Your artist profile is the home of your music on Spotify and with Spotify for Artists you can customise it to truly represent you.
Your artist image is the circular image that comes up when people search your artist name and that sits next to your name on your profile. As the most prominent image you’ll have on Spotify it’s important that you pick an image that you feel truly represents you or your group.
Whether you choose a shot from a photoshoot, an illustration done of you or your group, your artist logo or any other image that represents you – you should make sure it’s iconic and representative.
Check out Spotify’s nifty little video that will have you looking great in no time.
You will need to claim your Spotify for Artists profile first. To do this you will need at least one release that has been uploaded to Spotify, even if it isn’t live and is schedule for release.
You can upload your music to Spotify for free with RouteNote. Sign up for free and upload your music to the world’s favourite music services and start earning money and growing your fanbase.
There are a number of options for your music when it comes time to export. But what is really the difference between lossless and lossy audio?
There are loads of different types of audio files you can use for your music but what’s really different between them? It might be subtle but there is an important difference!
If you’re looking to get your music online then you can upload to the world’s biggest streaming services for free on RouteNote. We let you choose whether you want to upload FLAC or MP3 so that you can decide on the best way for your listeners to listen.
Your artist profile is where your music lives online and where listeners get to learn about you. Ensure your bio represents who/what you are so listeners new and old understand what you’re about.
Spotify have a handy new video walking you through the simple steps you need to take to update your bio. Your bio is a spot on your profile where you get to tell your story as an artist so it’s important to think about what you want to write and how you want to present yourself.
It’s the perfect place to tell your story: How have you come to where you are today, what does your music mean for you and why do you release it for the world to hear.
You will need to claim your Spotify for Artists profile first. To do this you will need at least one release that has been uploaded to Spotify, even if it isn’t live and is schedule for release.
You can upload your music to Spotify for free with RouteNote. Sign up for free and upload your music to the world’s favourite music services and start earning money and growing your fanbase.
Yes you can! Keeping the same UPC code when you move your release means that you keep all of the streams that you have gained over the years.
When you move from another music distribution service, you will have been given a UPC code for your releases when they were uploaded.
When you re-upload your music to RouteNote we have a section for your UPC code so that you can re-use the one you were originally given. This means that all of your original streaming data will return once your music is back online through RouteNote.
If you don’t have a UPC code, don’t worry! We will give each release a UPC code for free when you upload if you don’t have an existing code to use.
So don’t worry if you’re planning to move your music to RouteNote! Whether you’re uploading an existing release or a completely new one, we’ve got you covered.
Creating a lyric video for your music is a very simple way to promote your music and connect with fans on YouTube and social media.
Making a lyric video is a great way to enhance your music when you upload it to YouTube with visual content that engages your listeners even more. We’ll walk you through the simple steps you can take to create your very own lyric video.
Find or create the background of your choice
You will want a compelling background. You can opt to simply have a block colour but a custom background is going to make your video shine.
If you’re using an image make sure you have the rights to use it – any great promo shots of yourself/your group can be perfect here! If you want to use an image from the web, check the rights to using it – we have a list of copyright free image sites you can explore here.
If you have a moving image you can use in the background – even better! But make sure it isn’t distracting from the lyrics. A slow motion video or unobtrusive animations can be a great choice.
Find video editing software you want to use
There are lots of choices out there from the incredibly expensive, professional programs to free, built-in software on computers.
Whatever you choose to use you should commit to it so you can get to grips with it and know how to use its features to edit videos together. Making a lyric video is one of the most basic things to do on video editing programs so it shouldn’t be difficult but you’ll still need to have a handle on your software!
A free program that makes it very easy to create a basic lyric video is YouTube Movie Maker. They also have video guides to help you make different types of lyric videos easily.
Upload to your Official Artist Channel on YouTube
If you’re an artist with your music on YouTube on your own channel and uploaded through a distributor like RouteNote to YouTube Music then an Official Artist Channel brings all of your content together on one channel.
It’s a vital step as an artist on YouTube to enhancing your viewers and fanbase and ensure that anything you upload goes to one channel for your music.
If you’ve uploaded music to YouTube Music through RouteNote before, or if you’re interested on doing so, we have more information on getting your Official Artist Channel here.
Upload and share your video
Once it’s done and uploaded, the process doesn’t end there! It’s time to get promoting.
Share your video across all of your socials to share it with fans and spread its reach. Share it where you can and enjoy the response to your brand new video that lets your listeners enjoy your music with the deeper connection of following your lyrics.
In this post we’ll answer your big questions for what counts as a stream on Deezer which means the artist gets paid and counts towards their position in the charts.
How long do you have to listen to a song for it to count as a stream?
Once a song has been played for 30 seconds or longer it counts as a stream.
Does a stream count if you skip the track you’re listening to?
If you have listened to a song for at least 30 seconds then it will still count as a stream if you skip it.
Does a stream count every time you listen to a song if it’s on repeat?
Yes, as long as you’re listening to and enjoying the music each time and not repeating the song to fraudulently count plays.
Does a listen count towards a songs position on the charts?
Many countries now count streaming plays towards their national charts so check your local charting companies terms but it is very likely that, if you have listened for longer than 30 seconds, it will count.
Do downloaded songs listened to offline still count?
Yes, your Deezer app will count the songs you listen to offline the same way it does online and then when you next connect to the internet they will be registered.
In the digital age the boundaries for you as an artist have been broken down and with RouteNote you can get your music on Spotify and other huge music platforms on your own terms.
A record label is no longer needed to get your music heard by the world. RouteNote have helped to level the playing field for independent artists, groups, and record labels around the world with free distribution to the world’s favourite streaming services.
You stay in complete control of your music through RouteNote. You don’t sign away ownership of your music and you control exactly what happens to it.
We provide you with the solution to get your music on the world’s biggest platforms, to earn money and build a worldwide fanbase, all on your own terms.
With RouteNote you can:
Choose between Free and Premium at anytime for the plan that suits your music best
Upload to all of the world’s biggest platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, Amazon, JioSaavn, Tencent, YouTube Music, and many more at no extra cost
Join our SoundCloud and YouTube networks to discover new ways to make money on other platforms
Gain extra benefits on Push.FM our brand new, promotion platform for your music
YouTube Music is the new app from YouTube bringing together all of their music content to one new streaming hub for artists and listeners. It’s the spiritual successor to Google Play Music and combines a traditional streaming service with music videos, live music, demos and all of the great musical video content YouTube has to offer.
RouteNote offers you FREE distribution to YouTube Music offering you:
So, you’ve gotten yourself a fancy new Official Artist Channel for your music. It’s time to make it yours.
An Official Artist Channel is a must-have for any artist with their music on YouTube. Whether you’ve uploaded your music through RouteNote or not, if you have your music split between channels than an OAC is your way of bringing unity to your music and making the best place for your fans and new listeners alike to find you.
Once your Official Artist Channel is approved and set up it’s time to start making it beautiful, exactly how you want it to looks. With control over customising your channel, follow our guides to get it all set up looking like you want it to:
Official Artist Channels are vital for artists with music on YouTube. So if you’ve uploaded music to YouTube through RouteNote, find out how to get one in this article.
An Official Artist Channel brings all of the official content from across these channels into one, great place where existing fans and new listeners can easily explore all of your content and discover more.
Often, artists will find their content split across different channels:
Topic Channels: Art tracks & content made by fans and others with your music in it ends up here Third Party: Vevo, record label, and other official third party uploads Artist Channel: That’s you! Your very own channel which you control and upload to.
Still need convincing that you should get an Official Artist Channel? Here’s what it means for you:
All of your music, in one place. Your entire discography is all in one, easy place where listeners can explore it with ease. Your music videos, your album uploads, and even your more personal uploads – like BTS content and vlogs – are all on one channel in their own neat categories, or ‘shelves’, making discovery a delight for fans new and old.
You’re in control. Without an Official Artist Channel you don’t have control over how your content appears on Topic Channels or Third Party channels. With one, you have full control over your channel including your image, your banner, your biography, your content layout, your featured channels, and more!
Search result satisfaction. Your wonderful, cohesive new channel will appear every time someone searches for your music. No more searching through a jumble of uploads: A simple way to delve into all of your music appears straight away. This also means that Google searches of your artist name present your OAC right at the front.
Promotion in your hands. With you at the reins you decide how and what to promote using your channel giving you the power to emphasise the things that are important to you and your fanbase. Set your featured video to go front and centre on your channel and curate your own top shelf of videos for visitors to your channel to explore first.
Increased engagement and views. A one-stop shop for all of your content will enhance your videos’ reach and views. It allows fans to subscribe to one channel so that they can keep in touch with all of your new content.
What do I do?
Getting your Official Artist Channel is simple and we’re here to help you do it.
First! Make sure you have uploaded at least one release through RouteNote to Google Play Music which shares their library with YouTube Music.
Second! Make sure you have your own YouTube Channel created under your artist name with a channel image. You are likely to be approved quicker if you have at least 1 album and at least 3 videos live on YouTube.
If at least one release has been approved and distributed to YouTube through RouteNote then follow the link below to fill out our application form and you’re on your way!
Our support team are happy to help with any issues or questions you have at support@routenote.com. But before you get in touch, here are some of the most asked questions about Official Artist Channels that may answer your queries.
How long does it take to get an OAC after application?
This depends! If the channels you provided are already stocked with content it will help the process move quicker. You will be notified when you are placed in their queue for upgrade by YouTube.
Is this a new channel?
No, this is not a new channel. It is a combination of the other channels so that they all appear in one place, acting like a hub for your content that appears as a Channel.
Will Topic Channels remain?
Yes, Topic Channels will still remain on YouTube. YouTube will soon replace the link to Topic Channels with the OAC link on watch cards and art tracks but Topic Channels will still exist.
Will VEVO and record label channels remain?
Yes, these channels will remain and will still feature any content of yours they have uploaded. Their videos of yours will simply be collected and also placed on your OAC.
What happens to subscribers on each channel?
YouTube are looking into a solution for fans who are subscribed to the different channels your content is being merged from. They hope to find a way that works for channels, artists, and fans and there will hopefully be more news on this soon.
How do OAC’s change in different territories?
YouTube have done their best to create a seamless experience across different countries. Some countries where YouTube Red is not available, art tracks will not show up on Album or Official Music playlists.
How do I customise my OAC now I have one?
We have another article here with links and advice on all the different things you can to do get your new Official Artist Channel looking exactly how you want it.
