How to Release Your Music on Spotify in India (2025 Step-by-Step Guide)
Releasing a song on Spotify in India sounds complicated the first time you try. The good news: the actual process is simple once you know the order of steps. Spotify does not let you upload a song directly — you need a music distributor that delivers the file to Spotify, Apple Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, YouTube Music and other stores on your behalf. This guide walks you through everything you need before you hit submit.
Step 1: Pick a music distributor
A distributor is the company that sends your song to Spotify's database. For Indian artists this matters more than people realise — many global distributors don't deliver to JioSaavn, Gaana or Wynk, which is where most of your local fanbase actually listens. Pick a distributor like Auripy that covers both global stores and Indian DSPs, gives you 100% royalties, and lets you withdraw earnings via UPI.
You only need one distributor per release. Once your song is live, it stays live — even if you don't renew, your music does not get pulled down.
Step 2: Prepare your WAV file
Spotify accepts your song in WAV format. WAV is a lossless audio file — bigger than MP3 but with full studio quality. The minimum standard is 44.1 kHz sample rate and 16-bit depth; 24-bit is preferred if your producer mastered it that way. Do not upload MP3 or M4A — most distributors reject those.
Quick WAV checklist
- File format: .wav
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
- Bit depth: 16-bit minimum, 24-bit preferred
- Stereo (not mono unless your release is intentionally mono)
- Mastered — peak around -1 dBTP, no clipping
Step 3: Cover art that meets Spotify's rules
Cover art is what listeners see first. Spotify is strict here. Your image must be:
- Square — exactly 3000 × 3000 pixels
- JPEG or PNG, RGB colour mode
- Sharp, not blurry — Spotify rejects pixelated artwork
- No social media handles, URLs, or logos of stores (no "Available on Spotify" badges)
- Title and artist name in the art is optional, not required
Apple Music is even stricter — they will reject art that uses third-party trademarks or stock images you don't own. If you used a designer, make sure you have a written email or message giving you full commercial rights.
Step 4: Understand ISRC codes
An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique 12-character ID for your recording. It looks like IN-ABC-25-00001. Every legitimate release needs one — it's how streaming platforms track plays and pay royalties back to the right artist.
You do not need to buy your own. A good distributor assigns ISRCs for free with every release. Auripy includes ISRCs at no extra cost on every plan, including the ₹199 Starter.
Step 5: Schedule your release date
This is the step most first-time artists get wrong. Don't submit your song and pick "release today". Spotify rewards releases that are submitted at least 3–4 weeks in advance, because that gives editorial curators time to consider it for playlists like Fresh Finds India or Indie India.
Set your release date for a Friday, 3–4 weeks out. Fridays are the global music release day — your stream-counting week starts cleanly.
Step 6: Fill in your metadata carefully
"Metadata" is just the form fields — track title, language, genre, contributors. Get these right the first time, because some platforms charge a fee to edit them after release.
- Track title: Don't add "(Official Audio)" or "(Prod. by …)" in the title field — those go in subtitle fields.
- Primary artist: Use the exact spelling you want on your Spotify profile. Once linked, this is hard to change.
- Featured artist: List every collaborator who sings or raps. They earn royalties too.
- Language: Pick the dominant lyrical language. For Hinglish tracks, "Hindi" usually performs best on Indian DSPs.
- Genre + subgenre: Be honest. Listing a lo-fi track as "Bollywood" will hurt you in playlist matching.
Step 7: What happens after you submit
You upload your WAV, cover art and metadata to your distributor's dashboard. They review it (Auripy checks within 24 hours), assign your ISRC, and deliver it to every platform. Spotify and Apple Music ingest the file within 2–5 working days; JioSaavn and Gaana take a little longer.
On release day your song goes live across all platforms simultaneously. You'll see it on Spotify first, usually by midnight IST.
Step 8: Claim your Spotify for Artists profile
Once your song is live, go to artists.spotify.com, click "Claim your profile", search your artist name, and verify ownership. This is free. After verification you can add a bio, photos, Spotify Canvas (a looping 8-second video), and pitch your next release to Spotify's editorial team.
Common first-release mistakes
- Submitting MP3 instead of WAV
- Cover art with text-only design and no imagery
- Picking a release date 2 days from submission (no time for editorial)
- Forgetting to add featured artists, losing their royalty share
- Setting genre as "Pop" for every track type
Final thoughts
Releasing on Spotify in India is no longer gatekept. You don't need a label, you don't need a contact at a major distributor, and you absolutely don't need to pay anyone a percentage of your royalties forever. The full process — from WAV file to live release — takes about 10 minutes on your side and 7 working days on the distributor's side.
If you're ready to release your first track, Auripy's Starter Single plan starts at ₹199 and includes Spotify, Apple Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, YouTube Music and 145+ other platforms. ISRC included. UPI payouts. No commission on the Pro plans.