How to Get Your Lyrics on Spotify
For Artists
To get your lyrics on Spotify, create a free Musixmatch Pro account, get verified as the artist, then add and sync your lyrics line by line. Musixmatch is Spotify's official lyrics partner. Once submitted, lyrics typically appear within a few days. The entire process is free.
Synced lyrics are not just a nice feature. They increase engagement time on your tracks, feed into algorithmic signals, and show up when fans share your songs to Instagram Stories. Tracks with lyrics get more saves because listeners can follow along and connect with the words. Despite this, a huge number of independent releases sit on Spotify with no lyrics at all.
The process takes about 15-20 minutes per song once you are set up. Here is exactly how to do it. For a broader look at optimizing your streaming presence, see Spotify for Artists Analytics.
Step 1: Create a Musixmatch Pro Account
Go to Musixmatch Pro and sign up. Choose the free plan, which is listed below the paid tiers on the pricing page. The free plan gives you everything you need to add, edit, and sync lyrics.
Use an email address connected to your artist project, label, or management. This speeds up the verification process because Musixmatch cross-references your email with industry databases.
Step 2: Get Verified as an Artist
From your Musixmatch Pro dashboard, go to Roster and select Add Artist. Paste your Spotify artist URL. Fill in the required fields about your role (artist, manager, or label representative).
Musixmatch reviews your submission and emails you within a few business days. Some distributors like CD Baby offer fast-track verification partnerships that can shorten this step. If you have not yet claimed your Spotify profile, do that first. See Claiming Your Spotify Artist Profile.
Step 3: Add Your Lyrics
Once verified, your catalog appears in your Musixmatch dashboard under Roster. Select a song and click Lyrics.
Formatting rules that matter:
Type every word that is sung, including repeated lines and sections
Do not use shorthand like "(x2)" for repeated choruses
Write backing vocals in parentheses
Do not type section labels like "Verse 1" or "Chorus" in the lyrics themselves (Musixmatch has a separate labeling system)
Transcribe ooh's, aah's, and ad-libs if they are prominent in the track
If a featured artist sings a section, do not write their name in the lyrics body (add them in the credits tab instead)
If a song is not showing in your dashboard, click Music > Add Missing Release. It can take up to 48 hours for newly released tracks to appear.
Step 4: Sync Your Lyrics
This is where your lyrics become the real-time, line-by-line display that listeners see. Go to the Sync tab for your song.
Musixmatch plays the audio and shows your lyrics line by line. Tap or click to mark the timestamp when each line begins. Sync to the first word of each line, not the downbeat of the music. If there are multiple vocal parts, sync to the main vocal.
Tips for clean syncing:
Common Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
Lyrics appear too early | Re-sync, starting timestamps 0.2-0.5 seconds later |
Lines overlap during fast sections | Break long lines into shorter phrases |
Instrumental sections show lyrics | Add a blank line with a timestamp at the start of the break |
Song has ad-libs over main lyrics | Sync the main vocal, put ad-libs in parentheses |
Hit Send when finished. Changes can take a few days to reflect on Spotify.
Step 5: Add Credits
In the Credits tab, add every contributor: songwriters, producers, featured artists. This metadata feeds into Spotify's credits section and helps with discoverability. For a full guide on metadata, see Music Metadata Best Practices.
Troubleshooting
Lyrics submitted but not showing on Spotify after a week. Check that your lyrics are fully synced, not just transcribed. Unsynced lyrics may not appear. Also confirm the song is available on Spotify in the market you are checking from.
Musixmatch is showing wrong lyrics on my song. If a fan or community member submitted incorrect lyrics before you, your verified submission will override them. Submit the correct version and it will replace the existing text.
Lyrics show on Spotify but not on Instagram Stories. Musixmatch feeds lyrics to multiple platforms, but rollout timing varies. Instagram typically pulls from the same database, but regional availability differs. Give it a few extra days.
You are based in Japan. Spotify uses PetitLyrics instead of Musixmatch for the Japanese market. Submit your lyrics through PetitLyrics if your primary audience is there.
Why Lyrics Matter More Than You Think
Spotify's algorithm weighs engagement signals like save rate and listen-through rate. Tracks with synced lyrics tend to hold listener attention longer because people read along instead of skipping. That longer listen time feeds positive signals back to the algorithm.
Lyrics also power the lyrics search feature. When a listener types a line they remember into Spotify's search bar, songs with synced lyrics can surface. That is a discovery path that artists focused on growth miss entirely if their lyrics are not submitted.
And on Instagram Stories, synced lyrics display automatically when someone shares your track. A story with scrolling lyrics is more engaging than a static album cover. It gives your song a second life on a platform where attention spans are measured in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for lyrics to appear on Spotify?
After submitting synced lyrics through Musixmatch, they typically appear on Spotify within 2-7 days. Some artists report 24-hour turnaround. Regional availability may vary.
Do I need Spotify Premium to add lyrics?
No. The free Musixmatch Pro plan lets you add and sync lyrics. Linking a Spotify Premium account auto-imports your catalog, but a free Spotify account works too.
Can I add lyrics before my song is released?
No. The song must be live on Spotify before it appears in your Musixmatch dashboard. Plan to submit lyrics within the first day or two after release.
Do lyrics help with Spotify's algorithm?
Indirectly, yes. Synced lyrics increase listen-through time and save rates, both of which are positive algorithmic signals. They also enable lyrics-based search discovery.
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