How to Create an Artist Profile on Spotify
When you publish your music to Spotify, the platform automatically creates an artist profile on Spotify for you. But that bare-bones profile won’t do much to convert casual listeners into dedicated fans.
A blank profile with no bio, no images, and no playlists makes you look unprofessional. When someone discovers your music and clicks through to check you out, they see nothing that gives them a reason to follow. An optimized profile gives them context about who you are, what you sound like, and why they should stick around.
This guide walks you through claiming your profile with Spotify for Artists, customizing your branding, adding social links and merch, and setting up features that keep fans engaged with your music.
Key Takeaways:
- Claim your Spotify for Artists account to access profile customization and analytics—separate from your regular listener account
- Upload professional header and avatar images, write a bio, and link social media to build credibility with new fans
- Create artist playlists featuring your music to give fans more ways to engage and increase total streams
- Set up an artist pick to highlight your latest release at the top of your profile
Two Spotify Apps You Need to Know
Before we dive into profile setup, understand that there are two separate Spotify applications that independent artists need to use on music platforms.
The regular Spotify app is where you listen to music as a consumer. The second is Spotify for Artists—an app for artists who have published music on Spotify and other streaming services. It gives you access to analytics, audience insights, and the ability to customize your artist profile. You’ll need access to Spotify for Artists to optimize your profile and manage your presence on the platform.
Getting Your Music on Spotify First
Before you can create an artist profile on Spotify, you need to upload your music to the platform using a music distributor. Spotify doesn’t allow direct uploads from artists.
Distribution services like TuneCore, DistroKid, and CD Baby handle getting your music on Spotify and other major streaming services. The easiest way to start is choosing a distributor, uploading your first release, and waiting for Spotify to automatically create your artist profile when your music goes live.
How to Claim Your Spotify for Artists Account
To claim your artist page and get your artists account set up, start by going to artists.spotify.com and click “Get Access.” Select whether you’re an artist, manager, or label team member. If you’re an independent artist, choose the artist option.
Log in with your existing Spotify account credentials. If you don’t have a Spotify account yet, create one during this step.
Search for your artist name and select your artist profile from the results. Set your role to “artist” and leave the company information blank unless you have one. Your admin level will default to admin.
The Verification Step
Many artists get stuck when trying to get access to their artist page. Spotify requires you to verify your identity by connecting your Twitter, Instagram, or artist website.
Two things are important. First, the social accounts you link must clearly show you’re the artist—same name, same photos, music-related content. Second, the email address you use to log into your Twitter or Instagram must match your Spotify account email. Spotify cross-checks these during verification, and mismatched emails cause delays.
After you submit your verification request, Spotify’s team reviews your application. Approval typically happens within 24 hours, giving you instant access to Spotify for Artists.
Setting Up Your Profile Visuals
Once you have access to Spotify for Artists, log in and navigate to the Profile section to manage your artist page. Click the pencil icon in the top right to edit and upload your header image and avatar image. The header appears as a banner at the top of your profile page. The avatar is the circular image representing you across Spotify.
Professional visuals matter. A polished artist profile signals you’re serious about your music. A blank profile page makes even great music feel amateurish.
No professional photography? Upload lifestyle images that match your sound. Sunny beach scenes for tropical house. Urban cityscapes for hip-hop. Dark lighting for alternative music. Your visuals should immediately communicate your vibe.
Artist Picks: Highlight Your New Release
Below your header, you’ll see the Artist Pick feature. This highlights a specific release, playlist, or merch item at the top of your artist profile—one of the first things fans see when they visit your artist page.
Use it strategically. New release just dropped? Feature that track. Are you a new artist building your catalog? Highlight your best song. Have a playlist showcasing your sound? Feature it here. Click into the artist pick section and search for what you want to highlight, or click the three dots next to any release to select it.
Link Your Social Media and Tell Your Story
Switch to the “About” tab to link and connect Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to your artist profile. Fans can follow you with one click, staying connected beyond Spotify and seeing your story unfold across platforms.
Upload photos to the image gallery section—professional shots from shows or lifestyle images matching your aesthetic. Add a bio that’s concise and focused. Fans need enough context to understand your sound and connect with your story, not your entire life history.
Merch and Concerts
Link your Songkick account to display concerts and tour dates if you play live shows. Fans discovering your music can see when you’re performing nearby and get free access to your tour schedule directly from your artist profile.
You can also sell merchandise through Shopify. Realistically, merch sales from Spotify won’t be huge—Spotify displays merch at the bottom of profiles where most fans don’t scroll. But since the option exists and it’s free to set up, add it. It makes your profile look complete.
Artist Playlists: The Most Powerful Feature
Scroll to the artist playlist section at the bottom of your profile page. This is possibly the most important feature for engagement and helping listeners discover more of your music.
Artist playlists aren’t created in Spotify for Artists—you create them through your regular Spotify account just like any Spotify playlist. Once you create a playlist, link it to your artist profile where it appears with special formatting.
Why this matters: Fans visiting your profile want more ways to engage and stream your songs. If they only see singles and albums, they might listen once and leave. Curated playlists give them options.
“This Is [Your Name]” Playlist: Create a playlist with only your music. A best-of collection for new fans to stream multiple songs.
Genre Playlists: Your music mixed with similar artists. “Sunset Sessions” or “Workout Fuel” showcasing your taste.
Thematic Playlists: Music matching a specific vibe. “Beach Vibes” or “Late Night Drives” with your tracks alongside the mood.
To link a playlist, click the pencil icon in the artist playlist section. Copy the Spotify playlist URL from your Spotify app and paste it into Spotify for Artists.
Artist playlists increase total streams (listeners play multiple songs) and help fans discover you alongside artists they already love, making them more likely to save your music and follow you.
Final Checklist
Before you consider your artist profile on Spotify complete, ensure you’re using all features to get your music heard:
Profile Visuals: Upload professional avatar and header images
Artist Pick: Feature your latest release or top song
About Section: Write a bio, link social media accounts, upload gallery images
Engagement Features: Create 2-4 artist playlists, connect Shopify merch, link Songkick for concerts
Once set up, your Spotify artist profile will look professional and give fans multiple ways to engage with your music on Spotify.
Your artist profile is more than a page—it’s your storefront for getting your music heard by the world.