Guides
How to get your music on Apple Music
Apple doesn't take uploads from artists. LUCY sends your song for you, together with Spotify.
In short
- 1One upload reaches Apple Music and Spotify.
- 2Apple pays about double what Spotify pays.
- 3Keep up to 100% of the money.
1. Get your song and cover ready
A WAV file of the song. A square cover, 3000 × 3000 pixels.
2. Match the names
The title on your cover must match the title you type. Put guest artists in the "featured artist" box, not in the song title.
3. Mark swear words
If the song has explicit lyrics, tick "explicit". Apple checks.
4. Upload once to LUCY
The same upload goes to Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify and 470+ other apps.
5. Let fans save it early
Pick a day 2 to 3 weeks away. Fans can pre-add the song, so it's in their library on release day.
6. Get paid
Apple Music pays about $0.008 per play. 10,000 plays is about $80. On Pro, all of it goes to you.
- Tip: claim your free Apple Music for Artists page to see where people listen.
What it costs
You can release free once a month and keep 70% of the money. Go Pro for £8 a month to release as much as you like and keep 100%.
Questions? Easy answers.
Can I upload straight to Apple Music?+
No. Apple only takes songs from distributors like LUCY.
How much does Apple Music pay?+
About $0.008 per play, close to double Spotify. 10,000 plays is about $80.
Why do songs get rejected by Apple?+
Usually the cover title doesn't match, a guest artist is written in the title, or there's a website on the cover. LUCY reviews every release before sending it.
Does Apple Music cost extra?+
No. It's one of the 470+ apps included when you release with LUCY.
Related pages
Your next step
Get heard. Get paid. Stay independent.
Put your music on 470+ stores and apps. Release free and keep 70%, or go Pro and keep 100%.