Apple Music for Artists - How Editorial Pitching Works | Dynamoi
How-to Guide•
Updated
Apple Music for Artists - How Editorial Pitching Works
Apple Music's gated pitching process. How to submit through your distributor, what Apple's editorial team values, and key differences from Spotify.
Apple Music handles editorial pitching differently than Spotify. There's no public-facing pitch tool for independent artists. Submissions flow through distributors, labels, and partners with iTunes Connect access. If you want Apple Music editorial consideration, you'll need to work through intermediaries.
How Apple Music Pitching Works
Apple's editorial pitching tool is called Apple Music Pitch. It's accessible only to:
Major and independent labels
Distributors with iTunes Connect partnerships
Apple's direct partner accounts
Individual artists cannot access this tool directly, regardless of how many streams or followers they have.
The Gated Model
Apple's approach prioritizes relationships over open access. They work with trusted partners who curate submissions, filtering the volume before it reaches editorial teams.
Apple does this for quality control through trusted gatekeepers, to reduce submission volume to editorial teams, to focus on high-potential releases, and to maintain curatorial independence from direct artist pressure.
What this means for you: your distributor's Apple relationship matters significantly. Some distributors offer better access than others, and you're dependent on your distributor actually submitting your pitch.
Distributor Pitching Capabilities
Not all distributors pitch to Apple Music. Some offer it as standard, others as a paid add-on, and some don't offer it at all.
Distributor
Apple Pitching
Notes
DistroKid
Limited
Available on higher tiers, not guaranteed
TuneCore
Yes (paid)
Add-on service with additional fee
CD Baby
Yes
Included, manual submission via their team
AWAL
Yes
Vetted roster only, strong relationships
UnitedMasters
Yes
Included, curated submission
Ditto Music
Yes
Included on some plans
Amuse
Limited
Pro tier only
What to Ask Your Distributor
Before release:
Do you pitch to Apple Music editorial?
Is there an additional fee?
What's your typical lead time requirement?
What information do you need from me?
What's your success rate with similar artists?
If your distributor doesn't pitch Apple Music or has weak relationships, consider whether the distribution partnership is serving your needs.
The Pitching Process
When your distributor submits an Apple Music pitch, they typically provide:
Deadlines
Apple requires pitches to be submitted in advance:
Apple Music for Artists Setup
While you can't pitch directly, you should still claim and optimize your Apple Music for Artists profile.
What You Can Control
Write a compelling artist bio, upload high-quality photos, claim your profile to get the verified artist badge, and use the platform to monitor your performance.
Analytics Insights
Apple Music for Artists shows play counts by track, listener demographics, playlist adds (including editorial), Shazam activity, and geographic breakdown. Use this data to understand your Apple Music audience and inform future releases.
When Apple Music Matters Most
Apple Music editorial is particularly valuable for:
Established artists: Apple's quality-focused curation rewards artists with developed sounds and audiences.
Album releases: Apple Music treats albums as complete works more than Spotify does.
Audiophile content: Spatial Audio and lossless formats are Apple differentiators.
Older demographics: Apple Music skews slightly older than Spotify; if your audience is 30+, Apple may be more important.
Checklist: Apple Music Pitching
Confirm your distributor pitches to Apple Music
Understand any additional fees or requirements
Submit pitch request 4+ weeks before release
Provide complete release details and marketing plan
Flag Spatial Audio if available
Claim and optimize Apple Music for Artists profile
Consider exclusive strategies if Apple is priority platform
How-to Guide•
Updated
Apple Music for Artists - How Editorial Pitching Works
Apple Music's gated pitching process. How to submit through your distributor, what Apple's editorial team values, and key differences from Spotify.
Apple Music handles editorial pitching differently than Spotify. There's no public-facing pitch tool for independent artists. Submissions flow through distributors, labels, and partners with iTunes Connect access. If you want Apple Music editorial consideration, you'll need to work through intermediaries.
How Apple Music Pitching Works
Apple's editorial pitching tool is called Apple Music Pitch. It's accessible only to:
Major and independent labels
Distributors with iTunes Connect partnerships
Apple's direct partner accounts
Individual artists cannot access this tool directly, regardless of how many streams or followers they have.
The Gated Model
Apple's approach prioritizes relationships over open access. They work with trusted partners who curate submissions, filtering the volume before it reaches editorial teams.
Apple does this for quality control through trusted gatekeepers, to reduce submission volume to editorial teams, to focus on high-potential releases, and to maintain curatorial independence from direct artist pressure.
What this means for you: your distributor's Apple relationship matters significantly. Some distributors offer better access than others, and you're dependent on your distributor actually submitting your pitch.
Distributor Pitching Capabilities
Not all distributors pitch to Apple Music. Some offer it as standard, others as a paid add-on, and some don't offer it at all.
Distributor
Apple Pitching
Notes
DistroKid
Limited
Available on higher tiers, not guaranteed
TuneCore
Yes (paid)
Add-on service with additional fee
CD Baby
Yes
Included, manual submission via their team
AWAL
Yes
Vetted roster only, strong relationships
UnitedMasters
Yes
Included, curated submission
Ditto Music
Yes
Included on some plans
Amuse
Limited
Pro tier only
What to Ask Your Distributor
Before release:
Do you pitch to Apple Music editorial?
Is there an additional fee?
What's your typical lead time requirement?
What information do you need from me?
What's your success rate with similar artists?
If your distributor doesn't pitch Apple Music or has weak relationships, consider whether the distribution partnership is serving your needs.
The Pitching Process
When your distributor submits an Apple Music pitch, they typically provide:
Deadlines
Apple requires pitches to be submitted in advance:
Apple Music for Artists Setup
While you can't pitch directly, you should still claim and optimize your Apple Music for Artists profile.
What You Can Control
Write a compelling artist bio, upload high-quality photos, claim your profile to get the verified artist badge, and use the platform to monitor your performance.
Analytics Insights
Apple Music for Artists shows play counts by track, listener demographics, playlist adds (including editorial), Shazam activity, and geographic breakdown. Use this data to understand your Apple Music audience and inform future releases.
When Apple Music Matters Most
Apple Music editorial is particularly valuable for:
Established artists: Apple's quality-focused curation rewards artists with developed sounds and audiences.
Album releases: Apple Music treats albums as complete works more than Spotify does.
Audiophile content: Spatial Audio and lossless formats are Apple differentiators.
Older demographics: Apple Music skews slightly older than Spotify; if your audience is 30+, Apple may be more important.
Checklist: Apple Music Pitching
Confirm your distributor pitches to Apple Music
Understand any additional fees or requirements
Submit pitch request 4+ weeks before release
Provide complete release details and marketing plan
Flag Spatial Audio if available
Claim and optimize Apple Music for Artists profile
Consider exclusive strategies if Apple is priority platform
Deadline
Coverage
10+ days before release
Full editorial consideration
7 days before release
Late adds only (limited coverage)
Submit at least 10 days in advance for the best chance of full editorial review.
Required Information
Category
What to Provide
Release details
Track title, release date, genre/subgenre, explicit flag, format (single/EP/album)
Artist information
Bio, social media links, previous Apple Music performance, press coverage or achievements
Marketing plan
Planned promotion activities, ad spend, tour dates, PR campaigns
What Apple Editors Look For
Apple's editorial team values:
Spatial Audio availability. If your track is mixed in Dolby Atmos, this is a significant differentiator. Apple heavily promotes Spatial Audio content.
Exclusive content. Apple Music Exclusive or Apple Music First releases get preferential editorial treatment.
Artist development potential. Apple tends to invest in artists they believe will grow over time, not just one-hit wonders.
Quality over metrics. Unlike Spotify, Apple's editorial is reportedly less driven by raw streaming numbers and more by perceived quality and cultural relevance.
Apple Music vs. Spotify Pitching
Aspect
Apple Music
Spotify
Direct artist access
No
Yes
Submission tool
Apple Music Pitch (distributor only)
Spotify for Artists
Lead time
3-4 weeks via distributor
7 days minimum, 4-6 weeks recommended
Focus
Quality, exclusives, Spatial Audio
Metrics, marketing plans, metadata
Feedback
None
None
Post-release pitching
Limited
Not allowed
The Access Gap
The biggest difference is access. Any artist can pitch Spotify directly. Apple requires going through gatekeepers who may or may not prioritize your release.
This creates an uneven playing field. Artists with label support or premium distributors have better Apple Music access than true independents on budget distribution.
Maximizing Your Apple Music Chances
Work With the Right Distributor
If Apple Music is important to your strategy, choose a distributor based on their Apple relationships, not just their Spotify features or pricing. Ask whether they have a dedicated A&R or pitching team, whether they have a track record of Apple Music placements, and whether they'll actually pitch your release or just claim they do.
Invest in Spatial Audio
Dolby Atmos mixes give you an edge on Apple Music. Apple actively promotes Spatial Audio content because it differentiates them from competitors. If budget allows, mix in Dolby Atmos for your key releases, ensure your distributor supports Dolby Atmos delivery, and flag Spatial Audio availability in your pitch request.
Consider Exclusive Strategies
Apple offers preferential treatment for exclusive content:
Apple Music First: Your release is available on Apple Music before other platforms. Typically 1-2 weeks exclusive.
Apple Music Exclusive: Full exclusivity for a defined period.
These strategies sacrifice Spotify exposure for enhanced Apple Music positioning. Only consider if Apple Music is your primary platform priority.
Build for the Ecosystem
Apple values artists who engage with their full ecosystem. This includes Apple Music Radio (submissions for Beats 1 and genre stations), artist interviews (Apple does editorial features), Shazam (Apple owns it, so high Shazam activity signals to their team), and the iTunes Store (yes, people still buy music, and chart performance matters).
What Happens After Submission
Unlike Spotify, Apple provides zero transparency into the editorial process.
No Dashboard Visibility
There's no way to track whether your pitch was reviewed, considered, or rejected. Your distributor may receive feedback, but often they don't.
Playlist Add Notification
If your track is added to an Apple Music editorial playlist, you'll see it in Apple Music for Artists analytics. There's no advance notification.
No Resubmission
Like Spotify, you typically can't pitch the same release twice. Once submitted, the decision is final.
Deadline
Coverage
10+ days before release
Full editorial consideration
7 days before release
Late adds only (limited coverage)
Submit at least 10 days in advance for the best chance of full editorial review.
Required Information
Category
What to Provide
Release details
Track title, release date, genre/subgenre, explicit flag, format (single/EP/album)
Artist information
Bio, social media links, previous Apple Music performance, press coverage or achievements
Marketing plan
Planned promotion activities, ad spend, tour dates, PR campaigns
What Apple Editors Look For
Apple's editorial team values:
Spatial Audio availability. If your track is mixed in Dolby Atmos, this is a significant differentiator. Apple heavily promotes Spatial Audio content.
Exclusive content. Apple Music Exclusive or Apple Music First releases get preferential editorial treatment.
Artist development potential. Apple tends to invest in artists they believe will grow over time, not just one-hit wonders.
Quality over metrics. Unlike Spotify, Apple's editorial is reportedly less driven by raw streaming numbers and more by perceived quality and cultural relevance.
Apple Music vs. Spotify Pitching
Aspect
Apple Music
Spotify
Direct artist access
No
Yes
Submission tool
Apple Music Pitch (distributor only)
Spotify for Artists
Lead time
3-4 weeks via distributor
7 days minimum, 4-6 weeks recommended
Focus
Quality, exclusives, Spatial Audio
Metrics, marketing plans, metadata
Feedback
None
None
Post-release pitching
Limited
Not allowed
The Access Gap
The biggest difference is access. Any artist can pitch Spotify directly. Apple requires going through gatekeepers who may or may not prioritize your release.
This creates an uneven playing field. Artists with label support or premium distributors have better Apple Music access than true independents on budget distribution.
Maximizing Your Apple Music Chances
Work With the Right Distributor
If Apple Music is important to your strategy, choose a distributor based on their Apple relationships, not just their Spotify features or pricing. Ask whether they have a dedicated A&R or pitching team, whether they have a track record of Apple Music placements, and whether they'll actually pitch your release or just claim they do.
Invest in Spatial Audio
Dolby Atmos mixes give you an edge on Apple Music. Apple actively promotes Spatial Audio content because it differentiates them from competitors. If budget allows, mix in Dolby Atmos for your key releases, ensure your distributor supports Dolby Atmos delivery, and flag Spatial Audio availability in your pitch request.
Consider Exclusive Strategies
Apple offers preferential treatment for exclusive content:
Apple Music First: Your release is available on Apple Music before other platforms. Typically 1-2 weeks exclusive.
Apple Music Exclusive: Full exclusivity for a defined period.
These strategies sacrifice Spotify exposure for enhanced Apple Music positioning. Only consider if Apple Music is your primary platform priority.
Build for the Ecosystem
Apple values artists who engage with their full ecosystem. This includes Apple Music Radio (submissions for Beats 1 and genre stations), artist interviews (Apple does editorial features), Shazam (Apple owns it, so high Shazam activity signals to their team), and the iTunes Store (yes, people still buy music, and chart performance matters).
What Happens After Submission
Unlike Spotify, Apple provides zero transparency into the editorial process.
No Dashboard Visibility
There's no way to track whether your pitch was reviewed, considered, or rejected. Your distributor may receive feedback, but often they don't.
Playlist Add Notification
If your track is added to an Apple Music editorial playlist, you'll see it in Apple Music for Artists analytics. There's no advance notification.
No Resubmission
Like Spotify, you typically can't pitch the same release twice. Once submitted, the decision is final.
