Releasing your first single is a huge moment — and it's simpler than it looks. Follow these steps in order and you'll go from a finished song to a worldwide release like a pro.
Make sure your song is fully mixed and mastered. Export a high-quality file (WAV, 16-bit/44.1kHz or higher). A polished master is the foundation everything else sits on.
You need square artwork at 3000×3000 pixels, RGB, as JPG or PNG. Don't include website URLs, social handles, or blurry images — stores reject those. Clean, legible artwork stands out on every platform.
Decide exactly how your artist name and song title should appear, and list every songwriter and featured artist. This is where many first releases go wrong — read our metadata guide to avoid the common mistakes.
A distributor delivers your song to stores and collects your royalties. You don't need to pay for this — Mazufa distributes for free with 0% commission. Curious what paid services would cost you? Check the savings calculator.
Scheduling ahead gives you time to pitch playlists and build pre-save momentum. Same-day releases skip all of that.
Submit the song to Spotify editors via Spotify for Artists (7+ days early), set up a pre-save Smart Link, and tease the release on social with the cover and a countdown.
Check the track is live and correct everywhere, share your Smart Link, add the song to your own playlists, and thank early listeners. Then keep the momentum with your next release. Our free release checklist walks you through every step so nothing slips.
Explore more free tools for artists in Mazufa Studio.
Distribute to 150+ stores worldwide with Mazufa — 0% commission, and keep 100% of your rights.