How to Release Your First Song
A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Releasing your own original track is a dream for almost anyone involved with music. New artists often face the same questions: Where do I start? Who do I contact? How much will it cost?

This guide walks you through each stage — from idea to release — whether you already have lyrics or music, or you want a full song created from scratch.

The same song can be made in different genres — an acoustic original might also work as rock or hip-hop. That choice changes how listeners perceive it.

Decide on the core direction (pop, rock, folk, etc.) and the mood: melancholic and intimate, or energetic and danceable. Browse genre lists and find references that match the vibe you want to create.

If you don’t have lyrics and/or a melody (hook), collaborate with a songwriter. They can write lyrics to your existing music — or create a melody and words first, then build around them. If you’re writing yourself, read a “Top 10 songwriting mistakes” type of guide to avoid common pitfalls.

You have a few paths:

Option 1 — Buy an instrumental (beat/backing track):
Marketplaces and catalogs offer instrumentals you can license. Drawbacks: it might not be exactly what you want; licenses can be non-exclusive; monetization may be restricted. Always read the site’s and seller’s licensing terms.

Option 2 — Commission a producer/arranger:
If you can sing or play the main idea (voice memo, guitar/piano), a producer can develop it into a full track. It’s a detailed, iterative process — be patient as you refine instruments, melodies, harmony and sound choices.
The big advantage of custom production is creative freedom. Downsides are cost and timeframes (both vary with complexity and the producer’s experience).

You can record at home, but untreated rooms introduce noise and room reflections that hurt quality. A professional studio provides proper acoustics and gear.
Plan extra time for warm-ups, multiple takes, and to settle into the space. Don’t try to record the whole song in one pass — record in sections, capture doubles and backing vocals to give the mix depth. In the end, plan for about 2–3 hours of studio time.

You can read the article to understand the difference between a home recording studio and a professional one.

To make your song sound professional and consistent everywhere — whether on speakers, headphones, a phone, or even in the car — you’ll need proper mixing and mastering. You can either continue working with the studio where you recorded, or send your stems to an online mixing/mastering engineer. This step ensures your track balances well, has the right polish, and translates across different listening systems.

Once the song is mixed and mastered, it also has to meet streaming platform standards. Services like Spotify and Apple Music automatically adjust tracks to a certain loudness level, and if your song is too quiet, too loud, or distorted, it won’t sit well next to other releases. That’s why engineers usually recommend exporting in WAV format, 24-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz, aiming for around –14 LUFS loudness, and keeping the true peak under –1 dBTP. Don’t worry if this sounds too technical — your mastering engineer will handle the details. But it’s good to know the basics so you understand why this step matters.

For smooth handoff, see: “How to Prepare and Send Your Track for Mixing in a Studio.”

Your cover art isn’t just a picture — it’s the first thing people see before they even hit “play.” On Spotify or Apple Music, your track is sitting in a sea of millions. A strong cover makes someone curious enough to click.

Study current trends or come up with a unique concept that fits your brand and grabs attention in crowded catalogs. Hire a designer or generate concepts with AI (note: many AI covers look similar — curate carefully).

Rules to follow:

• Make it 3000x3000 pixels, square, JPG or PNG.
• Don’t put store logos, URLs, or prices on it (stores will reject it).
• Make sure it reflects the song’s vibe. A sad ballad with a neon rave cover will confuse people.

Artwork specs for stores are in Section 12 below.

Once your song is mixed, mastered, and ready, you’ll need a distributor to get it on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and everywhere else. This is where many beginners get overwhelmed: there are dozens of distributors out there.

There are two main routes:

1) Work with a label
Labels handle distribution, sometimes marketing and rights administration. If you only need distribution, many labels or services offer this option.

2) DIY distribution
Not All Platforms Are the Same.

Here’s what to look at:

• Payment model: some charge a yearly fee (like DistroKid), others charge per release (like CD Baby).
• Extra features: do they provide YouTube Content ID? Do they handle cover-song licenses?
• Reach: some deliver to 200+ platforms, others to fewer.
• Support and reliability: if something goes wrong, will they help quickly?

Don’t just pick the first name you see on Google. Compare carefully — because your distributor becomes your gateway to the entire music industry.

When you’re releasing music in the US, UK or internationally, there’s more to think about than just how your track sounds. Behind every song is a web of rights and codes that make sure you actually get paid when your music is streamed, played on the radio, or licensed.

Think of it like this: the song isn’t just “art” — it’s also a piece of intellectual property. If you don’t register it properly, someone else might profit from your work, or you might simply miss out on money you’ve earned.

That’s why you should:

• Register with a PRO (Performing Rights Organization) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the US; PRS in the UK; SOCAN in Canada. This ensures you receive royalties whenever your song is played publicly.
• Register with SoundExchange in the US to collect neighboring rights (digital performance royalties for recordings).
• Make sure each track has an ISRC code (identifies the recording) and the release has a UPC (identifies the product). Your distributor usually provides these.
• Write down who owns what: splits between writers, producers, performers. A simple split sheet can prevent big headaches later.

Do you want to release a cover of your favorite song? Or use a cool sample you found online? Be careful. The music industry takes rights seriously.

• For covers: in the US you need a mechanical license. Some distributors can arrange this for you, but you must check.
• For samples: it’s trickier. You need permission from both the owner of the recording and the publisher of the composition. Without it, your track can be taken down — or worse, you could face legal action.

A safe rule for beginners: if you’re not 100% sure something is cleared, don’t use it.

Here’s a mistake almost every beginner makes: they finish their track and upload it to Spotify the same day. Then they wonder why nobody hears it.

To give your song the best chance, plan at least 6–8 weeks ahead:

• 6 weeks before release: upload the final track to your distributor, prepare artwork, get your ISRC/UPC codes.
• 4 weeks before: set up a pre-save campaign so fans can save the track before it’s out.
• 3 weeks before: pitch your track to Spotify Editorial via Spotify for Artists.
• 2 weeks before: create content for TikTok, Reels, Shorts. Behind-the-scenes clips work great.
• Release day: share the link everywhere, update your link-in-bio, and interact with listeners.
• 1–2 weeks after: keep the momentum alive — post an acoustic version, a remix, or a behind-the-scenes video.

A release isn’t one day — it’s a campaign.

Uploading your song is step one. Getting people to actually listen is step two — and this is where most new artists struggle.
Some tools that can help:

• Pre-save + link hubs (Feature.fm, ToneDen, Hypeddit, Linktree). These make it easy to direct fans to your track.
• Short-form video: TikTok and Instagram Reels are currently the best way to reach new audiences.
• Lyric videos and visualizers: great for YouTube.
• Playlists and blogs: SubmitHub and niche curators can help, but avoid scam “pay-for-playlist” offers.
• Community: build a small Discord, mailing list, or fan group. 100 real fans are better than 10,000 fake streams.

Remember: marketing isn’t just “ads.” It’s about storytelling — why should people care about your song?

Money matters. Recording and releasing a song isn’t free. Here’s a rough idea (US prices, but ranges vary everywhere):

• Studio time: $30–$80/hr
• Production/arrangement: $200–$1,000+
• Mixing: $150–$500+
• Mastering: $50–$150+
• Artwork: $50–$200
• Distribution: $10–30 per release, or an annual plan around $20–40
• Promotion/ads: anywhere from $100 to $1,000+ depending on your budget

Don’t panic at the numbers. Start small, reinvest what you can, and grow step by step.

Music is a team effort. Even if you do most of it yourself, there are often other people involved — a producer, co-writer, session musician.

To avoid arguments later, write down who owns what percentage of the song. A simple split sheet works fine. Also, if you pay someone for session work, clarify if it’s a full buyout or if they keep rights.

It may feel awkward to talk about money and rights with friends — but trust me, it’s much more awkward when your song blows up and nobody knows who gets paid.

Sometimes it’s easier to have a list you can tick off. Here are two to keep handy:

Studio Day Checklist

• Lyrics printed, water, headphones
• BPM and key written down
• Reference tracks ready
• Plan for doubles/backing vocals
• Export clean vocal stems

Pre-Distribution Checklist

• Final WAV (24-bit, 44.1/48 kHz)
• ISRC/UPC codes
• Cover art (3000x3000 px)
• Full credits and lyrics
• Release date and territories
• Pre-save link set up
• Spotify pitch submitted

Releasing your first song is exciting — but it’s also a learning curve. Don’t expect perfection. Each release teaches you something new about music, the industry, and yourself.

The key is: start. Finish a song, release it, learn from it, and keep going. The more you release, the better you’ll get at every step.

Good luck on your journey — and may your first song be the start of many more! 🎶