This article was updated Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
What is a single in music?
A single is a music release centered on an individual song. It can introduce an upcoming album, give listeners their first taste of your sound, or exist as a standalone release without a larger project behind it.
Think of a single as an opportunity to put one song in focus. Instead of introducing several tracks at once, you can build your promotion around that song’s story, sound, and creative direction.
Can a single include more than one song?
Singles have included multiple songs since long before streaming. A vinyl single typically had a featured song on the A-side and another recording on the B-side. That second track might have been a different song, a cover, or an alternate version.
Today, streaming platforms still allow some releases with multiple tracks to qualify as singles. What matters is whether the release meets their requirements—not simply whether you’ve called it a single.
How do Spotify and Apple Music define a single?
The platforms use similar rules, with an important difference around individual track length.
On Spotify, a single can be one to three tracks with a total runtime of less than 30 minutes. On Apple Music, a single can be one to three songs, with each song being less than 10 minutes. That difference matters for longer songs. For example, Apple classifies a release containing one 12-minute song as an EP, not a single. Its EP rules cover releases with one to three songs when at least one song is 10 minutes or longer and the total running time is 30 minutes or less.
An EP, short for “extended play,” generally sits between a single and a full album. However, streaming classifications depend on track counts and duration—not just how substantial a project feels creatively.
Why might CD Baby ask you to submit your single as an album?
CD Baby uses two submission categories: single for one track and album for two or more tracks. Streaming platforms make their own display decisions after delivery.
For example, a two-song release uses an album submission through CD Baby but can still appear as a single on Spotify and Apple Music when it meets their requirements.
Why release a single?
You don’t need to choose between being a “singles artist” and an “album artist.” Consider what you want your next release to accomplish, then choose the format that supports it.
Share music without waiting for a full project
Have one finished song you’re proud of? Consider giving it a release of its own rather than waiting until you’ve completed an entire album.
This can be especially useful when you’re introducing a new project or returning after a break. Choose a song that gives listeners a clear sense of where you’re headed.
Focus your promotion
Use a single to build a campaign around one clear message. What inspired the song? What will listeners connect with? What part of the recording process could you share?
Plan a few different ways to tell that story: a performance clip, a look inside the recording session, or a short explanation of a lyric. You don’t need a different song for every post. Give people different reasons to listen to the same one.
Introduce a larger project
A lead single can give listeners an entry point into an upcoming EP or album. You can then include that recording in the full release rather than treating each format as a separate creative commitment.
Choose a song that represents the project and gives you something meaningful to say about it. That doesn’t have to mean choosing the shortest or most immediately catchy track.
Don’t rush a release just to maintain a schedule. Leave yourself enough time to finish the music, prepare your materials, and support the song after it comes out.
How to prepare for a single release
A single still deserves a release plan. Start with these three priorities.
1. Finalize your audio, artwork, and credits
Review your metadata — the information about your music, including the track title, artist names, contributor credits, and release date. Spotify uses the information your distributor delivers to display your music, so spelling, formatting, and artist roles matter.
Check your artwork against those details, too. If it includes text, that text needs to match the release information. Don’t put an upcoming album’s title on your single artwork unless the single shares that title.
2. Leave time for distribution and promotion
Choose a date that gives you room to prepare rather than submitting at the last minute.
CD Baby recommends submitting at least three weeks before a planned release, with four to six weeks being ideal. That allows time for promotion as well as inspection and platform processing.
Use that lead time to prepare your release announcement, refresh your artist profiles, and decide how you’ll keep sharing the song after launch.
3. Pitch your song before it goes live
Through Spotify for Artists, you can pitch an upcoming, unreleased song for editorial playlist consideration. Spotify allows one song pitch at a time; once that song is released, you can pitch another.
Submit your pitch at least seven days before release. Spotify says meeting that deadline also gets the song into your followers’ Release Radar playlists. Editorial playlist placement is not guaranteed, so treat pitching as one part of your promotion — not the entire plan.
Can you put a previously released single on an album?
Yes. You don’t have to leave a song off your album because you’ve already released it as a single.
For an identical recording, reuse its International Standard Recording Code (ISRC), the code that identifies that specific recording. Keep the track title, artist names, featured-artist credits, and other track information consistent. A different recording, such as a remix or radio edit, needs a new ISRC.
The album also needs its own UPC barcode, which identifies the release as a product. Your single and album are separate releases, even when they share a song. Create a new album submission rather than trying to add tracks to the existing single.
Release your next single with CD Baby
Your next release doesn’t have to tell your entire story. Choose a song you’re proud of, give it a clear purpose, and build a plan that helps listeners connect with it.
CD Baby distributes your music to more than 150 streaming and download platforms worldwide, with pay-per-release pricing of $9.99 for a single and no annual fees. Start your next release and give your song a place to be heard. (CD Baby)