April Updates at Unchained Music: Here’s What You Need to Know
We’re entering a brand-new phase at Unchained Music. It’s one that puts quality, creativity, and community at the heart of everything we do.
Over the past year, we’ve grown fast. With tens of thousands of artists using our platform, we’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when independent creators are given the tools and freedom to distribute their music without the usual barriers. But as the music industry evolves, so must we.
That’s why we’re making a bold shift: real music deserves real attention.
From here on out, every track submitted to Unchained will be reviewed by a real human from our A&R team and not just a machine. It’s our way of raising the bar, celebrating the work of serious artists, and making sure our platform remains a trusted home for music that matters.
These changes are about more than just quality control. They reflect the values we’ve stood for from the beginning: empowering independent musicians, keeping the playing field fair, and building something we can all be proud of.
Why We’re Making These Changes
The music world is moving fast, and so are we. At Unchained Music, we’ve always aimed to stay ahead of the curve.
As our platform has grown, we’ve seen the good and the not-so-good. There’s no shortage of talent out there, but there’s also been an increase in spammy uploads, low-effort content, and AI-generated music that lacks any real human touch. If we let that slide, we’re not just lowering the bar. We’re making it harder for the real ones to stand out.
That’s why we’re stepping up our game. We’re putting more focus on quality, more care into what gets released, and more support behind the artists who are genuinely putting in the work. This isn’t about gatekeeping, it’s about building a space that artists can trust, where fans can discover great music, and where creativity is respected.
We want Unchained to be the most reliable platform for independent artists to grow, get heard, and thrive over the long haul. These changes are just the beginning and align with a greater shift that will be coming over the coming months.
What’s Changing
We’re making a few key updates to improve the quality of music on the platform and to make sure real artists get the recognition they deserve.
Human Review for Every Release
From now on, every track submitted to Unchained will be reviewed by a real person from our A&R team. We believe every submission deserves a human touch and someone actually listening and evaluating the music for its creativity, originality, and overall quality.
Visibility for Great Work, No Matter Your Plan
Whether you’re on the Core, Grow, or Pro plan, great music will stand out. If you’re putting in the work and releasing high-quality tracks, we’ll take notice. Artists creating outstanding work will get more support, more visibility, and more opportunities through our platform.
Stricter Content and Profile Policies
We’re also being more firm about what we allow on Unchained.
Here’s what we’re cracking down on:
- Fully AI-generated music with no human input
- Generic, repetitive, or low-effort tracks
- Spammy, misleading, or unverified artist profiles on streaming platforms
What This Means for You
These changes are designed to create a more curated and trusted platform, one where real artists shine and fans can confidently discover new music.
If you’re making great music, this works in your favor. With more intentional review and higher standards, your chances of standing out improve, no matter what subscription plan you’re on.
During this transition, you may notice slower review times. Since every release is now reviewed by a real person, we recommend uploading your music at least 3 to 4 weeks before your planned release date. This transition phase is expected to last about a month.
One important note: access to Unchained Core, our free plan, will now be heavily restricted. It will be reserved for artists who already have a presence on streaming platforms and are consistently releasing high-quality music. If that’s not you yet, we encourage exploring our Grow or Pro plans (which offer more tools and faster access) to help you level up and get noticed. This change is not retroactive, which means that if you already have a Core plan, you’ll keep it.
This is all part of building something better for real artists. And we’re excited to keep growing with you.
Looking Ahead: More Support, Less (or more?) Noise
This is just the beginning. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be rolling out a wave of new tools, features, and support systems to help independent artists rise above the NOISE.
We’re building more ways to spotlight the artists who are doing it right. That means expanded marketing tools, new artist features both on-platform and in our newsletters, and even deeper editorial support from the Unchained team. And yes, we’ll be sharing more about NOISE, our growing initiative to support artists who are building real careers and putting out real music.
Our mission has always been to give independent musicians the tools and freedom to succeed on their own terms. These changes are part of that vision.
We’re excited for what’s coming, and we want you to be part of shaping it. Thanks for growing with us and for making Unchained a home for the future of culture.