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How to Get Lyrics on Spotify and Connect With Your Fans in 2024
Your lyrics are where fans connect with your music most.
That’s why making your lyrics accessible to fans is so important, especially on platforms where people listen most–like Spotify.
But what’s the best way to get your lyrics up?
In this article, we’ll show you everything there’s to know about how to get lyrics on Spotify.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Get your music on Spotify
It may seem obvious, but you can’t get your lyrics on Spotify if your recordings aren’t up first.
You can’t get your lyrics on Spotify if your recordings aren’t up first.
To get your tracks on Spotify you need to work with a digital distributor.
Digital distributors send your tracks to all the major streaming providers, they’re your bridge to Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music and beyond.
Picking the right distributor can be tricky, luckily we’ve broken down how the major distributors stack up in past articles.
There’s a lot to learn but when it comes to getting your music and lyrics on Spotify, LANDR Distribution is your simplest choice for the best value.
Step 2: Enter your lyrics on a music catalog platform
Great! Your tracks are up on Spotify and you’re hopefully receiving some revenue for your streams.
Now it’s time to connect with your fans even more by getting your lyrics up on the platform.
To do that you need to sign up with a music cataloging service like Genius or Musixmatch.
Sign up with a music cataloging service like Genius or Musixmatch.
How to get lyrics on Spotify with Musixmatch
Musixmatch is a new platform that offers some added functionality that Genius doesn’t have, it’s the industry leader for sharing lyrics with audiences.
Its main feature is that it’s integrated with music distribution providers like LANDR Distribution, which makes lyric delivery to Spotify and other streaming platforms faster.
If you use LANDR Distribution, you can easily submit your lyrics and get your lyrics up on Spotify and all major streamers on day one.
The other benefit is that you can time the lyrics to your music, so they show up in the app as they’re sung.
Time the lyrics to your music, so they show up in the app as they’re sung.
Musixmatch also generates a sticker you can use in your Instagram stories that displays lyrics in sync with your track.
This make it possible for anyone to post your song to their story and have your lyrics show in the post.
To get your lyrics on Musixmatch you’ll have to create an account and verify your profile.
How to get lyrics on Spotify with Genius
For a long time, Genius has been the industry go-to for getting your lyrics up on streaming platforms like Spotify.
It serves as an incredible encyclopedia of lyrics for millions of artists, and the best part is you and your fans can annotate and lyric to explain and give context to their meaning.
To put your lyrics in Genius’ catalog you need to register an account and then create each album with the lyrics for each song.
You’ll also have to link your Genius account to your Spotify for Artists account.
Once your lyrics are in Genius it will take several days for your lyrics to show up in Spotify.
Once your lyrics are in Genius it will take several days for your lyrics to show up in Spotify.
When your lyrics go live, there will be a link in your Spotify lyrics page the Genius page where your lyrics, annotations and song facts will exist.
Genius is a great option, but its main disadvantage is that it doesn’t have the ability to time lyrics with your track and it won’t integrate directly with your music distributor.
Step 3: Get verified
Getting verified on Spotify is a best practice for making your Spotify artist page the best it can be.
It also helps to get verified on whichever music lyric catalog you choose to use since it will help your lyrics get delivered quicker.
To get verified on Musixmatch follow you’ll have to fill in a type form on their website.
Genius also has a similar process. Once you create your account, you’ll have to fill out a form and you’ll receive your verification once it’s reviewed.
Why getting your lyrics on Spotify is so important
Not only are your lyrics a key part of the emotional connection fans make with your music, but they can also have a tangible impact on your streaming performance.
In today’s music streaming world, posting your lyrics can translate into a significant bump in your stream count and your overall reach.
It also means your music is more likely to make it onto curated playlists or Spotify’s algorithmic suggestions, providing further opportunities for exposure.
Here’s why.
The Spotify Karaoke Effect
The recent rise in popularity of Spotify’s karaoke feature further illustrates the importance of lyrics in the streaming ecosystem.
Spotify Karaoke, which syncs lyrics to the music in real-time, allows users to sing along with their favorite tracks, turning passive listening into an interactive, engaging experience.
Karaoke-style features not only increase session lengths and engagement but also contribute to a song’s virality.
For instance, listeners are more likely to share a song on their social media platforms if they can sing along and connect with the lyrics.
This provides artists with a multi-dimensional way to connect with fans.
A few more things to keep in mind before dropping that release.
Listeners and fans search for lyrics
If you search for a lyric or hook from a song you remember, you likely will find it on Spotify.
But, only if the artist has uploaded their lyrics to the platform.
Spotify works like a search engine, it wants to deliver the songs fans are looking for and it does this by making it possible to search with lyrics.
So if you don’t get your lyrics on Spotify you risk missing out on streams the next time your fans search up that catchy chorus you wrote for your new single.
Know it, you’re a poet
Your lyrics are important to your fans. They want to know what you’re singing about so they can connect with you.
By listing your lyrics on Spotify you make your lyrics that much more accessible.
So once your music is online, sign up with a catalog and get your lyrics up!
Alex Lavoie works as a staff writer at LANDR by day and writes indie post-punk tunes in his band UTILS while moonlighting as drummer for folk-rock outfit The Painters.
@Alex LavoieGear guides, tips, tutorials, inspiration and more—delivered weekly.
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