How To Upload Music To Apple Music
Get Your Music on Apple Music
Apple Music is one of the world’s top music streaming platforms, boasting millions of active users. For independent artists, getting your music on Apple Music is a critical step toward expanding your audience and growing your music career. With its vast reach and powerful music discovery tools, being on Apple Music gives you access to new fans around the world.
Unchained Music makes it easy for independent artists to get their music on Apple Music and other major streaming platforms. Follow this guide to learn how you can distribute your tracks seamlessly and reach listeners on Apple Music with Unchained Music.
Why Upload Your Music to Apple Music?
Apple Music, one of the most popular streaming services, is a premier platform with over 88 million subscribers worldwide, providing independent artists with a massive global audience. With high-quality streaming options like lossless and spatial audio, your listeners can enjoy your music at its best.
Global Reach
As one of the leading streaming platforms, Apple Music offers artists exposure to millions of potential listeners, spanning multiple regions and demographics.
High-Quality Streaming
Apple Music provides superior audio quality, including lossless and spatial audio, ensuring that your music sounds exactly how it was intended to be heard. This high-quality experience enhances your connection with listeners.
Monetization
Apple Music is also known for paying higher royalties compared to many other streaming platforms. For independent artists, this means better financial returns from your streams.
Apple Music for Artists
The platform also provides useful tools for the music industry like Apple Music for Artists, which lets you track your streams, analyze demographics, and monitor performance, allowing you to tailor your marketing efforts and grow your fanbase more effectively.
How to Upload Music to Apple Music with Unchained Music
Step 1: Sign Up with Unchained Music
Unchained Music offers music distribution through a music distributor, including seamless delivery to Apple Music. Start by signing up on Unchained Music’s platform, where independent artists can easily distribute their music across major streaming platforms. The platform supports Web3 technology, integrating blockchain for transparent royalty tracking, ensuring you’re paid fairly for every stream.
Step 2: Prepare Your Music Files
Before uploading, make sure your audio files meet Apple Music’s requirements. Accepted formats include lossless files like WAV or FLAC, and all tracks should have proper metadata (track titles, artist names, cover art). Use high-quality album art with dimensions of 3000x3000 pixels to meet Apple Music’s standards for artwork.
Step 3: Upload to Unchained Music
Once your files are ready, upload your tracks to Unchained Music’s platform. Make sure all metadata and artwork are accurate to ensure your submission complies with Apple Music’s requirements.
Step 4: Submit Your Music to Apple Music
Unchained Music handles the music delivery and distribution process for you, submitting your tracks to Apple Music and other digital streaming platforms (DSPs). It typically takes 5-7 days for your music to go live on Apple Music, depending on the processing time.
Step 5: Verify Your Apple Music Artist Profile
After your music is live on Apple Music, claim your Apple Music for Artists profile. Verifying your artist identity gives you access to detailed analytics, allowing you to track streams, customize your profile, and better understand your audience.
Promote Your Music on Apple Music
Get on Playlists
Apple Music curates thousands of playlists, such as New Music Daily and genre-specific or indie-focused playlists, offering massive exposure opportunities. Submit your tracks for playlist consideration through Apple Music for Artists by ensuring your profile is updated and your releases are properly tagged. Partnering with Unchained Music can boost your chances of being playlisted, as they often leverage relationships with curators to help independent artists get featured. Additionally, working with an Apple-preferred distributor can facilitate connections with streaming platforms and provide essential support in managing music delivery and enhancing your presence in the industry.
Leverage Social Media
Use social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook to promote your music with Apple Music’s built-in sharing features. Integrate Apple Music links into your posts, bios, and stories to make it easy for followers to access your music. Sharing snippets of your songs, music videos, and behind-the-scenes content with direct Apple Music links encourages your audience to listen and engage.
Engage with Your Fans
Utilize Apple Music for Artists to gain insights into your listeners, including the cities where your audience is most active. Plan targeted social media ads and campaigns based on this data to reach potential fans more effectively. You can also build loyalty by releasing exclusive content like behind-the-scenes footage, remixes, or live performances directly on Apple Music, keeping your fans engaged with fresh and exciting material.
How to Get Paid on Apple Music
Royalties Breakdown
Apple Music pays artists based on the number of streams they generate, with an average payout of approximately $0.007 per stream depending on the location of the listener. However, the royalties are typically split between the master owners (which could be a label, distributor, or the artist themselves) and the artist. If you own your masters, you receive a larger share of the royalties.
Maximizing Earnings
To increase your revenue on Apple Music, focus on releasing music consistently and keeping your audience engaged with exclusive content like playlists, videos, and live sessions. Utilize Apple Music for Artists analytics to gain insights into which tracks are performing best, and use this data to inform future releases and promotional strategies. Collaborating with other artists is another effective way to boost streams, gain exposure to new audiences, and expand your reach. CD Baby is a distribution service that can help maximize earnings by facilitating quicker verification on Apple Music for Artists and offering access to new features and tools to track your music's impact.
Best Practices for Apple Music Success
Consistency
To stay relevant and keep your fanbase engaged, it’s essential to release new music consistently. Regular releases keep your audience anticipating fresh content and help you maintain momentum on Apple Music.
Analytics
Leverage Apple Music for Artists to understand who’s listening to your music. You can dive into data about your listeners' demographics, their location, and even the devices they use. Use this information to tailor your marketing efforts and better connect with your fans.
Engagement
Actively engage with your audience on social media and through platforms like Apple Music. Share behind-the-scenes content, live performances, and exclusive releases to strengthen the connection with your listeners and encourage them to keep streaming your music.
Collaborations
Collaborating with other Apple Music artists is a great way to expand your reach and tap into new fan bases. By featuring on each other’s tracks, you not only diversify your sound but also introduce your music to a wider audience, boosting streams and visibility.
Mistakes to Avoid on Apple Music
Mistake 1: Incorrect File Formats or Poor-Quality Audio Submissions
Uploading audio files in the wrong format or low-quality submissions can result in poor sound quality on Apple Music and possibly lead to your music being hidden. Always ensure your files are in high-quality formats like WAV or FLAC to meet Apple Music’s standards and provide the best listening experience for your audience.
Mistake 2: Incomplete Metadata or Poor Album Artwork
Neglecting metadata or using low-quality album artwork can hurt your professionalism and make your music harder to find as Apple is extremely strict with their Apple Music metadata guidelines. Be sure your metadata, such as track titles, artist name, and album information, is complete and accurate. Additionally, use high-resolution artwork that meets the 3000x3000 pixel requirement.
Mistake 3: Neglecting to Promote the Music Once It’s Live
Simply uploading your music to Apple Music isn’t enough. Many artists make the mistake of not promoting their release once it’s live. Use social media, playlists, and other promotional strategies to drive traffic to your music and increase streams.
Mistake 4: Not Utilizing Apple Music for Artists
Failing to use Apple Music for Artists means missing out on valuable insights. This tool provides important data on your listeners and their behaviors, allowing you to optimize your promotional efforts and better engage your audience. Ignoring these analytics can limit your potential to grow.
Get Your Own Music on Streaming Services Including Apple Music
Distributing your music to Apple Music offers numerous benefits, from its global reach to its high-quality audio streaming, giving your listeners the best possible experience. By getting your music on Apple Music, you’ll tap into a massive audience and increase your chances of growing your fanbase across various streaming services and other digital platforms.
With Unchained Music, the process is simple. Unchained Music provides transparency, fast payouts, and seamless integration with Apple Music and other major streaming platforms.
Start your journey today by signing up with Unchained Music and get your music distributed to Apple Music and beyond!
FAQs About Apple Music
How much does it cost to upload music on Apple Music?
With Unchained Music, it’s completely free to distribute your music to Apple Music and other major streaming platforms.
How long does it take for music to appear on Apple Music?
It typically takes 5-7 days for your music to go live on Apple Music after you upload songs, depending on processing times.
Can I upload remixes or covers on Apple Music?
Yes, you can upload remixes or covers on Apple Music, but you must have the appropriate licenses in place to ensure you have the legal rights to distribute those versions.
How do I get featured on Apple Music playlists?
Submit your tracks through Apple Music for Artists and leverage Unchained Music’s network to improve your chances of being featured on editorial playlists.