Spotify has started rolling out the ability for artists to upload full-length videos directly through Spotify for Artists. This feature allows artists to add official music videos, live performances and studio sessions to Spotify directly.
As this is a new feature, we’ve put together some answers to the questions you might have, particularly around how uploads work alongside music you distribute through EmuBands.
Who Can Upload Videos to Spotify?
Spotify is currently testing direct video uploads with tens of thousands of artists, so you may not see the option in your Spotify for Artists account just yet. If it’s available to you, you’ll find Upload Video under Video & Visuals when using Spotify for Artists on desktop. If it isn’t available yet, Spotify has a waitlist you can join.
You’ll need to be an Admin or Editor on the relevant Spotify for Artists team to upload a video.
What kind of videos can I upload?
Spotify currently allows you to upload:
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– Official music videos
– Live performances
– Studio sessions
– Covers
Your video needs to be music-first, with the song as the main focus. It also needs to be landscape (16:9), between 30 seconds and 20 minutes long, at least 1920 × 1080 resolution, and under 50 GB.
How does Spotify know which song my video relates to?
When you upload your video, Spotify will ask you to identify the music featured in it.
For an original song, you can link the video to a track from your Spotify catalogue. There’s also an option for unreleased audio if the song isn’t on Spotify yet.
For a cover, you’ll be asked to link to the original song. If you’ve already released your own recording of the cover on Spotify, you can link to that as well.
Will I earn royalties from videos I upload myself?
Spotify says videos longer than 30 seconds can earn royalties.
If the sound recording used in your video has been delivered to Spotify by EmuBands, Spotify can identify and match the recording in your artist-uploaded video. The royalties attributable to that recording will then be reported and paid to us by Spotify, and we’ll account these to you in the usual way.
It’s similar in principle to YouTube Content ID: although you’ve uploaded the video yourself, the underlying recording can still be identified as the recording we’ve delivered on your behalf.
So will the royalties appear in my EmuBands account?
Yes, provided Spotify successfully matches the recording in your video to the recording we’ve delivered for you.
Those royalties will come through EmuBands as part of Spotify’s reporting to us, rather than Spotify paying the recording royalties directly to you simply because you uploaded the video yourself.
What happens if the video contains music I haven’t released through EmuBands?
If Spotify can’t match the recording in your video to a corresponding sound recording that has been delivered to them, there may be no recording royalty to collect.
For example, imagine you upload a video of a completely new live performance, but you’ve never distributed that particular recording as an audio release. If there’s no corresponding recording for Spotify to match it against, you shouldn’t assume the video will generate recording royalties.
So, if earning recording royalties from your Spotify video is important to you, we’d recommend making sure the corresponding sound recording has been distributed to Spotify.
Does the audio have to be exactly the same recording?
The important thing is whether Spotify can successfully identify and match the sound recording.
If you upload the official music video for a track you’ve already distributed through EmuBands, that should be the most straightforward scenario.
A substantially different recording – for example, a new live version of a song where only the studio recording has been distributed – is unlikely to match.
If you want that live recording to be separately monetised as a sound recording, it may therefore make sense to release the live audio version as well.
Can I upload a video before the audio is released?
Yes. Spotify gives you an Unreleased audio option if the song featured in your video isn’t available on Spotify yet.
If you’re planning this as part of a release campaign, we’d still recommend getting your audio delivery sorted in plenty of time so that the relevant recording is properly delivered to Spotify.
Can I schedule my video?
Yes. When adding the details for your video, Spotify lets you either publish it immediately or schedule it for later. You can also add information including the video version, video type, original release date, songwriters and a Video ISRC.
Can I pitch my video to Spotify’s editorial team?
For some types of video, yes. Spotify says official music videos and live performances are eligible for editorial pitching.
Where will my video appear?
Videos uploaded through Spotify for Artists can appear in several places across Spotify, including your artist profile’s Video tab, the Now Playing view, editorial video playlists, Videos For You and fan push notifications. They can also surface on Home and release pages.
Spotify also provides video analytics in Spotify for Artists, including all-time video streams and listener and stream trends.
Will everyone be able to watch my videos?
Direct video uploads are still in beta and are currently only available to watch in Spotify’s supported video markets. Viewers also need Spotify Premium to watch videos uploaded directly through Spotify for Artists. Spotify says it plans to expand availability over time.
Does this replace distributing my music through EmuBands?
No, uploading a video through Spotify for Artists and distributing your sound recording are two different things. Spotify itself says labels and distributors remain the primary delivery route for audio and video music content.
For EmuBands artists, the simplest way to think about it is:
We deliver and administer your sound recording. You can now use Spotify for Artists to add eligible video content around that music directly.
And where Spotify successfully identifies one of the recordings we’ve delivered within your artist-uploaded video, the associated recording royalties can still flow back to you through EmuBands.
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About EmuBands
Formed in 2005, EmuBands is the trusted partner of thousands of artists, labels and managers across the world. With supercharged release features and expert support, we provide a low-cost solution to distribute your music, allowing you to retain control of your copyright and keep 100% of your royalties. Review our Pricing, Services, and Sign-Up today.