", "description": "Store Maximizer automatically sends your releases to new streaming services as they’re added to DistroKid’s network.", "inLanguage": "en", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid", "url": "htt...

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  • What is Discovery Pack?

    The Discovery Pack album extra adds your release to global databases that people use to match music and artist information. This includes recognition in millions of automobiles via Gracenote, and registration with Luminate, which is used for Billboard charts. The Discovery Pack adds your release to ACRCloud, an audio recognition service, and Jaxsta, a global music credits database. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "What is Discovery Pack?", "description": "The Discovery Pack adds your release to major global music databases like Gracenote, Luminate...

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  • How To Upload Music to DistroKid

    It's easy to upload your music to DistroKid! To get started, sign in to DistroKid and head over to the upload form at http://www.distrokid.com/new.If you have any specific questions, check out this article for a breakdown of each section of the upload form: https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407879306643. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "How To Upload Music to DistroKid", "description": "Learn how to upload your music to DistroKid and access detailed guidance for each part of the upload form.", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPa...

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  • Setting Prices for Your Music in Stores

    If you're subscribed to DistroKid at the Musician Plus or Ultimate plan, you can specify the price of your track or album in iTunes and Amazon on the upload form. If you don't specify your price, your music will be sold for the store's default pricing for the type of release (Single, EP, or Album). For example, singles are sold for 99 cents in iTunes. Stores like iTunes may also set a higher price for singles that are longer than 10 minutes in length. Please keep in mind that we will send your specified prices to iTunes and Amazon, but they do have the option of overriding this and se...

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  • Holiday Deliveries and Support

    During the holiday season, DistroKid experiences reduced staffing, particularly during the Thanksgiving work week, the work weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday, as well as New Year's day.We try to answer your requests as fast as possible! Typically, we answer most requests within 24 hours, but during the holidays, it may be anywhere from 2-7 business days for us to follow up.Many of our service partners also have reduced staffing during the holidays, which may impact release times.Our service partners have kindly provided a general schedule of holiday delivery times, so that artists c...

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  • Having the Same Artist Name as Another Artist

    When uploading your music for the first time, it's best practice to use an artist/band name that doesn't already exist in streaming services. Having a unique artist name will help your music and brand by making it easier to search for, and also help prevent your music from getting grouped together with other artists using the same or similar name.Sometimes, having the same artist name as another artist can't be avoided. Having the same artist name as another artist will have no impact on how earnings are received for your music. If your music is on the incorrect artist page, you can use Dis...

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  • Uploading a "Waterfall" Style Release

    { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Uploading a \"Waterfall\" Style Release", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/15650449654419", "inLanguage": "en", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid" }, "articleBody": "While it's not currently possible to release an album \"waterfall\" style (where the album page populates with newly released tracks on specified dates until the full album release), you can us...

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  • Can I Upload a Single Before My Album, and then Include that Single on My Album?

    Yes, you can upload a single before an album, and then include that single on the album.To do so, upload the single first, and then upload the entire album (including the single) as a separate release. Once the full release is in streaming services, you can choose to leave the single or remove it from services and only have the album version available.If you upload the album using the same ISRCs as the singles (requires Musician Plus or Ultimate plan), along with the identical audio file and metadata (track titles, artist name, etc.), it may help preserve play counts and playlists for the s...

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  • If I Specify a Custom Release Date, When Will My Album Appear in Streaming Services?

    If you've specified a release date with the Musician Plus or Ultimate plan and set a future release date on the upload form, your music will appear in services on the date you specified.If you've set a past release date, your music will appear in services as soon as possible. If you need your music to launch on a specific date across all platforms, select a release date at least four weeks ahead. If you choose a release date less than four weeks in advance, there's a chance your album could still be stuck in a service's review queue (or some other unforeseen delay) when your release date co...

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  • Understanding the Upload Form

    The DistroKid upload form is the page you'll use to add all important information for a release, along with its audio file(s) and artwork. The upload form has several sections you can use to make sure your release appears exactly how you'd like it to when it goes live. In addition, you can use the upload form to set specific artist pages for your release to appear on in services, and opt into any of several optional DistroKid album extras. Sections of the Upload FormServicesThe Services section is where you can select the services to deliver your release to – check the boxes next to your de...

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  • The Leave a Legacy Album Extra

    The Leave a Legacy album extra can be added to a release so that it won't be removed by DistroKid after a lapsed membership payment due to your credit card being rejected.Additionally, if you cancel your DistroKid subscription, any releases with the Leave a Legacy extra will still be available on streaming services.Adding this album extra to a release does not replace your annual membership fee if you have an active subscription, and it is not a one-time payment for all of your releases; each release must have this album extra included if you wish to cancel your subscription and keep your r...

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  • Can I Choose Only Specific Streaming Services to Release My Music?

    When using DistroKid, it's easy to select which services your music will appear in. To do so, check only the services you are interested in delivering your music to under the "Services" section of the upload form.You can always add your music to more services later on. For more information on adding your music to services after it's uploaded, check out this article: https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013535034. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Can I Choose Only Specific Streaming Services to Release My Music?", "description": "You ...

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  • What is Social Media Pack?

    { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "#article", "headline": "What is Social Media Pack?", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/30785369645843-What-is-Social-Media-Pack", "inLanguage": "en", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid" }, "articleBody": "Social Media Pack is an annually charged DistroKid Album Extra that helps get you paid when somebody us...

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  • Choosing the Start Time for Audio Previews in Streaming Services

    You can request a specific start time for audio previews for your tracks in TikTok, Apple Music, and iTunes. Preview clip time selection is only available for tracks with a duration longer than 1:16, and are only available in 60 second increments.For example: If you have a 3 minute track, the latest preview time you can select is at the 2 minute mark.Note that not all platforms offer the full 60 seconds of the preview. Depending on which store or service, preview times may range anywhere from 10-60 seconds in length. Selecting a Preview Clip Start TimeUnder the "Preview clip start time" sec...

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  • Using Artist Slots to Upload Different Releases Under Different Artist Names

    Your DistroKid plan allows you to upload an unlimited number of releases for each artist on your account, but each unique primary artist (or collaboration) requires its own "artist slot." Once you successfully upload a release for a new artist or collaboration, an available artist slot is used on your account, and unlimited uploads for that artist name or collaboration are enabled moving forward.The different DistroKid plans grant access to different numbers of artist slots. If you want to upload music for a new artist or collaboration on your account and do not have any available artist sl...

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  • How Can I Get the "Max" Badge in Tidal?

    Tidal delivers the sound of your original master recording, so be sure to upload your master audio file in WAV, FLAC, or AIFF file formats. Uploads should be at least 16-bit and 44.1 kHz – we recommend aiming higher to take full advantage of the benefits of what Tidal offers. Once you've uploaded your release to DistroKid and your audio files meet the required specifications, Tidal will add that badge to your music on their end.If you want your music to have the "Max" quality badge in Tidal, you'll need to make sure your audio files are 24-bit, and above 44.1 kHz sample rate (up to 192 kHz)...

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  • Making a Dolby Atmos Version of Your Song

    To upload Dolby Atmos audio to DistroKid, you will first need to create and export a Dolby Atmos compatible WAV file.To get started mixing and creating in Atmos, you'll need an Atmos-compatible DAW, like Pro Tools Ultimate, Logic Pro, Steinberg Nuendo or Ableton Live. In addition, you'll need the Dolby Atmos Renderer and something to monitor on. For more information about required plug-ins and compatibility, check out the Dolby FAQ.Once you have everything set up, you can find tons of great articles and videos to help you get started. Here's one we loved, check it out:Here are some other ar...

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  • Can I Upload a Digital Booklet with My Release?

    No. At this time we don't have the option to upload a digital booklet for iTunes. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Can I Upload a Digital Booklet with My Release?", "description": "DistroKid does not currently support uploading digital booklets for iTunes releases.", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013534194" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid", "url": "https://distrokid.com" }, "author": { "@type": "Organization", ...

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