Apple Music is the second most important streaming platform in the world with over 100 million paid subscribers and one of the highest per-stream payers. But as with Spotify, you cannot upload your music directly to Apple Music: you need an authorized digital distributor. Here is everything you need to know about the process.
Technical requirements to upload music to Apple Music
Apple Music applies stricter technical standards than Spotify. Before distributing, make sure your material meets the following requirements:
- Audio format: 24-bit WAV at 44.1 kHz or higher. Apple Music supports high-resolution audio (Hi-Res) and Dolby Atmos for new releases. While 16-bit is technically acceptable, 24-bit is the recommended standard for optimal quality.
- Cover art: Square image minimum 3000 x 3000 pixels in JPG or PNG format, high resolution, no text unrelated to the release, and no borders or frames.
- Complete and accurate metadata: Artist name exactly as it will appear on the platform, track title, album or single name, main genre, release date, and all collaborators (composers, producers, lyricists).
- Copyright: You must be the exclusive owner of the master recording. Music with unlicensed samples, DAW libraries, or modified public domain material will be rejected.
- ISRC and UPC: Each track needs an ISRC code and each release a UPC code. Many distributors generate them automatically; DISTROMASTERS includes them free on all plans.
How to distribute your music to Apple Music
You cannot deliver music to Apple Music directly as an independent artist. You must do so through an Apple-approved digital distributor. The process with DISTROMASTERS is:
- Create your account on DISTROMASTERS and select your plan (all include Apple Music).
- Upload your material: High-resolution WAV file, 3000x3000 artwork, and fill in all metadata fields.
- Quality review: The DISTROMASTERS team verifies that all of Apple's technical requirements are met before submitting. This prevents rejections that can delay your release by up to 2 weeks.
- Delivery to Apple Music: Once approved, the release is delivered to Apple's system. Processing time is 3 to 5 business days for it to appear in the store.
- Receive your link: DISTROMASTERS sends you the direct link to your song on Apple Music when it is available.
Apple Music for Artists: access your stats and verify your profile
Once your first song is on Apple Music, you can request access to Apple Music for Artists, the platform's official analytics dashboard:
- Detailed statistics: Streams, shazams, radio play, trends by country and city.
- Verified profile: Edit your artist photo, bio, and the featured singles that appear on your page.
- Audience data: Demographic and geographic information about your listeners to focus your marketing campaigns.
Apple Music for Artists is independent from Spotify for Artists. You must apply for access separately, though the process is similar: verify your identity as an artist or representative and receive access within 24-48 hours.
Timelines and tips for a successful launch
Apple Music does not have a direct editorial pitching system like Spotify, but it does index new releases and places them in new-music sections automatically. To maximize visibility:
- Always release on Fridays (global release day standard).
- Upload your release at least 2 weeks in advance.
- Activate a pre-add campaign (equivalent to Spotify's pre-save) to accumulate listeners before the premiere.
With DISTROMASTERS, all plans include simultaneous distribution to Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and over 150 additional platforms, with a single upload process.
Ready to be on Apple Music? Choose the DISTROMASTERS plan that best fits your stage and bring your music to Apple's audience.