Best Audio Format for Distributing Your Music
5 min read · Updated July 24, 2026
When you're ready to put a track on Spotify, Apple Music, or any store through a distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Amuse), the number one question is: what file do I actually upload? Deliver the wrong format and you either get rejected or you lose quality. Here's the straight answer, plus how to prepare your file for free.
The short answer
- Format: WAV (or FLAC where accepted). Lossless — never upload an MP3 to a distributor if you can avoid it.
- Bit depth: 16-bit or 24-bit. 24-bit if that's what your master is; don't upsample a 16-bit file to 24 for no reason.
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz is the safe universal choice. Higher rates (48/96 kHz) are accepted by most, but 44.1 kHz is what CD/streaming ultimately targets.
Distributors convert your lossless master into the compressed formats each store needs (Spotify's OGG, Apple's AAC, etc.). If you hand them a lossy MP3 to start with, they're compressing an already-compressed file — you hear the damage twice. Give them the cleanest source and let them do the conversion.
Prepare your file
- If your master is an MP3 or another format, convert it to WAV with MP3 to WAV or the general audio converter. (This stops further loss, though it can't recover quality MP3 already discarded — so use your best source.)
- Check the loudness so your release sits at the right level next to everything else — measure with the LUFS meter and aim for about -14 LUFS. Full details in the loudness guide.
- Upload the WAV to your distributor.
What about the cover art and metadata?
Distributors collect title, artist and artwork through their own forms, so you usually don't embed them in the audio file itself. But if you're also sharing the track directly (not through a store), burning the cover into the file with the album art tool makes it show up in music players and on phone lock screens.
Frequently asked questions
Should I upload WAV or MP3 to DistroKid?
WAV. Distributors want a lossless source (WAV, or FLAC where accepted) so they can convert to each store's format once. Uploading an MP3 means compressing an already-compressed file, which degrades quality.
What sample rate and bit depth for Spotify?
44.1 kHz, 16-bit or 24-bit WAV is the safe, universal choice. Deliver at your master's native bit depth rather than upsampling.
Can I convert my MP3 master to WAV for distribution?
You can, and you should before uploading — but converting MP3 to WAV won't restore detail MP3 already threw away. Always start from the highest-quality bounce of your master.