Apple Music is one of the largest paid streaming services in the world, and its listeners often engage closely with albums, lyrics and artist pages. Like other major stores, it accepts music through distributors rather than individual uploads. Here is how to distribute your music to Apple Music for free.
How Apple Music receives independent music
Apple takes deliveries from approved partners. A distributor packages your audio, artwork and metadata, sends it, and manages royalty collection. Vibestream Music provides this with lifetime free distribution. No monthly or annual fee applies, and you keep 85% of your revenue share. You can see the full service on our distribution page.
Prepare your files
Audio quality
Apple Music supports lossless and spatial audio for many tracks, so quality matters. Provide a clean, high-resolution WAV file. If your master is 24-bit, upload it in that form rather than a converted copy. Avoid files that have been through lossy compression, because any artefacts will be audible to attentive listeners.
Artwork
- Square, high-resolution image, commonly 3000 x 3000 pixels.
- Sharp text and no pixelation.
- No pricing, no URLs, no Apple logos or other trademarks.
Metadata
Apple pays close attention to metadata, and it is often stricter than other stores. Common requirements include:
- Correct capitalisation of titles, with no all-capital titles unless that is the genuine style.
- Version information such as "Remix" or "Acoustic" placed in the proper version field.
- Accurate language of lyrics and an honest explicit flag.
- Complete songwriting and production credits.
If you are unsure about formatting, our FAQ is a good place to confirm details before you submit.
Step-by-step process
- Sign up for a free account at the signup page.
- Create a release and upload your audio and artwork.
- Fill in metadata carefully, including credits and language.
- Select Apple Music and the territories you want. Worldwide is typical.
- Pick a release date allowing a buffer for processing.
- Submit for review. We check for problems before delivery.
- Delivery. After approval, we aim for 48-hour delivery for eligible releases after approval and submission. Apple then processes the release on its side, so the actual live time varies.
Free ISRC and UPC codes are included, and you can release unlimited tracks and albums.
Apple Music for Artists
After your release is available, you can claim your profile in Apple Music for Artists. It offers analytics such as listeners, plays and Shazam data, and lets you update your profile image. Claiming your profile helps you understand where your audience is, which can guide where you promote or tour.
Apple Music specifics worth knowing
- Albums matter. Many Apple listeners browse full releases, so thoughtful sequencing and strong artwork help.
- Lyrics. Time-synced lyrics are supported on the platform, and they are supplied through separate lyric channels where available.
- Versions. Edited and explicit versions should be marked clearly.
- Pre-orders. Setting a future release date lets listeners add the release to their library ahead of launch in some cases.
What nobody can promise
No distributor can guarantee that Apple Music will approve a release, feature it on a playlist or editorial page, or deliver any specific number of plays. Apple reviews content against its own guidelines. Our role is to submit clean, correct deliveries and to help you fix problems quickly if the platform flags something.
Common issues that delay Apple releases
- Inconsistent artist names between releases, which can split your catalogue across profiles.
- Wrong artist matching, where your release lands on a different artist with a similar name. Providing correct identifiers helps avoid this.
- Low-quality audio or cover art.
- Missing writer credits.
- Content that includes uncleared samples.
If your release is mismatched with another profile, contact us through the contact page with your links, and we will help you resolve it.
Distributing to several stores at once
Most artists do not stop at Apple Music. The same upload can go to Spotify, YouTube Music and other stores. If you also want a Spotify delivery, read how to distribute music on Spotify for free. Sending everything together keeps your release dates aligned and your metadata consistent.
Is anything hidden in the cost?
Distribution itself is free. You do not pay yearly renewal fees to keep your music live. Optional external services you might hire, such as marketing, are separate decisions. For a thorough breakdown, see Is free music distribution really free?
Building an album release
Because Apple Music listeners often browse full releases, an EP or album deserves extra care. Sequence tracks deliberately, keep loudness consistent across the running order, and make sure every track carries complete credits. Choose one strong lead single and release it ahead of the full project, so the album page already has some activity by launch day.
Final checklist
- Final WAV master, free of clipping.
- Square high-resolution artwork with no restricted content.
- Accurate titles, versions, credits and language.
- Release date set with a buffer.
- Apple Music for Artists claimed after release.
With careful preparation, delivering to Apple Music is routine. Take your time on metadata and audio quality, submit early, and treat the review step as help rather than an obstacle.
About 48-hour delivery: this is our processing and delivery target for eligible releases after your release is approved and submitted. Each platform then processes releases on its own timeline, so the exact time your music goes live can vary and is not guaranteed.
Related questions
How do I release my music on Apple Music?
Create an account at https://music.vibestreammusic.in/signup, upload your release and select Apple Music among your stores. Once approved, we aim to deliver eligible releases within 48 hours, subject to Apple's processing.
Is distributing to Apple Music free with Vibestream Music?
Yes, there is no fee to deliver to Apple Music. You pay $0 forever and keep 85% of your revenue share.
How long will my song take to show up on Apple Music?
Our target is to deliver eligible releases within 48 hours of approval and submission. Apple Music then ingests the release, so the actual live time may vary.
What is metadata in a music release?
Metadata is the information that describes your music, such as the artist name, track title, credits, genre, language and explicit status. Stores display it to listeners and use it to organise and identify your release.
Why is accurate metadata important?
Correct metadata helps listeners find your music and ensures your tracks are displayed and credited properly in stores. Errors can lead to delays, wrong credits or a release being flagged for correction.
How should I write my artist name?
Use the exact spelling and spacing you want to appear publicly, and keep it the same on every release. Inconsistent spellings can make stores treat one artist as two.