How to Get Your Music on Tidal

The Secret: High-Fidelity Distribution

Tidal now has its own Upload feature, but uploads there earn no royalties, so for a paying release you go through a distributor and send lossless masters (WAV, FLAC or AIFF, at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz). Because Tidal streams lossless and HiRes FLAC (it dropped MQA in July 2024) and pays royalties through distributors, artists use a digital distributor that delivers lossless files and metadata correctly.

What they do:

• Accept your FLAC, WAV or AIFF masters
• Send credits such as songwriters, producers and musicians
• Collect your Tidal royalties and pay them out to you

Tidal benefits:

• Royalties reported to your distributor, which pays you
• Tidal Artist Home features and stats
• Streams in lossless FLAC and HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit, 192 kHz

Why We Use DistroKid for Tidal

DistroKid accepts 24-bit WAV and FLAC files, and Tidal shows its Max badge on tracks delivered at 24-bit with a sample rate above 44.1 kHz. They accept files up to 1 GB, and on its Max setting Tidal plays the best version delivered: HiRes FLAC, then FLAC, then AAC.

What They Do Best

• Support for lossless audio files up to 1 GB
• Fast Tidal artist profile verification through DistroKid
• One flat yearly fee for unlimited uploads
• A credits dashboard for songwriters, producers, musicians and liner notes

When to look elsewhere

• You only want to release physical CDs or Vinyls
• You need label-style promotional services
• You only have 128kbps MP3s (DistroKid accepts MP3, but Tidal's lossless tiers need WAV, FLAC or AIFF masters)

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The Reality Check: Deep Credits

Tidal shows listeners who made the music.

Tidal added interactive credits for songwriters, producers, engineers and musicians in 2019. Instead of just "Artist and Title," listeners can see who wrote and produced a track and which engineers and musicians worked on it, when those credits were delivered.

Ask yourself:

• Am I filling out all credit and contributor fields during upload?
• Are my files bounced correctly (24-bit WAV or FLAC)?
• Have I claimed my Tidal Artist Home profile?

Our advice? Don't skip metadata.

When uploading to DistroKid, take an extra 5 minutes to list out every collaborator, songwriter, and producer. Tidal made these credits interactive in 2019, so listeners can click a contributor to see more of their work.

After upload, the real work begins.

What Audio Files Should You Send Tidal for Lossless or Hi-Res?

Tidal offers three stereo quality levels. Max is HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit, 192 kHz. High is lossless FLAC at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz. Low is compressed AAC up to 320 kbps. On Max, Tidal plays the best version it was given, HiRes FLAC first, then FLAC, then AAC, so the master you hand your distributor sets the ceiling.

• High badge: DistroKid asks for a WAV, FLAC or AIFF master of at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz.
• Max badge: DistroKid says the file must be 24-bit with a sample rate above 44.1 kHz, up to 192 kHz.
• File size: DistroKid accepts files up to 1 GB. FLAC is lossless like WAV but smaller.
• Dolby Atmos: a separate 24-bit, 48 kHz BWF ADM mix costs $26.99 per track at DistroKid and must be added at upload, not afterward.

MQA and Sony 360 Reality Audio are gone. Tidal dropped both on July 24, 2024, and now uses FLAC for stereo and Dolby Atmos for immersive sound.

How Do You Claim Your Tidal Profile, Add Credits and Get Paid?

Once a release is live, log in at tidal.com, open your artist profile and choose the option to claim it. Verifying through your distributor (DistroKid, CD Baby and TuneCore are supported) usually gives immediate approval; manual requests can take up to eight weeks. If your profile name differs from your distributor's records, Tidal changes it to match. A claimed profile lets you edit your image, bio and social links and see how your music performs.

Credits travel with the release. DistroKid requires a songwriter credit and lets you add producers, musicians and liner notes. It says credits can take 1 to 2 weeks to appear, and not every service shows every credit type.

Tidal sends payment reports to distributors, and your distributor or label pays you. DistroKid says it passes on 100% of what stores send for your music. Tidal's help center lists no per-stream rate. Tidal's own Upload feature works differently: tracks posted there earn no royalties, though in eligible countries editors may pick a public upload for a one-time $1,000 Spotlight award. Tracks Tidal identifies as having artificial streams are not paid.

Can You Put AI-Generated Music on Tidal?

Yes, with limits. Tidal's AI policy, which took effect on July 15, 2026, allows AI-generated music but treats recordings it identifies as wholly AI-generated differently:

• Labeled: Tidal tags them, and listeners can turn AI-labeled recordings off in Settings.
• No royalties: they are not eligible for royalty attribution. On Tidal Upload, they are not eligible for direct-to-fan monetization.
• Removal: Tidal may block or remove AI music that impersonates artists, exploits a name or likeness, deceives listeners or is tied to fraudulent activity.

For now Tidal acts only on wholly AI-generated recordings and takes no action on AI-generated compositions. It says it will extend action to substantially AI-generated recordings as detection improves, and artists who did not use AI can appeal a wrong tag through Tidal support. DistroKid accepts music made with AI tools when you own all the rights, and its AI credits let you disclose AI use; it says Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube currently show those credits to listeners.