Spotify for Artists Setup Checklist
For Artists
Mar 15, 2026
Spotify for Artists is the free dashboard that lets you claim your profile, edit your bio and images, pitch to editorial playlists, and access streaming analytics. Setup takes about 30 minutes. The payoff is control over how 600+ million Spotify users see your artist page and access to the data that informs your release strategy.
Every independent artist should set up Spotify for Artists before their first release. The platform controls your visual identity on Spotify, gives you access to the editorial pitching tool, and provides the audience data you need to make informed decisions about touring, promotion, and release timing.
This checklist walks through every setup step. For understanding what to do with the analytics once you have access, see Spotify for Artists Analytics: What to Track.
Before You Start
You need music on Spotify. Spotify for Artists requires at least one song distributed to the platform. If you do not have music up yet, complete your first release through your distributor, wait for it to appear on Spotify, then return to this checklist.
You also need a Spotify account (free accounts work; Premium is not required) and the following assets ready before you begin:
Artist photo (2660 x 1140 px minimum for header image)
Profile image (square, at least 750 x 750 px)
Bio text (1500 characters max)
Social media links
Spotify Canvas video for at least one song (9:16 vertical, 3-8 seconds)
Step 1: Claim Your Profile
Go to artists.spotify.com, click "Get Access," and log in with your Spotify account. Search for your artist name, select your profile from the results, and verify your identity. Verification options include social media confirmation, distributor email, or management verification.
Social media verification is usually instant. Distributor verification can take a few days. If you cannot find your profile, your music may not be live yet. Wait 24-48 hours after your distributor confirms delivery. If someone else claimed your profile, contact Spotify support with proof of ownership to dispute the claim.
Step 2: Optimize Your Profile Image and Header
Your profile image appears in search results, playlists, and the mobile app. Your header image appears on your desktop artist page.
Profile image: Square format, at least 750 x 750 px. Use your face or recognizable branding. Spotify discourages text overlays.
Header image: 2660 x 1140 px. The image is cropped differently on mobile and desktop, so keep the focal point centered. Avoid logos or text that get lost in the responsive layout.
Upload both in Spotify for Artists under Profile, then Edit Profile. Preview on both mobile and desktop before saving.
Step 3: Write Your Bio
Your bio appears on your artist page. It is one of the first things new listeners see when they click through from a playlist or search result.
Keep it under 1500 characters. Your first sentence should hook attention. Include your genre and what makes you distinctive, mention recent releases or upcoming projects, and skip the links (they are not clickable in the bio field).
Avoid third-person corporate tone like "Artist X is a rising star in the indie scene." Write the way you would introduce yourself to someone at a show. Update your bio after each major release so it stays current.
Step 4: Add Social Links and Website
Spotify for Artists lets you add links to Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, Wikipedia, and your website. These appear as icons on your artist page.
Add them under Profile, then Edit Profile, then Links. Only add active profiles. A dead Twitter account with no posts in six months does more harm than good. Your website link is the most valuable one here because it is the only platform you fully own.
Step 5: Set Your Artist Pick
Artist Pick is a featured slot at the top of your profile. You can highlight a song, album, playlist, or concert listing.
Best uses: your newest release on release day, your best-performing song to convert new visitors, a playlist you curated to show personality, or upcoming tour dates to drive ticket sales. Set it under Profile, then Artist Pick. Add a short caption (100 characters max).
Update your Artist Pick with every new release at minimum. Refreshing it monthly keeps your profile feeling active to new visitors.
Step 6: Upload Spotify Canvas
Spotify Canvas is the looping video that plays behind your track on mobile. It costs nothing to upload and correlates with higher save and share rates.
Canvas specs: 9:16 vertical aspect ratio, 3-8 seconds long, MP4 or M4V format, under 20 MB. The video must loop smoothly, so design it to start and end on the same frame.
Upload through Music, select a song, then Canvas. Preview the loop carefully before saving. Canva has free Canvas templates. CapCut is a solid free mobile editor. After Effects works for artists with production experience.
Focus on your strongest or most recent release first, then add Canvas to catalog tracks as time allows.
Step 7: Submit Your First Editorial Pitch
The editorial pitch tool lets you submit unreleased songs to Spotify's playlist curators. This is one of the most valuable features on the platform.
Requirements: The song must be unreleased with a release date at least 7 days out (ideally 3-4 weeks). You can pitch one song per release.
Your pitch should be specific about genre and subgenre, describe the song's sound with sonic reference points, include mood and instrumentation tags, and explain any relevant context. "Indie folk with fingerpicked guitar and layered harmonies, written about leaving home" gives a curator something to work with. "Indie" does not.
For the full release planning timeline including when to upload, pitch, and promote, see How to Plan a Music Release: Step-by-Step Checklist.
Step 8: Explore Your Analytics
Once your profile is set up, explore the analytics dashboard. This is where you learn who listens to your music and how they found you.
Metric | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
Monthly listeners | Unique listeners in the past 28 days |
Streams | Total plays across your catalog |
Followers | Users who followed your profile |
Saves | Users who saved your songs to their library |
Playlist adds | How often your songs are added to user playlists |
Source of streams | Where listeners found you (playlist, search, profile, external) |
Audience demographics | Age, gender, and location of your listeners |
Check analytics weekly during active release periods. Monthly during quieter periods. The trends over 30-90 days matter more than any single day's numbers.
Step 9: Add Team Members
If you work with a manager, label, or team, grant them access to your dashboard. Admin access gives full control including profile editing and pitching. Editor access allows profile changes but not team management. Reader access provides view-only analytics.
Add team members under Settings, then Team. Enter their email and select the appropriate access level. For artists working with a team, getting everyone on the same dashboard eliminates the back-and-forth of sharing screenshots and spreadsheets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does verification take?
Social media verification is usually instant. Distributor or email verification takes 1-5 business days.
Can I claim multiple artist profiles?
Yes, if you release under multiple names. Each profile needs separate verification through the same process.
What if my distributor already set up my profile?
You still need to claim it through Spotify for Artists to access editing and analytics. The distributor creates the profile; you claim it.
Do I need to apply for a verified checkmark?
No. The blue checkmark appears automatically once you claim your profile. There is no separate application.
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