Your First Release

Ready to get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms? This quick-start guide takes you from zero to distributed in about 15 minutes.

New to music distribution? No worries - we’ll explain everything as we go. By the end of this guide, your music will be on its way to listeners worldwide.

What You’ll Need

Before starting, gather these items:

Item	Requirements	Why You Need It
Audio file	WAV format, 16-bit or higher, 44.1kHz stereo	The actual music
Cover artwork	3000x3000 pixels, JPG or PNG	What listeners see on streaming apps
Release title	The name of your single/EP/album	How listeners find your music
Artist name	Your stage name	How you’re credited
Release date	When you want it live	When platforms make it available

Don’t have artwork yet? You can start creating your release and add artwork later before submitting.

The Quick Overview

Here’s what we’ll do:

Create a release - Set up the basic information
Upload artwork - Add your cover image
Add tracks - Upload your music files
Choose stores - Select where to distribute
Submit - Send it off for review

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Start a New Release

Log in to LabelGrid and go to Catalogue > My Releases.
Click Add Release.

A dialog asks if this release was previously distributed elsewhere:
- Select No if this is brand new music
- Select Yes if you’re moving from another distributor
Click Continue.

You’re now in the release form!

Step 2: Upload Your Artwork

The form opens on the Artwork tab.

Adding Your Cover

Click the upload area or drag your image file onto it.
Wait for the upload to complete.

Artwork Requirements

Make sure your image meets these specs:

Requirement	Value
Size	At least 3000 x 3000 pixels (square)
Format	JPG or PNG
Content	No blurry images, no text that’s hard to read

AI Disclosure

You’ll also need to answer whether AI was used in creating your artwork:

No generative AI - Traditional art, photography
Some AI - AI-assisted elements
Entirely AI - Fully AI-generated

Why this matters: Streaming platforms require this disclosure. It doesn’t affect whether your release is accepted.

Step 3: Fill In Release Details

Click the General tab.

Required Fields

Field	What to Enter	Example
Record Label	Select your label from the dropdown	(Your label name)
Catalog Number	A unique ID for this release	`ABC001` or `MYMUSIC-2025-01`
Release Type	Single (1-3 tracks), EP (4-6), or Album (7+)	Single
Primary Genre	Main genre of your music	Pop, Hip-Hop, Electronic, etc.

UPC/Barcode: Leave this blank and LabelGrid will generate one automatically. If you already have a UPC from another distributor, enter it here.

Copyright Information (Optional)

If you want to specify copyright:

P-Line: Who owns the recording (e.g., “2025 Your Name”)
C-Line: Who owns the song composition (e.g., “2025 Your Name”)

Leave blank to use your label’s default.

Step 4: Add Your Title

Click the Title tab.

Enter your Release Title - the name of your single, EP, or album.
(Optional) Add a Version if it’s a remix, acoustic, etc.

Title Tips

Do:

Use the actual song/release name
Include featured artists if applicable (e.g., “Song Name (feat. Artist)”)

Don’t:

Add “OUT NOW” or promotional text
Include your artist name (that goes elsewhere)

Step 5: Add Artists

Click the Artists tab.

Click Add Artist.
Search for your artist name. If it’s new, click Create New Artist.
Select Main Artist as the role.
Click Add.

If You Have Featured Artists

Repeat the process but select Featured Artist as the role.

One role per artist: Each artist can only have one role per release (either Main Artist OR Featured Artist, not both).

Step 6: Set Your Release Date

Click the Date Settings tab.

Choose your Release Date - when you want the music available.

Timing Recommendations

Lead Time	What You Get
7+ days	Eligible for Spotify Release Radar
3+ weeks	Consideration for editorial playlists
Same day	Not recommended - may miss some platforms

Our recommendation: Set your release date at least 2-3 weeks out. This gives platforms time to process and lets you set up pre-saves.

Pre-Save (Optional)

Want fans to save your release before it drops? Set a Pre-Save Date before your release date.

Step 7: Choose Distribution Outlets

Click the Outlets tab.

This is where you select which streaming platforms receive your music.

Recommended: Select All

For most releases, choose All Outlets to maximize your reach. This includes:

Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music
TikTok, Instagram, Facebook
YouTube Music, Deezer, TIDAL
And 150+ more platforms

Custom Selection

If you have a specific reason to limit distribution:

Uncheck All Outlets
Select individual platforms

Note: Available outlets depend on your label settings. If you don’t see a platform you expected, check with your label admin.

Step 8: Add Your Tracks

Click the Tracks tab (if not already there).

Click Add Track.
Click Upload Audio and select your WAV file.

Audio Requirements

Requirement	Value
Format	WAV (recommended), FLAC, or PCM
Bit Depth	16-bit minimum (24-bit recommended)
Sample Rate	44.1kHz or higher
Channels	Stereo

Fill in the track details:

Field	What to Enter
Track Title	Name of the song
ISRC	Leave blank to auto-generate, or enter existing ISRC
Explicit	Mark if song contains explicit content

What’s an ISRC? It’s a unique code that identifies your recording (like a fingerprint). LabelGrid can generate one for you, or you can enter an existing one if your track was previously distributed.

Click Save Track.

Multiple Tracks

For EPs and albums, repeat this process for each track. You can drag tracks to reorder them.

Step 9: Review and Submit

Almost there! Let’s make sure everything looks good.

Click through each tab and review your information.
Look for any error messages or missing required fields.

Common Issues to Check

Artwork is at least 3000x3000 pixels
All required fields are filled
Release date is at least 7 days out (recommended)
Track audio has uploaded completely
Artist name is spelled correctly

When everything looks good, click Submit for Review.

Need help with errors? See our Validation and Review guide for solutions to common validation issues.

What Happens Next

After submitting, your release goes through these stages:

Submitted → Review → Approved → Delivering → Live!
           (1-2 days)        (2-7 days)

Review (1-2 Business Days)

LabelGrid’s team checks your release for:

Audio quality
Artwork compliance
Metadata accuracy
Content policy compliance

Delivery (2-7 Days)

After approval, your music is sent to all selected platforms. Each platform processes it at their own speed.

Going Live

Your release appears on streaming platforms on your release date (or earlier if platforms process it faster).

Track progress: Go to Catalogue > My Releases and click your release to see delivery status for each platform.

Tips for Success

Before Release Day

Share pre-save links - Available after approval
Submit to Spotify playlists - Use Spotify for Artists (requires 7-day lead time)
Prepare social media - Have posts ready to go

On Release Day

Share streaming links - Use LabelGrid’s smart links
Post on social media - Announce to your fans
Submit to playlists - Reach out to playlist curators

After Release

Monitor your streams - Check your dashboard
Engage with fans - Respond to comments and shares
Plan your next release - Keep the momentum going!

Troubleshooting

”Missing required field” Error

Check all tabs for red error messages. Common missing fields:

Record Label (General tab)
Catalog Number (General tab)
Release Date (Date Settings tab)

Track Upload Failed

Ensure your file is WAV, FLAC, or PCM format
File must be under 500MB
Check your internet connection and try again

Artwork Rejected

Must be exactly square (same width and height)
Minimum 3000x3000 pixels
No blurry or low-quality images
No promotional text like “OUT NOW”

Release Date in the Past

If your selected date has passed, it will automatically update to today. Choose a new future date for better results.

You Did It!

Congratulations on creating your first release! Your music is now on its way to streaming platforms around the world.

What You Accomplished

Created a professional release ready for distribution
Uploaded high-quality audio and artwork
Selected distribution to 150+ platforms
Submitted for review

Next Steps

Validation and Review - Understand the full review process
Monitor Your Deliveries - Track when your music goes live
Find Your Store Links - Share links with your fans
Creating a Release - Detailed guide for your next release
Distribution Lead Times - Plan future releases

Questions about your first release? Contact our support team - we love helping new artists get started!