Best Music Streaming Services & How to Upload to Spotify

Streaming has reshaped how listeners consume music and how artists build careers. If you are an independent creator mapping out your 2024 release strategy, two questions usually top the list: “Which are the best music streaming services for growing my audience?” and “How to upload music to Spotify without a major-label deal?” This in-depth guide answers both while spotlighting the role of TikTok, SoundOn, and global playlist pitching.

1. Why Streaming Still Rules the Music Landscape

From 2020 to 2023, worldwide streaming revenues surged past US$17 billion. The subscription model fuels infinite music libraries, immediate social sharing, and algorithm-driven discovery. Artists win because every stream is trackable, payable, and can turn a bedroom upload into a viral sensation overnight. Yet not every platform serves the same audience, so let’s break down today’s major services.

2. The Best Music Streaming Services in 2024

• Spotify – Over 550 million monthly active users (MAUs) and pioneer of curated playlists like RapCaviar and Today’s Top Hits.
• Apple Music – Deep integration with iOS and lossless catalog.
• Amazon Music Unlimited – Bundled discounts for Prime members.
• YouTube Music – Video-first ecosystem and huge DIY community.
• Tidal – Hi-Fi and spatial audio focus.
• Deezer – Early adopter of AI-driven song transitions.
• Pandora – Popular radio-style listening in the US.

Each service above invests in personalized discovery, but they share a common entry point for independent artists: you must route music through a digital distributor.

3. Discovery Beyond Traditional Streaming: TikTok & SoundOn

TikTok’s short-form videos can rocket a 15-second hook into charts worldwide. To convert viral moments into full-length streams, you need your single on every service—especially Spotify—before a trend explodes. This is where SoundOn becomes vital. By distributing your track to TikTok’s Commercial Music Library, CapCut templates, and all major DSPs in one dashboard, SoundOn unifies marketing and distribution so creators focus on the music.

4. How to Upload Music to Spotify: Step-by-Step

Spotify does not accept direct uploads from artists; you must deliver through a distributor such as SoundOn, Tunecore, Distrokid, CDbaby, ONErpm, LANDR, Indiefy, or Amuse. Below is the full workflow when using SoundOn as your main hub.

Step 1 – Prepare Your Masters

Export a 24-bit WAV at 44.1 kHz. Make sure the file peaks at –1 dBFS for optimal encoding on all DSPs. Double-check your metadata: artist name, featured performers, ISRC, and release title.

Step 2 – Register or Log In to SoundOn

Create your free artist account on SoundOn. After email verification, you’ll access a clean dashboard to start a new release.

Step 3 – Enter Release Details

Input the track title, primary and featured artist names, and language. Choose your genre and sub-genre accurately—this helps Spotify’s editorial team file your submission properly for playlist consideration.

Step 4 – Upload Audio & Artwork

Drag-and-drop your WAV, then attach a 3000 × 3000 px JPG or PNG cover. Artwork cannot infringe on copyrights or contain explicit trademarks you don’t own.

Step 5 – Choose Distribution Stores

Select Spotify plus any additional DSPs (Apple Music, Amazon, etc.). SoundOn’s default setting distributes globally, ensuring fans in 200 + territories can stream on release day.

Step 6 – Set the Release Date

Plan at least four weeks ahead. This allows sufficient time for Spotify’s algorithmic systems to index your song and for you to submit a pitch inside Spotify for Artists (S4A).

Step 7 – Review, Sign, and Submit

Finalize your agreement with SoundOn’s distribution terms and click “Submit.” Your track’s status will read “Processing” until feed deliveries hit Spotify’s ingestion servers.

Step 8 – Claim Your Spotify for Artists Profile

Once SoundOn confirms your UPC on Spotify, claim the profile through S4A to customize photos, bios, and social links in one business day.

Step 9 – Pitch Your Track to Playlists

Inside S4A, navigate to the “Upcoming” tab and fill out the pitch form. Include: release story, city of origin, mood tags, recording locations, and marketing plans (e.g., TikTok challenge with SoundOn’s CapCut template). Clear, concise answers convince editors to test your song on editorial playlists.

Step 10 – Promote, Analyze & Monetize

Once live, monitor Spotify’s analytics for stream sources and save rates. Layered with TikTok metrics, you can retarget fans using social ads, add merch links, and maximize royalties.

5. Understanding Spotify Royalties

Spotify uses a pro-rata share of monthly subscription and ad revenue. Payments route to your distributor, then to you. Inside the SoundOn portal, revenue dashboards break down each stream’s country of origin, facilitating tour routing and localized marketing decisions.

6. Additional Tips to Stand Out

1. Optimize Pre-Save Campaigns – Drive fans to pre-save links; the algorithm rewards day-one momentum.
2. Use Canvas Loops – Upload 6-second looping videos to make your track pop on mobile playback.
3. Leverage TikTok Trends – Repurpose your hook as a meme template. The shorter the loop, the better the user-generated content (UGC) scalability.
4. Align Release Calendars – Avoid global superstar drop dates to reduce competition on editorial slots.
5. Network with Playlist Curators – Outside of Spotify’s official lists, user-curated playlists can generate thousands of organic streams.

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Last-minute delivery – Submitting less than seven days before release forfeits the ability to pitch editorially.
• Metadata Typos – Wrong artist names split catalog and confuse listeners.
• Low-resolution cover art – Pixelated images look unprofessional and could be rejected.
• Ignoring Social Assets – No TikTok snippet or CapCut template means missing out on viral loops.

8. Beyond Spotify: Why Multiple Streaming Services Matter

While Spotify commands the lion’s share of music discovery, fans use multiple platforms daily. Listeners might discover your song on a YouTube vlog, Shazam it in a coffee shop, or stream it on Apple Music during a workout. Distributing widely through SoundOn ensures you never lose a potential listener by platform preference.

9. Future Trends Shaping Streaming

AI-generated Playlists. Platforms are deploying machine-learning to auto-curate around user moods. High-fidelity Audio. Lossless and spatial formats are becoming standard. Fan-Funding & Tipping. Streaming services, including Spotify, are testing features that let fans donate directly. Mastering these shifts early future-proofs your catalog.

10. Final Thoughts

From securing playlist placements to banking reliable royalties, understanding both the best music streaming services and how to upload music to Spotify is mission-critical. Using integrated platforms such as SoundOn can simplify global distribution, synchronize TikTok campaigns, and leverage data-driven growth. The path to streaming success starts with preparation, timely pitching, and relentless promotion. Your next release might be the one that turns curious scrollers into lifelong fans—so upload smart, stream everywhere, and keep the music moving.