How to Upload Your First Song to Spotify, Apple Music & More

Name: How to Upload Your First Song to Spotify, Apple Music & More
Rating: 5.0 (5 reviews)

A Step-by-Step Guide to Distributing Your Music on Spotify, Apple Music, and All Major Platforms

Created byChristopher Greenwood

Last updated 5/2025

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Learn how to create an account, choose the right distribution settings, and complete the release process for Spotify, Apple Music, and more.
Enhance your release by adding and syncing song lyrics across platforms
Create and upload engaging Spotify Canvas videos
Build hype and maximize exposure with effective pre-save campaigns

Course content

1 section • 11 lectures • 49m total length

Introduction (START HERE)2:06
Upload your music to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube and more using DistroKid, while preparing a high-quality audio master, 3,000 by 3,000 pixels cover art, metadata, lyrics, and release timing.
Choosing the right distributor2:21
Choose a fee-based distributor for your music, such as DistroKid or TuneCore, to avoid percentage-based commissions (like 10 to 30%) and the upfront promises of playlist pitching.
Signing Up With DistroKid1:20
I recommend selecting DistroKid's Musician package which is only $24.95 a year which gives you all the necessary tools and stats for growing your music career. Here is also a 7.5% discount link: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/610784
How to Make Your Album Cover Unforgettable (Even with zero budget)8:19
Explore five methods to design album covers, including hiring a designer, free stock images, premium stock photos, iPhone photography, and ai image tools.
Uploading Your First Song (Including Cover Songs)11:00
Upload your first song to Spotify, Apple Music, and more with this DistroKid walkthrough. Configure release dates, ISRCs, and artist mapping, including cover song licensing.
How to Legally Release a Cover Song and Keep 100% of the Royalties8:07
Learn to legally release a cover using DistroKid to Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube, with compulsory licenses via the Harry Fox Agency and We Are The Hits.
Upload your lyrics so your fans can chant every word2:04
Upload your song lyrics after scheduling release, clean the plain lyrics by removing titles, intro, verse, and chorus, then enable synced lyrics for fans to chant.
Sync Your Lyrics1:45
Learn to sync lyrics for Spotify, Apple Music, and more by timing lines during playback and saving timed lyrics to boost fan engagement with a karaoke feature.
How to collect pre-saves like a pro and explode your streams day of release2:26
Learn to use HyperFollow and free landing pages to collect pre-saves and emails, boosting day-of-release streams on Spotify and Apple Music through a strategic release timeline.
The Secret To Getting 181% more streams using Spotify Canvas videos3:56
Discover how Spotify canvas videos, 3-8 seconds, boost streams up to 181% and drive saves and shares. Create canvases with the Distrokid generator and upload via the Spotify artist dashboard.
Crack the Code: Pitch Your Song to Editorial Playlists and Actually Get Noticed6:02
Pitch your song to Spotify editorial curators to trigger Release Radar and playlist placements, covering timing, genres, and promotion for a successful cover release.

Requirements

No prior experience required — this course is designed for first-time artists or anyone new to music distribution. All you need is: A finished song (mixed and mastered, ready for release) A computer or smartphone with internet access A DistroKid account (we’ll walk you through setting it up) Optional: Cover artwork, lyrics, and a short vertical video (if you want to add a Spotify Canvas)

Description

Release Your Music Like a Pro — Even If You're Just Getting Started

Ready to drop your first track? This beginner-friendly course walks you step-by-step through the entire process of releasing a song from scratch — no prior experience needed.

You’ll learn how to:

Upload your song to Spotify, Apple Music, and every major streaming platform
Design professional artwork that stands out
Choose the right music distributor for your goals
Set up royalty splits for collaborators and producers
Schedule your release like a pro — no missed deadlines
Add a featured artist to your track the right way from day one
Monetize your music across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and more
How to upload your lyrics to each individual song as well as sync it so fans can sing along
How to create a free Spotify Canvas using DistroKids free tools at no cost to you
Avoid the mistakes most artists make when distributing their song so you can maximize promotion and royalties.

By the end of this course, you’ll have a fully released song on all major platforms, complete with artwork, features, and monetization — all set up the smart way.

Let’s launch your music career the right way — fast, simple, and ready for the world.

Who this course is for:

This course is perfect for: Independent artists and musicians ready to release their first song to the world DIY producers, rappers, singers, and bands who want to distribute music professionally without needing a record label Newcomers to Spotify, Apple Music, and digital streaming platforms who feel overwhelmed by the process