How to Get Your Own Song on Instagram

Ever wonder how indie artists and creators get their original songs in the Instagram Stories and Reels audio library? It’s not just for major label artists anymore, and getting your music featured is easier than you probably think. This guide breaks down exactly how to submit your song so that any of Instagram's billion-plus users can add it to their content with a single tap, step-by-step.

Why This Is a Game-Changer for Artists and Brands

Getting your own music into Instagram’s official library isn’t just a vanity project, it’s a powerful marketing tool. When your song is available, it opens up a flywheel of organic promotion fueled by user-generated content (UGC). Every person who uses your track in their Reel or Story is essentially creating a free advertisement for you, exposing your sound to their entire audience.

Let's break down the advantages:

• Viral Potential: All it takes is one creative Reel to turn your song into a viral trend. When other creators see a video take off, they often jump on the audio to create their own version, creating an exponential wave of visibility you couldn’t replicate with paid ads.
• Professional Legitimacy: Having your music officially searchable within Instagram adds a level of credibility. It signals that you’re a serious artist or brand, and it makes it incredibly simple for fans, collaborators, and even industry professionals to find and use your work.
• Deepen Fan Connection: You’re giving your audience a new way to interact with your art. They can attach your song to their personal moments - vacations, celebrations, or daily vlogs - making your music a part of their own stories. This creates a much deeper, more personal connection than just a passive listen.
• Drive Streams and Discovery: When someone uses your audio on Instagram, the platform automatically displays your artist name and the song title. Curious viewers can tap on the audio source, see other Reels made with your song, and often find a link to listen on major streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, directly boosting your streams.

How It Works: Understanding the Role of Music Distributors

Here’s the most important thing to understand upfront: you cannot upload your song directly to Instagram on your own. Instagram (and its parent company, Meta) doesn't have a public portal for artists to submit music. Instead, they source their audio catalog from digital music distributors.

Think of a music distributor as the professional middleman between you and all the digital platforms where music is heard. They are the bridge that connects your finished song to Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, YouTube Music, and, crucially, social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. They handle the technical side of the delivery, manage your metadata (all the important song info), and collect and report on your royalties for you.

To get your song on Instagram, you just need to sign up with a distributor that lists "Instagram & Facebook" as one of their delivery partners.

Step 1: Choose Your Digital Distributor

Selecting a distributor is your first big decision. While there are many options, they typically fall into two main pricing models: an annual flat fee for an unlimited number of uploads, or a one-time fee per release (single or album). Your choice will depend on how frequently you plan to release music and what other services you might need.

Here are a few of the most popular and trusted distributors that can get you on Instagram:

DistroKid

Best for: Prolific artists, bands, and producers who release music regularly.
DistroKid is known for its simplicity and speed. For a single annual fee, you can upload as many songs and albums as you want. They let you keep 100% of your royalties, which is a big draw for many creators. During the upload process, you’ll see a list of "stores," where you simply need to make sure the "Instagram & Facebook" box is checked. Their process is one of the most straightforward for new artists.

• Pricing: Annual subscription plans, starting around $22.99/year.
• Pros: Unlimited uploads, you keep all your royalties, very fast delivery to stores.
• Cons: Some features that are standard elsewhere, like Shazam registration or YouTube Content ID, are paid add-ons.

TuneCore

Best for: Artists who want more robust features like publishing administration and detailed analytics.
TuneCore switched its model to be more competitive, now offering unlimited distribution plans starting at a low annual fee. They also provide comprehensive sales data and a music publishing administration service to help you collect songwriter royalties, which is a huge advantage for serious career artists. Like DistroKid, they deliver to a massive network of stores, including Instagram and Facebook, and you keep 100% of the revenue from those platforms.

• Pricing: Annual flat fees for unlimited uploads, starting around $14.99/year.
• Pros: Excellent analytics, strong publishing administration add-on, trusted brand name.
• Cons: Over the years, some artists have found its interface less intuitive than newer competitors.

CD Baby

Best for: Musicians who release music infrequently and prefer a one-time fee instead of an annual subscription.
Unlike the others, CD Baby operates on a pay-per-release model. You pay once to upload your single or album, and it stays on digital platforms forever. This is great if you don't want the pressure of a recurring yearly payment. The trade-off is that they take a small commission (9%) from the streaming royalties you earn. They still offer full distribution to Instagram and cover both digital and physical (CDs, vinyl) distribution.

• Pricing: One-time fee per release, starting around $9.99 for a single. They take a 9% commission on royalties.
• Pros: No annual fees, great customer service, physical distribution options.
• Cons: Commission-based model means they keep a piece of your earnings.

Step 2: Prepare and Upload Your Music

Once you’ve picked your distributor and created an account, you're ready to submit your song. The process is similar across every platform, and getting your details right is paramount. Being meticulous here will prevent rejections or delays.

1. Prepare Your Audio and Artwork Files

Before you even begin the upload, make sure your assets are in the correct format. This saves a lot of headaches later.

• Your Audio File: The industry standard is a high-quality WAV file. Most distributors require at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, which is standard CD quality. Do not upload an MP3 file, as the audio quality will be compromised. Export the highest resolution file possible from your recording software.
• Your Cover Art: Your artwork needs to be a perfect square and high-resolution JPEG file. The standard digital requirement is at least 3000x3000 pixels at 300 DPI. Importantly, your cover art cannot include any website URLs, social media handles (@yourname), logos from digital stores, or words like "Exclusive." It should only contain your artist name and the release title.

2. Fill Out All the Song Details (Metadata)

Metadata is just a fancy word for all the information attached to your song file. Accuracy here is critical, as this data tells platforms who to credit and who to pay.

You’ll be asked to provide:

• Song Title & Artist Name(s): Your primary artist name and any featured artists.
• Language: The primary language of the lyrics.
• Songwriter & Publisher Information: List the full legal names of everyone who contributed to writing the song’s lyrics and composition. This is non-negotiable for royalty payments.
• Explicit Content: You must check the box if your lyrics contain any explicit language. Mismarking this can get your release taken down.
• ISRC Code: The International Standard Recording Code is a unique identifier for your specific recording. Don’t worry if you don’t have one - nearly all distributors will generate one for you for free during the submission process.

3. Select "Instagram & Facebook" as a Store

This is the most direct and vital step for achieving your goal. During the upload process, your distributor will present you with a long checklist of digital stores and platforms. It might be on a page titled "Stores," "Territories," or "Distribution Channels."

Carefully scroll through this list and find the option for "Instagram & Facebook" or "Meta" and make sure you check that box. If you miss this step, your music will go to streaming services but will never appear in Instagram's audio library. Some distributors have this selected by default, but it’s always worth double-checking.

4. Finalize Your Submission and Wait for Review

After you’ve filled out all the info and ticked all the right boxes, hit submit. Your distributor will then review your submission to make sure the audio quality is good, the artwork meets technical specifications, and the metadata is complete. This review process usually takes a few business days.

Once approved, it can take anywhere from three days to two weeks for your song to become fully live and searchable within Instagram. So, plan your release promo cycle with this buffer in mind!

Step 3: Finding and Using Your Song on Instagram

The waiting is the hardest part, but once your distributor gives you the green light, your music is officially in the system. Here's how to find it and start spreading the word.

How to Find Your Song

1. Open Instagram and start creating a new Reel or Story.
2. Tap the Music Sticker (the musical note icon).
3. In the search bar at the top, type your artist name followed by your song title.
4. It should pop right up! Tap to select it, pick the 15-second clip you want to feature, and add it to your content.

If you don't see it right away, give it another day or two, as sometimes there can be a slight delay in indexing. If it still doesn’t appear after a week, contact your distributor's support team.

Tips for Promoting Your New Instagram Banger

Now that your music is available, your next job is to get people to use it.

• Make an Announcement Post: Create a compelling Reel or Story to officially announce that your song is available in the library. Show your followers exactly how to find and use it.
• Start a Trend: Create your own simple, replicable video concept using your song. Whether it's a specific dance, a funny meme format, or a "before-and-after" reveal, give people a creative template to follow.
• Engage with Every User: When someone uses your audio, celebrate it! Like their Reel, leave an encouraging comment, or even share their creation to your own Story. This interaction makes people feel seen and encourages others to join in.
• Launch a Challenge: Run a small challenge or contest, asking your followers to make a video with your sound. Offer to share the best ones or give away a piece of merch as a prize.

Final Thoughts

Getting your original music onto Instagram is simpler than you might think. By using a digital distributor, preparing your files correctly, and making sure to select Instagram as a destination, you can unlock a powerful new way for fans to discover and share your work. This simple step transforms your music from something people just listen to into something they can create with.

Once your music is live and people start creating Reels with it, planning and scheduling your own promotional content becomes the next big step. We found that jumping between apps to manage social media often killed our creative flow, which is why we built Postbase. With its visual calendar and short-form video scheduling designed specifically for platforms like Reels and TikTok, you can plan out your entire song launch campaign and keep the momentum going, all from one clean, reliable dashboard.