How to Distribute Your Music to All Platforms (2026 Guide)
- Spotify, Apple Music and most platforms don't accept direct uploads: you need a distributor to deliver your music for you.
- There are free distributors that leave you 80-100% of the royalties. Compare fee, royalty % and payout times.
- Before uploading: master ready, cover art, correct metadata and, if you can, 3-4 weeks' lead time to pitch.
- The distributor gives you the ISRC/UPC and collects your royalties. Choosing well avoids losing money every month.
You've got the song ready and you want it on Spotify, Apple Music and TikTok. The step almost nobody explains well is distribution: how your music gets from your computer to every platform, legally and paying you what you're owed. Here's the clear 2026 guide.
Why you need a distributor
Streaming platforms don't let an artist upload music directly (bar exceptions like Bandcamp or SoundCloud). You need an intermediary —the distributor— to deliver your track to each platform, add the legal codes and collect your royalties to pay you. It's the mandatory bridge between your music and your listeners.
What you need before uploading
Don't rush it. Have your master ready at good quality, your cover art in high resolution (at least 3000×3000 px, no social or web logos), and correct metadata: title, artists, writers, genre and date. A wrong metadata field can delay the release or split your streams from the right profile.
How to choose the right distributor
They're not all equal. Look at three things: the fee (one-off, subscription or free), the royalty percentage you keep (ideally 100% or close) and the payout times. We compare them in detail in the best free music distributors. And remember: distribution is the prior step; what grows a release is promotion.
Look for this
- Keeping 80-100% of the royalties
- Delivery to every platform that matters to you
- Clear payout times, no surprises
- ISRC and UPC included
Be wary if…
- It keeps a high % of your royalties unexplained
- It asks for exclusivity or locks your catalogue
- It isn't in Spotify's provider directory
- It promises «guaranteed playlists» for paying more
Distributing just puts your music on the shelf. Whether anyone picks it up is down to promotion.
Worth being clear aboutWhere to start
Get your master and cover ready, choose a distributor that leaves you your royalties, and upload with lead time to pitch. If you like, at Worzero we distribute your music to 200+ platforms with a transparent split in your favour and editorial pitching: see music distribution.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload my music directly to Spotify?
No. Spotify and most platforms don't accept direct artist uploads: you need a distributor to deliver it. Spotify for Artists is only the stats-and-pitch dashboard.
How much does it cost to distribute your music?
From $0: there are free distributors. Others charge a subscription or a one-off fee. What matters is the royalty % you keep, not just the entry price.
What are ISRC and UPC?
The ISRC identifies each song and the UPC each release (single, EP, album). They track plays and pay royalties. The distributor assigns them.
How long before my music is on the platforms?
Between 1 and 5 business days after the distributor processes it. So upload with 3-4 weeks' lead to run the editorial pitch.
Which distributor is best?
It depends on your case, but prioritise those that leave you 80-100% of royalties and deliver to every platform. We compare them in our free distributor guide.
Want your music to actually grow?
At Worzero we build your strategy, content and ads to turn streams into real fans. Flat monthly fee, no lock-in.
See Music Distribution
