Apple-wearing-headphonesHow to Upload Music to Apple Music as an Artist

By partnering with the right music distribution service and getting involved on the platform, artists can use Apple to increase their reach and generate revenue. 

If you have signed with a label, your label will take care of distributing your music to Apple Music. If you are an independent artist, you’ll need to use a digital music distribution service to get your music on this highly-popular, internationally-recognized streaming platform.

Get on Apple Music and have your music heard around the world

Apple Music provides artists with the opportunity to reach a global audience through streaming. The platform is used worldwide and is recognized for offering competitive rates and advanced functionalities for both listeners and musicians.

There are numerous reasons why artists, in particular, choose to distribute to Apple Music:

  • Every time someone streams your song on Apple Music, you can earn royalties
  • Listeners can enjoy your music ad-free
  • As an artist, you can access analytics and insights on your own releases, including data on song and album performance, listener demographics and locations, and real-time updates on plays, average daily listeners, purchases, and more
  • You can create an Artist profile that includes images, bio, and more on your Apple Music artist page
  • You can create custom promotional tools so you can create assets for social media, Smart Links to direct listeners to your music, and the ability to share milestones and celebrate achievements
  • You can manage their content and upload and manage song lyrics
  • You can create a team to easily manage your profile and content, with assigned roles (Admin, Analyst, Profile Editor)
  • Your songs will be available on both the web platform and the iOS app.

Apple Music puts artists first

There are several reasons why Apple Music is an exceptional music distribution platform. Overall, Apple Music for Artists is designed to give musicians a lot of control over their presence on the platform and provide valuable data to help inform their career decisions and marketing strategies. There’s a good reason the platform currently boasts over 100 million songs.

Access to a large audience

Apple Music boasts over 88 million subscribers, offering artists access to a vast listener base across various demographics. This extensive reach makes it an attractive platform for both established and emerging artists.

Role of distributors

Independent artists must partner with a distributor to get their music onto Apple Music. Distributors like MusicTeam® facilitate the distribution and metadata delivery necessary for DSPs. This leaves you time and energy to focus on your music without having to navigate the complexities of music distribution.

Revenue model

Apple Music pays artists based on streaming royalties, with an average payout of approximately $0.01 per stream. They’re known for their commitment to fair compensation, offering the same headline rate to all labels, whether independent or major. This transparency helps artists understand their earnings and the value of their music.

Artist support and tools

Apple Music provides various artist tools and resources. Once you have an Apple ID, you can access Apple Music for Artists (AMFA), an app that offers insights into listener demographics (including which countries and cities where your music is getting heard), streaming trends, and royalty tracking. You can use data to make informed decisions about your marketing and promotional strategies.

Opportunities for promotion

Through the Apple Music Partner Program you can gain access to advanced analytics and promotional tools to improve the visibility of their artists and support them in effectively reaching the right audience. This really helps when it comes to breaking new acts and optimizing marketing campaigns.

Integration with other Apple services

Apple Music integrates seamlessly with other Apple services, including iTunes, so you can sell your music directly while earning streaming royalties. This dual approach helps maximize revenue opportunities.

Apple Music can take any artist to the next level

Apple-Music-icon-on-mobile-phone-screenApple Music provides a versatile platform for artists of all kinds, from independent musicians to established bands. Once your music is distributed to Apple Music, you can use the platform’s tools to increase your visibility, engage with fans, and grow your career, no matter which of the following categories you belong to:

Independent artists

Emerging talent: Independent artists looking to establish their presence can use Apple Music to reach a global audience without a record deal

DIY artists: Artists who produce, record, and promote their own music can leverage Apple Music’s features to gain visibility and connect with fans.

Bands and collaborations

Groups and ensembles: Bands can showcase their collective work, allowing fans to discover their music and stay updated on new releases.

Collaborative projects: Artists collaborating on projects can distribute their music together to reach diverse fan bases.

Genre-specific artists

Niche genres: Musicians in specialized genres (e.g., indie, electronic, alternative) can find a dedicated audience on Apple Music, which features curated playlists and genre-specific content.

Cultural and regional artists: Artists representing specific cultures or regions can use Apple Music to promote their music to a wider audience interested in diverse sounds.

How to release your music on Apple Music in 6 Steps

If you don’t know how to get your music on Apple Music, remember, it’s a step-by-step process that takes time, money and effort. While it may take some doing to get your music out there, the results will be worth it.

By following these steps, you can successfully upload your music to Apple Music and reach a wide audience of listeners.

Part One: Prep

While it can be tempting to get your music out there as fast as possible, recordings that really showcase your very best performances are the only ones that should be submitted to DSPs. Remember that a recording can make or break a listener’s first impression, and listeners are less likely to forgive mistakes or poor sound quality in a recording than at a live event.

Once you’re confident that you’re ready to put yourself and your music out there, here’s what you need to do:

1. Choose a music distributor and sign up

Select a music distributor that distributes to Apple Music, like MusicTeam®. You cannot send your music directly to Apple Music. You need a distributor to handle part of the process of getting your music onto the Apple Music platform.

Read and accept the distributor’s terms of service and contract, sign up for an account (this usually only involves proving basic information about you and your music) and select a distribution plan that suits your needs (e.g. single release, album release, yearly subscription).

2. Prepare your music files

Your music files have to be in the correct format (.WAV) to be posted on the platform. It’s important that each file contains the appropriate related metadata, including artist name, album title, genre, ISRC and release date. MusicTeam® offers a music catalog management tool so you don’t have to worry about figuring out this part yourself. We are the only platform that also provides ISWCs and ISRCs. You can manage your repertoire or catalogue all in one place on our platform, for free.

3. Prepare your visuals

We live in a visual world, and it’s important to create high-quality cover art that meets your distributor’s specifications (usually 3000px x 3000px). No matter how great your music is, your visuals are the first interaction your audience will have with your brand, and they can make or break the choice to tap ‘Play’.

Consider taking advantage of every feature Apple offers to boost engagement via album artwork and supporting content. These include:

  • Animated album artwork on some album pages, which can make browsing more engaging.
  • In-depth articles with insights from artists to provide additional visual and textual content to complement the music.
  • Music videos, allowing artists to provide visual accompaniment to their songs.
  • The option to create a spatial audio (ADM BWF) file for your track in addition to the stereo master file, so you can make your music available with this additional feature for those who want to use Apple’s Spatial Audio feature. The music length and content must be identical for both formats. Be sure to check all technical specs if you use Dolby Atmos, and confirm that the file you create is technically valid (typically, a 48 kHz sample rate).

Part Two: Getting on the platform

Depending on who you’re working with, one or more of the following steps may require the involvement of your distributor.

4. Upload your music

At this stage, you’ll have to choose the type of release from the following options. If you research your audience and find out which types of release listeners of your genre are most likely to take an interest in, you can prepare content that is geared toward success on the Apple Music platform.

The following types of releases are available via MusicTeam®:

  • Singles: Individual tracks
  • Albums: Collections that can be released as a cohesive body of work.
  • EPs (Extended Plays) featuring 3 to 5 tracks

Upload your music files and cover art, and input all required metadata, or let your chosen distributor do it for you. You’ll also need to configure your digital service providers (DSPs)  and select Apple.

5. Claim your artist profile

After your music is live, you can claim your Apple Music for Artists profile. This will allow you to access analytics and insights about your music’s performance on the platform, in addition to other special features of the platform. 

6. Promote your music

Use social media and other marketing strategies to promote your music on Apple Music. You have to engage with your audience and encourage them to listen and share.

Show me the money! Apple Music royalties and fees

Apple is widely recognized for offering fair compensation to artists. That said, you need to have a distributor to get on the platform, and there are associated fees with distributing your music. 

Here’s the quick breakdown:

Distributor Fees: These vary according to which distributor you use. Do your research and choose the best option for you. The right distributor will take care of licensing and distribution, music metadata delivery and collection of royalties.

Royalties: Once your music is on Apple Music, you earn royalties of US$ 0.007 to US$ 0.01 per stream, depending on various factors, including subscription plans and regions. Remember, the royalties you earn from distribution aren’t the only ones you can collect. Make sure to register your music so you can receive all your royalties.

Additional Costs: Keep in mind you’ll have to pay for services like mastering, cover art creation, and promotion to make your Apple release a success.

Distribute your music on Apple Music with MusicTeam®

MusicTeam® offers an all-in-one platform that simplifies the process of music distribution, metadata sharing and royalty collection. We streamline the entire journey so that your music will reach a global audience efficiently. It’s our goal to empower you to grow your fanbase and to provide personalized support as you maximize your streaming revenue. This includes access to advanced analytics to track performance and understand your audience.

Sign up with MusicTeam® today to get your music on Apple Music.

Published On: October 23rd, 2024Categories: Music distribution
author avatar
Chloe Dagenais Founder
Founder of MusicTeam®, Chloe combines a deep understanding of music and technology to drive innovation in the music industry. She holds a degree in Music Business from Berklee College of Music and a degree in Information Systems from Birkbeck, University of London. Her thesis explored rights management for songwriters and performers in the digital era, laying the foundation for MusicTeam®. Through her vision, MusicTeam® was created to empower creators and redefine how music is managed and distributed in today’s ever-evolving landscape.