Don't Release a Single Without Doing This on Musixmatch First

Getting your lyrics to show up on Spotify feels like it should be simple, and yet a lot of indie artists release a single with no idea it's even possible to control that themselves. Spotify doesn't manage lyrics directly. Instead, it relies entirely on Musixmatch, its official lyrics partner, which means every artist who wants synced, accurate lyrics on their own release needs to go through Musixmatch's own dashboard rather than anything inside Spotify for Artists.

Here's the full process, from account creation to a synced lyric line.

Step 1: Create a Musixmatch Pro account.
Head to the Musixmatch Pro website and sign up with Google, Facebook, Apple, or email. There's a free tier available, which sits below the paid plans on the signup page and covers everything an independent artist needs to add, edit, and sync lyrics. Use the email address tied to your artist name, label, or management entity if you have one, since it speeds up verification later.

Step 2: Verify your artist profile.
From the Musixmatch Pro homepage, go to Roster and select Add Artist. Add your Spotify artist URL and fill out the required fields. Musixmatch reviews these submissions manually, so expect an email confirmation within a few business days rather than instant approval.

Step 3: Link your Spotify catalogue.
If you have a Spotify Premium account, Musixmatch will automatically pair your Spotify catalogue with your Pro account once you're verified. This is what lets Musixmatch see your releases and pull them into your Roster for lyric management.

Step 4: Add your song if it isn't already listed.
From your Roster, check your To Do and Music tabs for the track you want to add lyrics to. If it's missing, use Add Missing Release to add it manually, and give it up to 48 hours to appear.

Step 5: Transcribe the lyrics in full.
Select the song, then Lyrics, and enter the full text, including repeated lines, ad-libs, and background vocals written out in full rather than shortened with a multiplier like "x2." Musixmatch's own guidelines are specific on this point: only the lyrical audio of the song should be transcribed, nothing else.

Step 6: Sync the timing.
Once the lyrics are entered, switch to the Sync tab. You'll need a Spotify Premium account and Chrome as your browser for this step. The track plays automatically inside the sync tool, and you click to mark the timing for each line as it plays, building a line-by-line map that matches the audio.

Step 7: Submit and wait for review.
Hit Send to publish. Musixmatch reviews every submission before it goes live, so build in buffer time rather than uploading on release day itself. Lyrics typically appear on Spotify within 24 hours of approval, though it can take a few days depending on review volume.

The biggest mistake artists make with this whole process is timing it too late. Since review happens before publishing, anyone who waits until the morning of release risks having no lyrics live for the first few days a song is out, which is exactly when most of a single's early streams and shares happen. Getting a Musixmatch profile verified and a track pre-loaded well ahead of release day is a small step that protects a much bigger moment.

 Music publicist Eric Alper is a Canadian industry veteran with 25+ years shaping artist careers through storytelling, media strategy, and deep industry relationships.  With over one million followers and campaigns tied to hundreds of JUNO and Grammy-nominated releases, he connects artists to audiences across radio, press, and digital platforms.

Website: www.thatericalper.com