Apple Music
Yes — LabelGrid delivers your releases to Apple Music. Distribution is included on every distribution plan, for record labels, distributors, and independent artists alike.
APPLE MUSIC AT A GLANCE
- Go-live timing: varies, and an Apple manual review, if triggered, adds time — submit at least 2 weeks ahead.
- Audio upload: WAV (16- or 24-bit) or 16-bit FLAC — 24-bit masters must be WAV. Apple itself accepts WAV, ALAC, FLAC or CAF at 44.1–192 kHz.
- Lossless, Hi-Res & Dolby Atmos: included on every LabelGrid distribution plan at no extra charge; Hi-Res Lossless requires 24-bit above 48 kHz.
- Territory: worldwide.
- Artist profile: claim and verify via Apple Music for Artists; Apple Music pre-add supported.
- Royalties: tracked in LabelGrid’s royalty accounting with automated splits from the Basic plan up.
DEEP DIVE
What You Should Know About Apple Music
Overview
Apple Music is Apple’s subscription music streaming service, with over 100 million subscribers globally. There is no free, ad-supported tier: every listener is a paying subscriber.
Market / Platform Focus
Available in countries and regions across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East, Apple Music supports lossless, Hi-Res Lossless and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and features human‑curated editorial playlists alongside algorithmic recommendations.
Platform Scale & Reach
Apple Music has over 100 million subscribers and is available in countries and regions across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. As a subscription-only platform (no free ad-supported tier), every listener is a paying customer, resulting in higher per-stream revenue.
Requirements
Apple Music delivery specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Audio formats | Upload to LabelGrid as WAV (16- or 24-bit) or 16-bit FLAC — 24-bit masters must be WAV. Apple itself accepts WAV, ALAC, FLAC or CAF, 16- or 24-bit, at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192 kHz |
| Lossless / Hi-Res support | Yes — Hi-Res Lossless requires 24-bit at sample rates above 48 kHz (88.2 kHz and up) |
| Spatial audio / Dolby Atmos | Yes — ADM BWF (Dolby Atmos Master profile), 24-bit source, unique ISRC per Atmos mix; included on every LabelGrid distribution plan |
| Artwork requirements | 3000×3000 px minimum on LabelGrid (Apple recommends 3000×3000), square (1:1), original cover art, no pixelation or misleading imagery |
| Metadata required | ISRC per track, UPC, and at least one credit in each of Apple’s three categories: composition and lyrics, performers, and production and engineering |
| Territory / availability | Worldwide |
| Monetization model | Subscription streaming (no free tier); royalties tracked in LabelGrid accounting with automated splits from the Basic plan up |
| Artist-profile linking | Apple Music for Artists — claim, verify, and manage your artist profile |
| Pre-add / pre-order | Yes — Apple Music pre-add; deliver at least 5 days before the pre-add start date |
| Go-live timing | Varies, and an Apple manual review, if triggered, adds time — submit at least 2 weeks ahead |
| Delivery method | Delivered to Apple by LabelGrid |
Specifications checked against Apple’s official style and asset guides — requirements change, so confirm current specs in Apple’s documentation before mastering.
Audio Quality & Spatial Audio
Apple Music supports Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/48kHz), Hi-Res Lossless (up to 24-bit/192kHz), and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. Delivering Dolby Atmos mixes through LabelGrid enables an immersive listening experience that Apple actively promotes to listeners.
LABELGRID
Delivery and timing
LabelGrid Integration
LabelGrid handles delivery to Apple Music: you upload your audio, artwork and metadata once, and we deliver the release to Apple. Your catalog data stays in one place, and your Apple Music earnings are tracked in LabelGrid’s royalty accounting.
Getting Started
Upload your release to LabelGrid, select Apple Music distribution and confirm rights. We’ll review your release and deliver it to Apple Music.
How long until my release is live on Apple Music?
Timing varies. LabelGrid reviews your release before delivering it to Apple, and if Apple triggers a manual review, that adds time. Planning a specific release date? Submit at least 2 weeks ahead — and at least 5 days before any pre-add start date.
WHY APPLE MUSIC
Playlists and promotion
Artist Benefits
Apple Music for Artists supplies detailed analytics (plays, listeners, Shazams, trends) and lets artists customise their artist page and bio. Apple’s editorial playlists (e.g., Today’s Hits) and radio stations (Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits) provide high‑visibility opportunities for new releases.
Key Features
-
Lossless & spatial audio – immersive sound through Dolby Atmos and Apple Lossless.
-
Apple Music for Artists – analytics and profile management tools.
-
Curated & algorithmic playlists – human editorial picks and algorithmic recommendations.
-
Shazam integration – Shazam data appears in Apple Music for Artists.
Discovery & Promotion
Apple Music's editorial team curates playlists such as Today's Hits. Artists can access analytics, promotion tools and Shazam data through Apple Music for Artists. Shazam activity feeds into Apple's editorial and algorithmic curation.
Royalties
How Apple Music Pays Artists
Apple Music's effective payout averages approximately $0.007 to $0.01 per stream, above Spotify's typical range. Because there's no free tier, each stream generates more revenue. The widely cited figure of one penny per stream is a US individual-plan average; actual rates vary by market and subscription plan.
Tips and resources
Tips for Success on Apple Music
- Deliver 24-bit WAV masters for Apple's Lossless tier, and at 88.2 kHz or higher if you want Hi-Res Lossless
- Apple actively promotes spatial audio, so consider creating Dolby Atmos mixes
- Set up an Apple Music pre-add so fans can reserve your release and have it added to their library automatically on release day
- Submit artwork at 3000x3000 pixels (Apple's recommended size and LabelGrid's upload minimum)
- Claim your Apple Music for Artists profile for analytics and promotional tools
- For detailed delivery guidelines, see our Apple Music distribution guide
COMMON QUESTIONS