In what could be one of the biggest news in the world of music licensing, Spotify launched a new feature which will enable independent artists to upload tracks to the service directly without any requirement for a third-party aggregator or record label.
The feature currently remains in an invite-only beta mode with a few hundred US artists being ushered in. However, Spotify says that in the future, it will bring upload to even more artists, labels, and teams.
Artists will be able to access the upload function via the Spotify For Artists platform, which counted more than 200,000 verified acts amongst its monthly user base at the end of June.
The platform had earlier worked with independent labels such as Noname, Michael Brun, VIAA, and Hot Shade.
Here’s a quick guide for sign up process:
Sign up for Spotify’s upload your own music beta
You’ll need a Spotify for Artists account to participate.
Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll need to follow a few guidelines to get your music ready for distribution through Spotify.
You’ll need the following:
- Music files including WAV, WAVE, or FLAC (16- or 24-bit with sample rates 44.1kHz or higher)
- WAV and WAVE file formats must be PCM
- Album art must be square, at least 1600 x 1600px in PNG (preferred) or JPEG format
- The names of your collaborators, including featured artists and non-recording collaborators like songwriters and producers
Interestingly, Spotify’s upload feature is completely free.
The platform isn’t charging any upfront fees for uploads and also not charging artists any additional commission on the royalties generated by this music.
As for the surprise (non) pricing structure, a fresh post on the Spotify blog explains: “Just like releasing through any other partner, you’ll get paid when fans stream your music on Spotify. Your recording royalties will hit your bank account automatically each month, and you’ll see a clear report of how much your streams are earning right next to the other insights you already get from Spotify for Artists.
“Uploading is free to all artists, and Spotify doesn’t charge you any fees or commissions no matter how frequently you release music.”
To be eligible to release through Spotify for Artists, a person will need to control the distribution rights to your music, a US bank account, and tax ID.
