Spotify for Artists: A Guide to Uploading Your Lyrics

As an artist, you know how important it is to have your music lyrics accurately displayed on various platforms. With the rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, having your lyrics synced with your audio tracks has become a crucial step in ensuring your work is properly represented online. However, did you know that delivering lyrics to these stores requires specific legal permissions? In this article, we'll dive into the world of lyrical rights, explain why some distributors may not offer direct lyric uploading, and provide a DIY guide on how to get your lyrics displaying across digital streaming platforms (DSPs).

Firstly, it's essential to understand that lyrical rights typically fall under a music publisher. As a distributor, we cannot legally distribute your lyrics for you unless we hold the publishing rights for your tracks. This is why many distributors may only offer a DIY option for lyric delivery, allowing artists to manage their own lyrics and maintain ownership.

So, what's the best way to get your lyrics displayed on Spotify and other DSPs? The answer lies in uploading them through a verified company that matches with audio across platforms and syncs the lyrics. This process ensures that your lyrics are accurately matched with your music tracks and displayed correctly on various streaming services.

Here's a step-by-step DIY guide to help you get started:

1. Identify Your Music Publisher: Find out who owns the publishing rights for your tracks. This could be yourself, another artist, or a third-party publisher.

2. Verify Your Company: Ensure that your music publisher is a verified company with the necessary credentials and licenses to upload lyrics on behalf of artists.

3. Upload Lyrics Via Verified Company: Use your verified music publisher's account to upload your lyrics directly to DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music.

By following these steps, you'll be able to ensure that your music lyrics are accurately displayed across various streaming platforms, giving your fans a more immersive listening experience. Remember, as an artist, it's crucial to maintain control over your work and adhere to the necessary legal requirements when uploading your lyrics.

Spotify for artists lyrics