DistroKid is the most widely used music distribution platform among AI music creators. It accepts AI-generated audio, charges a flat annual fee with no per-release costs, and typically delivers new releases to Spotify within 1–3 business days. This guide walks you through the entire process — from account setup to a live release on Spotify and Apple Music.
What You Will Learn
This guide is written for AI music creators who want to use DistroKid to distribute their work to major streaming platforms.
- How to set up a DistroKid account for AI music releases
- What technical requirements your audio and artwork must meet
- How to fill out metadata correctly for maximum discoverability
- How to navigate DistroKid's AI music policy
- What to do after your release is live
Does DistroKid Accept AI Music?
The Short Answer
Yes. As of 2026, DistroKid accepts AI-generated music and does not require a separate process or review tier for AI releases. Tracks generated with Suno, Udio, and similar tools are treated the same as other releases under DistroKid's standard content guidelines.
What DistroKid Requires
DistroKid's terms for AI music releases:
- Commercial rights — You must hold commercial rights to the audio. For Suno and Udio, this requires a paid plan (Pro/Premier for Suno; Standard/Pro for Udio) at the time of generation
- No copyright infringement — Audio that is substantially similar to an existing copyrighted recording violates DistroKid's terms and Spotify's policies
- Accurate metadata — You cannot misrepresent authorship or use misleading identifiers
- Minimum quality standards — DistroKid's auto-review will reject obviously distorted, clipped, or silence-only files
AI Music Disclosure
DistroKid's upload form currently includes a question asking whether a release contains AI-generated content. Answer this accurately. Providing false information about AI involvement can result in account suspension.
Disclosure of AI involvement on your actual Spotify listing is not currently required by Spotify's policy, but this is subject to change. Staying ahead of this by being transparent in your artist profile bio is a reasonable approach.
Setting Up Your DistroKid Account
Plan Selection
DistroKid offers three main plans:
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Musician | ~$25/year | Single artist; unlimited releases |
| Musician Plus | ~$36/year | Single artist; additional features (custom release dates, more stats) |
| Label | ~$80/year | Multiple artists (up to 5) under one account |
For most AI music creators starting out, the Musician plan is the right choice. The flat annual fee covers unlimited singles and albums — no per-release charges. The Label plan is worth considering if you are managing releases for multiple distinct artist identities.
Account Setup Steps
- Go to distrokid.com and click "Sign Up"
- Enter your email and create a password
- Select your plan and complete payment
- Set your default artist name — this is editable later, but consistency helps build your Spotify profile
- Optionally: connect your Spotify for Artists account during setup
Preparing Your Release
Audio File Requirements
DistroKid accepts the following formats:
- Preferred: WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit or 24-bit)
- Also accepted: FLAC, MP3 (320 kbps minimum)
For AI-generated audio:
- If using Suno on a paid plan, download in WAV format from the track detail page
- If using Udio, export in the highest available quality
- Do not re-export from MP3 to WAV — this does not restore lost quality and may trigger quality flags
Audio checks before uploading:
- No clipping (peaks must be below 0 dBFS)
- No silence at the start or end
- Track length of at least 30 seconds (required for most streaming platforms)
- Consistent overall loudness (target -14 LUFS for Spotify normalization)
Use Audacity or any basic audio editor to check and correct these issues before uploading.
Artwork Requirements
Cover artwork is required for every release. DistroKid's specifications:
- Minimum dimensions: 3000 × 3000 pixels
- Format: JPG or PNG
- Color mode: RGB (not CMYK)
- Content rules: No URLs, social handles, pricing information, or third-party logos in the artwork
AI-generated cover artwork (from Midjourney, DALL·E, Stable Diffusion, etc.) is accepted as long as it meets the technical requirements above.
Common artwork rejections to avoid:
- Images below 3000 × 3000 px
- Blurry or low-resolution upscales
- Text that is too small to read (DistroKid does not require this, but Spotify may flag it)
- Explicit content without the explicit label selected
Uploading Your Release
Step-by-Step Upload
- Log into your DistroKid account and click Upload Music
- Select Single (one track) or Album (two or more tracks)
- On the release information page, fill in:
- Artist name — Must match your intended Spotify profile name exactly
- Song title — Accurate title; no keyword stuffing
- Album title — For singles, this is typically the same as the song title
- Release date — Set at least 7 days in the future to allow for processing
- Upload your audio file
- Upload your cover artwork
- Fill in the metadata fields (detailed below)
- Select distribution targets — you can select all stores at no extra cost
- Review the AI content disclosure question and answer accurately
- Click Save and Continue, then complete payment if required
- Submit the release
Metadata Fields — What to Enter and Why
Genre Choose the genre that most accurately describes your track. This affects Spotify's algorithmic categorization. Do not choose a genre just because it is popular — genre mismatch reduces recommendation accuracy.
Subgenre Add a subgenre where available. For AI-generated Lo-Fi, choosing "Hip-Hop" as genre and "Lo-Fi" as subgenre gives Spotify's algorithm more precise placement data.
Release language Select the primary language of the lyrics. For instrumentals, select "No Linguistic Content."
Explicit content Mark accurately. Incorrectly labeled content can result in takedown requests.
Lyrics Optional but worth adding. Lyrics improve discoverability in Spotify's lyric search feature and increase the chance of appearing in editorial playlists.
UPC and ISRC codes DistroKid assigns these automatically. Record them in your own documentation for each release — you will need the ISRC if you later want to move to a different distributor or register with a performing rights organization.
Cover song flag If your track is in any way based on an existing composition, mark it as a cover song. For original AI-generated audio this is almost never applicable, but be aware of it if you have used a well-known chord progression or melodic reference in your prompt.
After Your Release Goes Live
Claiming Your Spotify for Artists Profile
Once your first release is live on Spotify, claim your Spotify for Artists profile:
- Visit artists.spotify.com
- Find your artist name in the search
- Follow the verification steps (typically takes 1–3 days)
Spotify for Artists gives you streaming analytics, the ability to pitch tracks to editorial playlists, and control over your profile image and bio.
Pitching to Spotify Playlists
Editorial playlist pitching is available through Spotify for Artists for unreleased tracks:
- Go to the Music tab in Spotify for Artists
- Find your upcoming release (must be at least 7 days before the release date)
- Click "Pitch a Song to Our Editors"
- Fill in the pitch form: mood, genre, similar artists, and use case
Editorial placement is competitive and far from guaranteed. Independent playlist outreach through tools like SubmitHub supplements this.
Monitoring Your Stats
DistroKid's built-in stats are basic. For more detailed analytics, use:
- Spotify for Artists — Streams, listeners, saves, playlist adds
- DistroKid's Spotify for Artists integration — Links your DistroKid account to Spotify's analytics
Check your stats weekly in the early weeks after release. Watch for playlist additions (the best leading indicator of organic growth) and saves-to-streams ratio (a measure of how much listeners want to hear a track again).
Getting Paid
DistroKid sends earnings monthly for streams that have cleared the payment processing window (typically 2–3 months after streaming). Payments go to the bank account or PayPal linked in your DistroKid profile.
Spotify pays approximately $0.003–$0.005 per stream. At early-stage play counts, streaming revenue is modest. The value of distribution is primarily audience building and discoverability, not immediate income.
Common Issues and How to Resolve Them
Upload Rejected Due to Audio Quality
Check for clipping (peaks above 0 dBFS), silence at the start or end, or file corruption. Re-export from your DAW and re-upload.
Artwork Rejected
Verify dimensions (3000×3000 px minimum), format (JPG or PNG), and that no prohibited content appears in the image.
Release Not Appearing on Spotify After 5 Days
Check DistroKid's "Releases" dashboard for status. If the status shows "Delivered" but the track is not visible on Spotify, wait up to 7 business days total. If still missing, contact DistroKid support with your release ID.
Track Flagged for Copyright
If a track is flagged for similarity to an existing recording, DistroKid will notify you by email. Review the claim, and if you believe it is incorrect, file a dispute through DistroKid's dispute tool. For genuinely similar AI-generated audio, removing the release is the cleaner path.
Duplicate Artist Profile on Spotify
If your new release created a second Spotify artist profile instead of being added to your existing one, contact DistroKid support. They can request a merge with Spotify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I release AI music for free through DistroKid?
DistroKid requires a paid annual subscription (~$25/year for the Musician plan). There is no permanently free tier. RouteNote offers a free plan (with a 15% revenue share) if you want to start with no upfront cost.
Q2. How many releases can I upload per year with the Musician plan?
Unlimited. The Musician plan covers unlimited singles and albums within the subscription period.
Q3. Can I delete a release if I want to take it down?
Yes. You can take down releases at any time from your DistroKid dashboard. Be aware that takedowns are permanent — once removed, you cannot reinstate the same release; you would have to re-upload it.
Q4. Will DistroKid distribute to TikTok and Instagram as well?
Yes. DistroKid distributes to TikTok's music library, Instagram, Facebook, and dozens of other platforms in addition to Spotify and Apple Music. All can be selected during the upload process at no additional cost.
Q5. Can I change my artist name after releasing music?
Artist name changes are possible but create complications. Existing releases remain under the old name on streaming platforms until Spotify merges the profiles, which requires a support request. For this reason, choose your artist name carefully before your first release.
Summary
DistroKid is the most straightforward path from AI-generated audio to a live streaming release. A Musician plan costs $25/year, covers unlimited releases, and delivers to Spotify within 1–3 days. The process is well within reach for anyone with a paid AI music subscription and 30 minutes of setup time.
Release checklist:
- Generate tracks under a paid Suno or Udio plan
- Export WAV at 44.1 kHz
- Create 3000×3000 px cover artwork
- Sign up for DistroKid Musician plan
- Set release date at least 7 days out
- Fill in complete, accurate metadata
- Answer AI content disclosure question honestly
- Submit and monitor status in the DistroKid dashboard
- Claim Spotify for Artists profile after release goes live
This article is based on information available as of January 2026. DistroKid's pricing, features, and AI policies are subject to change; verify current details at distrokid.com before subscribing.