Amazon Music has quietly become one of the most powerful streaming platforms in the world, with over 100 million songs and a user base that spans Prime subscribers, Alexa device owners, and dedicated music fans. For independent artists, that reach represents a huge, often-overlooked opportunity to grow your audience. This guide covers exactly how to get your music on Amazon Music and onto its playlists.
If you're an independent artist looking to grow your streams on Amazon Music and beyond, [Playlist Pilot](https://playlistpilotapp.com) helps you pitch your music to independent playlist curators across every major platform - including Amazon Music. It's worth bookmarking alongside this guide.
Step 1: Get your music on Amazon Music with a distributor
You can't upload directly to Amazon Music as an artist - you need a digital distributor to deliver your tracks. Services like DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and Amazon Music's own distribution partners will place your music on Amazon Music alongside Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. Once your release is live, you can claim your artist profile and unlock promotional tools.
Tip: distribute your release at least 3-4 weeks before your launch date. This lead time is essential for playlist pitching, which we'll cover below.
Step 2: Claim Amazon Music for Artists
Amazon Music for Artists is the platform's free dashboard for artists, similar to Spotify for Artists. Once you claim your profile, you get access to streaming stats, listener demographics, and - critically - the ability to customize your artist page and promote your releases. It's also the gateway to Amazon's editorial pitching opportunities.
Verify your profile early so it's ready before your release goes live and you start pitching playlists.
Step 3: Pitch to Amazon Music editorial playlists
Amazon Music has an editorial team that curates official playlists across genres and moods. The best way to reach them is to submit your upcoming release through your distributor or Amazon Music for Artists ahead of release day. A strong pitch includes your genre, mood, story behind the track, and any momentum you already have on other platforms. Editorial placements are competitive, so consistency and a polished profile matter.
Step 4: Target independent playlist curators
Editorial playlists are only part of the picture. Independent curators run thousands of playlists across Amazon Music, and they're often more accessible than Amazon's editorial team. This is where a tool like [Playlist Pilot](https://playlistpilotapp.com) saves you hours - instead of cold-emailing curators one by one, you can pitch your music directly to relevant independent curators who actually accept submissions in your genre.
Building relationships with independent curators is one of the most reliable ways to gain early traction, because their playlists feed Amazon's algorithm signals and help your track reach new listeners.
Step 5: Drive your own streams to build momentum
Amazon's recommendation algorithms reward engagement. Share your Amazon Music links on social media, embed them in your email newsletter, and encourage fans to follow you and add your tracks to their libraries. Early streams, saves, and follows signal to Amazon that your music deserves wider exposure - which in turn improves your odds of algorithmic and editorial placement.
Quick FAQ for artists
**Do I need Amazon Music Unlimited to release music?** No - your distributor handles getting your music onto the platform. A subscription is only for listening.
**Is Amazon Music for Artists free?** Yes, it's completely free to claim and use.
**How long before release should I pitch?** Aim for 3-4 weeks ahead of your release date to give editorial teams and curators time to consider your track.
Get your distribution sorted, claim your artist profile, and start pitching early - both to Amazon's editorial team and to independent curators. When you're ready to scale your outreach, [Playlist Pilot](https://playlistpilotapp.com) makes pitching to independent playlists on Amazon Music and every major platform far faster.