How to Release Music Independently: Step-by-Step

Releasing music without a label comes down to ten jobs: finishing the recordings, sorting out who owns what, preparing the metadata and artwork, choosing a distributor, protecting your rights, picking a date, pitching, promoting, and checking the results. None of them is difficult, but doing them in the wrong order, for example booking a date before the files are cleared, causes most of the delays independent artists run into.

This is a general guide to the field, not advice about any specific artist or a legal opinion. Distributors, platforms and fees change often, so check each service’s current terms before committing. For a short set of general ideas for newer acts, see the archive page on advice for new artists, and for the site’s catalogue overview see Sporty Music.

1. Finish and master the recordings

A release is a finished product, so lock the mixes before you do anything else. Mastering gives the tracks a consistent loudness and tone across an EP or album, and it prepares the final files in the format your distributor asks for, typically a high-quality uncompressed WAV. Listen on several systems, such as headphones, a car and a phone speaker. Fix problems now: once a track is live, replacing it can be slow and can reset its plays on some services.

2. Decide what you are releasing

Singles, EPs and albums behave differently. A single concentrates attention on one track and is easier to promote. An EP of four to six tracks gives listeners a fuller picture. An album suits a body of work that deserves a campaign. Whatever you choose, make sure every track is ready, because the release’s schedule is set by the slowest piece.

3. Sort out ownership and clearances

Write down who contributed what: songwriters, producers, featured artists, session players, and whoever owns the beat. Agree the splits in writing before release, because disputes are far easier to settle when nobody has yet earned anything.

If a track includes a sample, a licensed loop or a beat leased from someone else, check the terms. Samples generally involve two rights, the recording and the underlying composition, and both may need permission. Some distributors reject tracks with uncleared samples. Beat leases differ in what they allow, such as the number of streams, whether you can monetize, and whether credit is required, so read the license.

4. Prepare the metadata and artwork

Distributors ask for the following, and the details travel with the release to every store:

• Release title, artist name and track titles, spelled exactly the way you want them
• Songwriter and producer credits
• Genre and language
• Whether the lyrics are explicit
• Release date and territory
• Cover art in the required size, usually a square high-resolution image, with no misleading text or logos you don’t have the right to use

Each recording needs an ISRC, an International Standard Recording Code that identifies it for tracking royalties. In the United States, the RIAA is the appointed national ISRC agency, and the U.S. ISRC site links to a SoundExchange search tool for checking codes. Many distributors will assign a code during upload, so check whether yours does before buying your own. The U.S. ISRC site describes each code as a unique and permanent identifier for a specific recording.

5. Choose a distributor

A distributor delivers your music to streaming and download services. Compare options by what matters to you:

Read the contract for what happens if you cancel: some services remove your music when a subscription ends.

6. Protect your rights

In the United States, copyright exists from the moment a work is created and fixed in tangible form, and registration is voluntary. The U.S. Copyright Office notes that registration creates a public record and a certificate, that registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney’s fees, and that you generally must register before you can bring an infringement lawsuit for a U.S. work. Consider registering your releases, and check the Office’s current procedures and fees.

Songwriters can also join a performing rights organization to collect public-performance royalties for compositions. Rules, memberships and fees differ by country, so look up the options that apply where you live.

7. Pick a release date and build a timeline

Since July 10, 2015, new music has been released globally on Fridays, a change the music industry body IFPI announced to unify what had been different release days in different countries. Most independent artists follow that rhythm.

A workable schedule, counting back from release day:

1. 6 to 8 weeks before: finalize masters, artwork and credits; choose your distributor.
2. 4 to 6 weeks before: upload the release, which gives time to fix delivery errors.
3. At least 7 days before: pitch the track to Spotify’s editors through Spotify for Artists if you want to be considered.
4. Release week: share the link, post clips, send the music to blogs and radio.
5. Weeks after: keep posting, collect feedback and review the numbers.

Spotify says submissions must be made at least seven days ahead, only one unreleased track can be pitched at a time and pitching does not guarantee placement. The service also adds a pitched track to followers’ Release Radar when the pitch is made in time. These rules can change, so check the current help page.

8. Promote with a plan

Promotion is not only social media posts. Build a small, reliable press kit: a short bio, links, a good photo and a clean one-page description of the release. Pitch playlist curators, blogs, college and community radio, and local venues. Tell the people who already follow you first, and give them a reason to listen, such as a story behind the song.

9. Track and learn

Check streaming dashboards for which tracks travel, where listeners are and how they found you. Track earnings by source. Note what worked, whether it was a particular post, a playlist or a live show, and repeat it.

Common mistakes

• Uploading before the splits and samples are cleared
• Misspelling the artist name or credits, which is hard to fix later
• Releasing without an audience plan
• Ignoring the distributor’s contract terms
• Expecting one release to do everything

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a label to release music?

No. Distributors let artists deliver music to major streaming services without a label. What a label adds is funding, staff and promotion, which an independent artist must either supply or hire.

What is an ISRC and do I need one?

It is a unique code for a specific recording. Many distributors assign one when you upload, but you can also obtain your own; check your distributor’s terms.

How early should I upload my release?

Many distributors suggest allowing weeks, and Spotify requires pitches at least seven days before release. Aim for at least a month so you have time to fix errors.

Should I register my copyright?

It is optional, but in the United States registration has legal advantages. Check the Copyright Office’s guidance, or ask a music attorney for advice on your situation.