How to Submit Your Music to Apple Music with a Step by Step Guide

For independent musicians and aspiring artists, having your music on Apple Music is more than a milestone!

Apple Music is among the most powerful streaming platforms on the globe, with access to a massive audience in search of new sounds, different genres, and emerging talent. So whether you’re cooking beats in your bedroom studio or finalizing tracks with your bandmates before the festival season, imagining that your track is only a tap away from a listener in Tokyo, London, or New York is so invigorating.

As exciting as that prospect is, the process of making your music available on Apple Music is not always crystal clear, especially if you’re new to the game. You have distribution platforms, metadata requirements, release planning—it’s a lot to wade through, and the last thing you need is for your debut single to end up delayed due to a technical glitch.

That’s why we’ve laid out the entire process in this guide—not just the “how,” but also the “why” behind each step. Through careful, informed decisions throughout the process, you can get your tracks up on Apple Music and pave the way for long-tail success. 

Here’s the down and dirty on what it takes to push your music onto one of the largest stages in the industry!

Selecting Music Distribution that Works with Apple Music

Before any of your music ever makes it to the digital shelves of Apple Music, you have to team up with a music distributor—the intermediary who gets your songs from your laptop to the ears of millions. 

Apple Music doesn’t let artists upload music directly except if they work with a label or distributor that has access, so an independent artist’s first key challenge is targeting the right distribution partner.

There is no shortage of distributors, from DistroKid and TuneCore to CD Baby and Amuse, and each one has its own pricing model, royalty plan, and support structure. Some require an annual fee for unlimited uploads, while others ask for a cut of your income. 

The important thing is to assess what serves you best—not only financially, but logistically, and creatively. If you plan multiple releases over a year, then maybe a flat-fee model is a better fit. If, on the other hand, you’re simply testing the waters by releasing one single, a revenue-share option might be a better fit instead.

Once you select your distributor, you will set up an account, prove your identity, and link your payment information. This might seem like an administrative step, but it sets the stage for everything else that will follow.

A good distributor will upload your music to (but not limited to) Apple Music, as well as Spotify, Amazon Music, and a dozen more platforms—so that with a single upload you can reach the widest audience possible.

Getting Your Tracks Ready – Quality, Meta Data, and Artwork

Now that you have taken the leap and chosen your distribution partner, you need to prepare the actual music for release. 

This is more than just dragging and dropping an MP3 file because Apple Music has stringent quality standards and how you present your music (everything from audio fidelity to metadata) can mean the difference between whether your work is received well or poorly on the platform.

Quality Audio 

It is to get your audio professionally mixed and mastered. While your track may sound OK through your headphones, it has to translate into studio monitors, car speakers, and everything in between. 

Most distributors will ask for your audio files in WAV format, usually at 16-bit or 24-bit resolution. Cutting corners on mastering might spare some cash up front, but in a competitive streaming universe, quality is what makes you heard—and, as we’ve learned over the years, remembered.

Metadata 

This is yet another key part of the puzzle. You’ll fill out things like your track title, artist name, composer credits, genre, and release date. Incorrect or incomplete metadata may delay your release or have your release show up incorrectly on the platform(s).

Cover Art

Oh, and we can’t forget your cover art. Minimum image size: 3000 x 3000 pixels, visually stimulating, no low-res logos or blurry fonts. Consider it your cover to an album in the digital sense—it’s frequently the first preview a new listener gets, so some effort here can go a long way.

Strategies to Determine a Release Date and Submission Timeline

With your music refined and packaged, the next decision comes down to timing. Submitting music to Apple Music covers a lot of ground, but one thing tends to fly under the radar—ensuring you give yourself enough time ahead of the release date so everything goes off without a hitch. 

Most distributors recommend that you upload your music no later than two to four weeks before your planned release date, and this buffer period is more critical than you may think.

Configurations of a release date require the constellation of your launch to match the best opportunities to meet your promotion. Friday is the standard for dropping new music, so when you release that day, you get your best shot at getting plugged into playlists and curling over editorial charts.

You do, however, need that lead time to pitch your track to Apple Music’s curation team, garner pre-save momentum, and create buzz across all your social channels.

Planning ahead enables you to develop a cohesive rollout. You can plan email campaigns, teasers, and music video drops all in that same window to maximize impact. Some distributors even provide tools for pre-saves and smart links that let fans instantly access your track as soon as it goes live. 

The bottom line? Event-fy your release. The more time and love you invest into it, the more likely it is to gain traction and find the audience that it deserves.

How to Set up an Apple Music for Artists Account

Once your music is on its way to Apple Music with your distributor, it’s time to claim your digital real estate.

Apple Music for Artists is a powerful platform for accessing insights and analytics about your music, as well as customization tools to help you build a deeper connection with your listeners. Get started first before we go into detail; it’s free to create your account and you will need to if you are serious about getting to grips with all your on-platform growth.

To set up your Apple Music for Artists profile, you’ll need to verify your identity via your distributor or Apple ID. Once approved, you’ll gain access to your artist dashboard. This dashboard is the part where all the magic happens—you’ll be able to see how many plays, listeners, and purchases all your songs are getting, in real time.

You can see demographic breakdowns, geographic data, even which playlists are driving the most traction on your releases.

But Apple Music for Artists isn’t only about quantifiable data. It also lets you customize your artist page. Your page will let you upload a profile photo, a bio, and even post updates for your fans. 

It’s a chance to build your mark, share your story, and give your presence on Apple Music a professional, polished feel. As such, this step also closes the gap between making the music available and becoming a recognized artist on one of the world’s largest streaming services.

Leveraging Pre-Saves and Pre-Add Campaigns

Pre-save (for audio) and pre-add (for video) campaigns are a powerful tool when it comes to generating buzz around an upcoming release. Although Spotify popularized the pre-save, Apple Music’s equivalent, known as pre-add, is just as potent. 

It enables fans to pre-add your unreleased music to their libraries, and when it drops, it appears like magic in their playlists and devices.

To do this, you’ll have to mark your release as a pre-order in your distributor’s dashboard. From there, you create smart links (usually with Hypeddit, ToneDen, Linkfire, etc.) that point fans to your pre-add page. It’s a minor feature with a major impact. 

Generating more links leaves you looking better in the algorithms at Apple Music for your debut. A big first week tells curators and listeners alike that your release deserves attention.

In addition, a pre-add campaign gives you a way to engage your audience in your process. Give us something behind-the-scenes, a teaser clip, one or two lyrics, so that we can taste them, see the story behind your song, and invest emotionally in it. 

It’s about generating excitement, igniting discussions, and inspiring fans to take that one tiny action that allows you to organically blossom in Apple Music’s ecosystem.

How to Pitch Your Track to Apple Music Editors

Getting your tracks onto Apple Music is only the first hurdle—getting people to notice them is the second.

In the music world, Apple Music has an editorial team that curates some of the most influential playlists. From New Music Daily, which features new singles released every Friday, to more genre-specific lists, these playlists can magnify a song’s visibility and get you heard by tens of thousands of new listeners overnight. The secret to cracking these lists? How to pitch your track the right way.

Most distributors have a submission tool or editorial pitching feature when you upload. This is your opportunity to tell your story—what sparked the song, where you see it fitting into your wider artistic vision, and what makes it special. 

It’s not catchy songs that editors want; it’s compelling narratives. If your song reflects a cultural moment, a trend or a personal journey, say so. A good pitch can transform an ordinary release into a breakout occasion.

Timing is crucial here. If you want coverage around your release date, submit your pitch at least a few weeks in advance—it takes time for editors to review and consider a pitch. Be real, be specific, but most of all let the music deliver on the promise. 

With thousands of submissions received each week, your music and message need to stand out to the editors. But when it does, it can be transformative—catapulting your music into the playlists that define the contemporary soundscape.

Post-Launch – Promotion for Your Apple Music Release

As soon as your song goes live on Apple Music, the work doesn’t end—it just changes the way you go about it. It is now time to broaden the reach of your music and ensure the most ears that can hear your track do. 

Promotion is what moves your music from passive discovery to active engagement. Even if your song didn’t make it onto a big playlist, there are tons of ways to generate traffic and gain steam after launch.

Share your Apple Music link everywhere. Tailor your call-to-action based on where your audience is at—Instagram Reels, TikTok challenges, and YouTube shorts are all great ways to showcase snippets of your track. 

A great way to do this is have your followers share the song on their own networks, and don’t hesitate to thank friends, influencers, or collaborators directly in the DMs asking for support. Most of the personal outreach does get surprising results.

Apple Music also offers the ability to embed their mp3 files. Embed your player on your site, blog, or electronic press kit (EPK). 

If you’re doing interviews, podcasts, or guest features, always make sure that the host has your Apple Music link. The more play your track gets, the more likely to see it kick off in Apple’s algorithms, leading to organic playlisting and sustained growth. Now is your time—own it, let your music do the talking.

Using Apple Music for Artists to Analyze Track Performance 

After your track is live and promotions have begun, it’s important to check how your music is performing. Apple Music for Artists provides a set of detailed analytics that extend well beyond basic play counts. 

From knowing where your listeners are to understanding what songs are resonating the most with them, these insights can help inform your next moves and your long-term strategy.

You’ll see your total plays, average daily listeners, and how many times your songs were purchased or added to playlists at first glance. But if you dig deeper, you’ll find much more. You can find out what territories your fans are from, what age group listens the most, which devices they’re using—iPhones, iPads or Macs. 

Knowing this information will help you schedule targeted marketing campaigns, change your tone for different demographics, or even which cities should get priority when going on tour or making merch drops.

Analytics are not merely numbers but a means to get to know your audience. When you know who is listening to, and how they’re engaging with your music, you’re not guessing anymore; you’re making informed choices. 

The result of this feedback loop is that it allows you to double down on what’s working and pivot fast when something is not. In the music industry, that nimbleness can make the difference between remaining an underground act and rising to the next level.

Partner with Influencers and Curators

In today’s music ecosystem, viralism or traction requires more than a good song. It’s about creating a network of support around your music—-and that includes influencers and curators who can expose your sound to new listeners. 

Editorial playlists might be in themselves a great mechanism of discovery, but user-generated playlists and music influencers are just as strong in seasons of establishing listener behavior on Apple Music.

First, do your research about independent curators that create niche playlists. Drop them a cold DM with a real message, a quick pitch, and your Apple Music link. If they like what they hear, they may include your track on their playlist, which often has dedicated followers. 

Stylists or music influencers on social platforms like TikTok or Instagram can also promote your song in posts, challenges, or just stories with the song playing, resulting in organic streams and visibility.

You can partner formally (for pay) or informally (through mutual support or friendships), but regardless, these efforts help you leverage the existing community. When someone posts your song, it becomes a digital breadcrumb trail for others to follow and discover you. 

Here’s where authenticity plays a huge role—you want to cultivate relationships with people who love your music and share your vision. That’s how momentum gets to be a snowball.

Establishing a Release Schedule and Sticking to It

The key to coiled, steady growth on streaming platforms like Apple Music is one of its best-kept secrets—consistency. 

Using the song drop and disappear for months strategy can cause your audience and Apple’s algorithms to lose interest. But a consistent release schedule helps you stay plugged in and important, for the fans and the platform.

This doesn’t mean pumping out music at breakneck speed or skimping on quality. Instead, think strategically. Come up with a release plan for the year—a single a month; an EP a quarter; three big drops with teasers in between. 

When you continue to show up with new content, that gives Apple Music more chances to recommend your music, to push your music into algorithmic playlists for more listens, and to keep your fans engaged.

A regular schedule also provides time and space to build storylines around each release. You can tease a track weeks before it drops, show behind-the-scenes footage, put out visual snippets, and roll out the merch or visuals alongside it. 

When it works, each release is an event not a song. Gradually, this rhythm creates casual listeners into loyal fans eagerly anticipating the next offering.

Diversifying Distribution Beyond Apple Music

Apple Music plays an important role in your distribution strategy, but know that your music journey transcends any single platform.

If you want to grow your audience reach and make an impact, you’re going to have to establish a presence across digital ecosystems, from YouTube and TikTok to Spotify, Instagram, and even Bandcamp. The more places your music exists, the more opportunities there are for someone to hear it.

You build off the success you already have with Apple Music. Share your streaming achievements across platforms, embed your Apple Music player in blogs/websites, and team up with artists whose followers you can hook up with. Cross-promotion does wonders, especially when fans discover your music in other contexts and forms of media.

Also, don’t overlook your email list, website, or fan club. Although social platforms have huge audiences, your own channels allow for more control over communications and engagement!

In short, you want to convert casual listeners into your biggest fans that will go with you everywhere your music takes you. Apple Music is the launchpad—the journey goes beyond.

Closing – Your Way on Apple Music

From selecting a distributor to pitching your track to editors, promoting your release, and studying the data afterwards, each stage is a crucial piece of the puzzle to help you build your career in today’s streaming-focused landscape!

Apple Music is not just a home for your music to live—it’s a tool for connection, growth, and discovery. When you take full advantage of the platform—creating an artist profile, planning pre-add campaigns, studying your analytics, collaborating with others—you’re building a brand and cultivating a legacy.

Whether you’re an indie artist struggling to make it out of your bedroom studio or a seasoned musician in the digital marketplace, Apple Music may provide you with the framework to go from a nobody to somebody!

Continue to create, continue to learn, and above all else—continue to share your sound with the world. Because the right listener or the right playlist or the right moment could be all it takes to change everything!