How to Add Lyrics to Spotify and Apple Music as an Independent Artist
How to Add Lyrics to Spotify and Apple Music
You can't type lyrics into Spotify for Artists. Spotify's lyrics come from Musixmatch, so you claim your artist profile on Musixmatch Pro (the free plan is enough), then add and sync each song there. For Apple Music, paste lyrics into Apple Music for Artists under Artist Content, or have your distributor deliver them with the release.
Lyrics are one of the few things you can still fix after release day, and they're easy to forget. This guide walks through each platform, the formatting rules that get lyrics rejected, and how to correct lyrics that someone else got wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Spotify: Lyrics are provided by Musixmatch. Verify your artist profile on Musixmatch Pro, then add and sync lyrics for free.
- Apple Music: Submit plain lyrics yourself in Apple Music for Artists, or have your distributor deliver them. Apple says time-synced lyrics from Apple Music for Artists are shown at its editorial discretion.
- Distributors: Many distributors deliver lyrics too. DistroKid, for example, sends plain lyrics to Apple Music and YouTube Music on every plan, and sells a $14.99 per artist, per year add-on for synced lyrics on Spotify.
- Formatting matters: Write out every repeated line, don't use "x2", start each line with a capital letter, and don't end lines with periods or commas.
- Timing: Musixmatch verification takes a few business days, and Spotify says changes can take a few days to show up after you publish.
Where do Spotify's lyrics come from?
Spotify's lyrics are licensed and synced by Musixmatch, not uploaded through Spotify for Artists. Spotify's own help page, Managing your lyrics on Spotify, says to get verified on Musixmatch to "add, edit, and sync your lyrics on Spotify for free."
That has two practical consequences:
- If your song already shows lyrics on Spotify that you didn't submit, they probably came from Musixmatch's community transcriptions. You fix them on Musixmatch, not Spotify.
- Your distributor's lyrics field doesn't always reach Spotify. Check what your distributor actually delivers (more on that below).
How do I add lyrics to Spotify step by step?
Create a free Musixmatch Pro account, verify your artist profile, then add, sync, and send your lyrics from your Roster. Here's the full process, based on Spotify's help article and Musixmatch's support docs.
Step 1: Create a Musixmatch Pro account
- Go to Musixmatch Pro and choose a plan. Spotify notes that the free plan is listed below the paid options, and it's all you need to add, edit, and sync lyrics.
- Sign up with an email address tied to your artist name, label, or management company. Both Spotify and Musixmatch say this speeds up verification.
Step 2: Verify your artist profile
- From your Musixmatch Pro homepage, open Roster and select Add artist.
- Search for your artist name, or paste your Spotify artist URL (Musixmatch may also ask for your Apple Music artist link).
- Submit the request. Musixmatch says verification can take up to a few working days, and it emails you when you're approved or if it needs more information.
Tip: If you're a manager or label submitting on an artist's behalf without a matching email domain, Musixmatch asks you to CC the artist or label in your correspondence.
Step 3: Add your lyrics
- In Roster, pick a song from the To Do or Music tab and select Lyrics.
- If the song is missing, use Music > Add missing release. Spotify says it can take up to 48 hours to appear.
- Type the lyrics while listening to the song. Musixmatch asks you not to copy and paste from other sources.
You can link a free or Premium Spotify account. If you link Premium, Musixmatch automatically pairs your Spotify catalog with your account. Musixmatch also notes that syncing requires either Spotify Premium or the song's audio file.
Step 4: Sync the lyrics
Synced lyrics are the ones that scroll in time with the song. Musixmatch offers two modes:
| Sync mode | Where you can do it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Line-by-line | Musixmatch Pro website or mobile app | Most songs; fastest to get right |
| Word-by-word | Mobile app only | Fast vocals or rap where line timing isn't precise enough |
Musixmatch's sync rules worth knowing:
- Set each line to the first sung letter, or less than half a second before it
- Insert an instrumental label when there are no vocals for more than 5 seconds
- Don't start a song with an instrumental label
- Sync the main vocal when there are several voices
- Don't forget to sync the "End of lyrics" line
Step 5: Send and check
Hit Send to publish. Spotify says it can take a few days for changes to show on Spotify. Open the song on mobile and scroll below the player to confirm.
How do I add lyrics to Apple Music?
Use Apple Music for Artists: go to Artist Content, pick a song, click Add Lyrics, and paste correctly formatted lyrics. Apple's guide is How to add your lyrics to Apple Music.
- Sign in to Apple Music for Artists and claim your artist profile if you haven't yet.
- Go to Artist Content and select a song. Songs without lyrics show a (+) button.
- Click Add Lyrics and paste your lyrics into the Song Lyrics field.
To fix lyrics that are already live, open the song under Artist Content, click Request a Change in the Lyrics section, describe what's wrong, and paste the corrected lyrics.
About synced lyrics on Apple Music: Apple's lyrics guidelines say time-synced lyrics are implemented at Apple's editorial discretion. Distributors can deliver time-synced lyrics as a TTML file, and Apple's provider documentation says lyrics metadata must be delivered 5 days before release to be available on release day. If you want synced Apple lyrics from day one, ask your distributor whether it delivers TTML.
Can my distributor deliver lyrics for me?
Often, yes, but what gets delivered and where depends on the distributor and plan. Apple's Preferred Distributors directory lists which partners offer lyrics delivery to Apple Music.
DistroKid is a useful example because its rules are clearly documented:
| What you want | DistroKid option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Plain lyrics on Apple Music, YouTube Music, LyricFind, and Google Search results | Lyrics dashboard at distrokid.com/lyrics | Included on all plans |
| Synced lyrics on Apple Music and YouTube Music | Synced Lyrics in the dashboard | Musician Plus or Ultimate plan |
| Synced lyrics on Spotify, Tidal, Instagram, and Facebook | Lyric Blaster (powered by Musixmatch) | $14.99 per artist, per year |
Sources: DistroKid's Plain vs. Synced Lyrics and Adding Lyrics help articles. DistroKid says lyrics take about 1-2 weeks to go live after you submit, plain lyrics are reviewed first (usually within about a day), and it can't deliver lyrics for cover songs.
Do you need to pay for synced Spotify lyrics? Not necessarily. Musixmatch's free plan lets you sync Spotify lyrics yourself. Paid add-ons like Lyric Blaster are for convenience, so you can manage everything from your distributor dashboard.
Why do lyrics get rejected?
Most rejections come from formatting, not content. Apple, Musixmatch, and DistroKid all publish nearly identical rules:
Lyrics formatting checklist
- Every repeated line and chorus is written out in full (no "x2" or "Repeat chorus")
- Every line starts with a capital letter
- No periods or commas at the end of lines; only question marks, exclamation points, or quotation marks
- A blank line separates sections such as verses and choruses, and only sections
- No extra text: no section names on Apple or DistroKid, no vocalist names, no social links
- Background vocals go in parentheses at the end of the line, starting with a capital letter (Apple's rule)
- Explicit words are written as sung; only use asterisks if the word is actually bleeped or dropped in the audio
- Lyrics are in the song's native script
- Spoken-word sections and improvised scatting are left out (Apple's rule)
One difference to watch: Spotify's help page asks you to label sections in Musixmatch with tags like #VERSE and #CHORUS, while DistroKid's rejection guide says not to include words like "intro" or "chorus." Follow each platform's own rules rather than pasting one version everywhere.
DistroKid also asks you to spell out numbers one through ten ("two," not "2") and to use standardized spelling ("trying to," not "tryna").
How do I fix wrong lyrics on Spotify?
Claim your artist profile on Musixmatch Pro, open the song in your Roster, edit the lyrics, and hit Send. Once you're verified, you control the lyrics for your catalog, including ones fans transcribed before you got there. Allow a few days for the change to show on Spotify.
For Apple Music, use Request a Change in Apple Music for Artists, as described above.
When should I add lyrics: before or after release?
Before, if your distributor supports it; otherwise, as soon as the song is live. Apple wants lyrics delivered 5 days before release for day-one availability. Musixmatch can only match a song once it exists in its catalog, so for Spotify you'll usually sync lyrics in release week.
Add "submit and sync lyrics" to your release plan so it doesn't slip. Our Free Music Release Day Checklist and 4-week release promotion plan are good places to slot it in.
FAQ
Can I add lyrics in Spotify for Artists?
No. Spotify for Artists doesn't have a lyrics editor. Spotify directs artists to Musixmatch Pro to add, edit, and sync lyrics.
Is Musixmatch free for artists?
Yes. Musixmatch Pro has paid tiers, but Spotify says the free plan is all you need to add, edit, and sync your lyrics on Spotify.
How long does it take for lyrics to show up on Spotify?
Musixmatch artist verification takes up to a few working days. After you send lyrics, Spotify says it can take a few days for them to appear.
Do I need Spotify Premium to add lyrics?
No. Spotify says a free account is enough. Linking Premium pairs your catalog automatically, and Musixmatch says syncing needs either Premium or the song's audio file.
Why are my lyrics on Apple Music but not Spotify?
They come from different sources. Apple Music gets lyrics from Apple Music for Artists or your distributor, while Spotify gets them from Musixmatch. Add them in both places, or use a distributor option that delivers to Musixmatch.
Can I add lyrics to a cover song?
Usually not through your distributor. DistroKid, for example, says it can't deliver lyrics for cover songs. The lyrics belong to the original song's writers and publishers, who license them to the services.