You’ve finished the track. It sounds incredible. Now, you just want it to live where people actually listen—specifically on that slick, white-and-red interface. But here is the thing: music distribution on Apple Music isn't as simple as dragging a file into a browser.
Honestly, it's a bit of a gated community.
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Apple doesn’t let independent artists upload directly. No "upload" button exists on the artist dashboard. You need a middleman—a distributor—to handle the handoff. But choosing the right one and getting the technical details perfect is where most musicians trip up and end up with "Release Rejected" emails or, worse, a profile that looks like a ghost town.
The Reality of Picking a Distributor in 2026
Back in the day, you basically had two choices. Now? It’s a jungle. Since you can't go straight to Apple, your choice of distributor defines how much you get paid and how fast your music actually goes live.
DistroKid is the name everyone screams from the rooftops because it’s cheap—roughly $23 a year for unlimited uploads. But if you're looking for high-end features like Spatial Audio or specialized metadata, they can sometimes feel like a "get what you pay for" service. Then you have TuneCore, which shifted its model recently to offer some free tiers, though they still take a percentage if you aren't on a paid plan.
If you want the "Preferred" treatment, Apple actually maintains a list of partners they trust more than others.
Companies like UnitedMasters, Ditto Music, and CD Baby are the heavy hitters. CD Baby is interesting because they don't do the annual subscription; you pay once per release (about $10 per single). It’s great if you’re a slow creator, but that 9% commission they take on your royalties starts to hurt if you actually blow up.
Technical Hurdles (Or How Not to Get Rejected)
Apple is picky. Like, really picky.
They won't take your MP3s. Don't even try. You need high-quality WAV or FLAC files. We’re talking 16-bit or 24-bit resolution. If you try to upscale a low-quality file to meet the specs, their system will likely catch it and flag the release.
Then there’s the artwork.
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- Size: Exactly 3000 x 3000 pixels.
- Format: JPEG or PNG.
- The Big No-No: No social media handles, no website URLs, and definitely no "Low Price!" stickers.
Apple wants a clean aesthetic. If your cover art looks like a flyer for a Tuesday night club gig, it’s getting sent back. They also require a lead time. If you want to land on a playlist or have a "Pre-Add" available, you need to submit your music at least three to four weeks before the release date.
The Money: $0.01 per Stream?
Everyone talks about the "penny per stream."
In 2026, Apple Music remains one of the highest-paying platforms, often averaging around $0.01 per stream. Compare that to Spotify, which usually hovers between $0.003 and $0.005, and you see why artists prioritize Apple.
But that "penny" isn't a hard rule. It’s calculated on a pro-rata basis. Basically, Apple takes the total pool of subscription money (they don't have a free ad-supported tier, which helps keep the payout high) and divides it based on your share of total streams.
If you distribute your music in Spatial Audio (Dolby Atmos), you might actually see a royalty bump. Apple has been pushing immersive audio hard, and they reportedly pay up to 10% more in royalties for tracks available in Spatial Audio. It’s their way of forcing the industry to move toward higher-quality production.
Claiming Your Apple Music for Artists Profile
Once your first song is delivered, you need to claim your home. Apple Music for Artists is the dashboard where the magic happens.
You can see "Listening Now" stats, which show you exactly how many people are playing your song at this very second. It’s addictive. You can also see Shazam data. Since Apple owns Shazam, this is the best way to see if your song is being discovered in the "real world"—like at a bar or in a retail store.
To claim it:
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- Go to the Apple Music for Artists website or download the iOS app.
- Search for your artist name.
- Verify your identity (usually by linking your social media or distributor account).
This is also where you upload your artist image. A profile without a photo looks amateur. Change it. Update it. Make it look like you actually care about your brand.
Avoiding the "Various Artists" Trap
This is a nightmare for new artists. You release a song, and it ends up on a profile with twelve other people named "Luna" or "The Void."
When you set up your music distribution on Apple Music through your distributor, you'll be asked for your "Apple Artist ID." If it's your first release, leave it blank, and a new ID will be created. If it’s your second release, find the URL of your existing Apple Music profile and copy the string of numbers at the end.
Give that ID to your distributor. If you don't, you'll spend three weeks emailing support teams trying to get your song moved off a Swedish death metal band's page.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Release
Don't just wing it. If you want your music to actually perform, follow this checklist:
- Export in 24-bit WAV: Don't settle for 16-bit if your DAW supports higher.
- Set the date 4 weeks out: This gives the "Apple Editorial" team a chance to actually hear your song for playlisting.
- Use the Marketing Toolbox: Apple provides a free "Marketing Toolbox" where you can generate QR codes and "Listen on Apple Music" badges that look professional.
- Check your metadata: Make sure your "Composer" and "Lyricist" credits are your real legal names, not your "Lil' [Name]" stage name. This ensures you get your publishing royalties too.
The platform is built for fans who value quality. If you put in the work to meet their technical standards, the algorithm—and the editors—are much more likely to work for you.