Two ways to get a track onto VK
The difference is not in the buttons but in where the file ends up: an audio upload stays in your profile, while an official release goes into the VK Music catalogue, where search and recommendations find it.
| What we compare | Audio upload to your page | Official release |
|---|---|---|
| Time | A minute | 2 business days |
| Catalogue search | No | Yes |
| Artist card | Not created | Created automatically |
| Recommendations and playlists | No | Yes |
| Payouts for plays | No | Yes |
| Other platforms | No | The same file goes to 250+ services |
Adding an audio file to your page
Open the Music section, click the button to add an audio file and choose an MP3 from your computer. A minute later the track is in your collection. It's a way to share a demo with friends and get first reactions, but the VK Music catalogue won't see this file and it won't appear in artist search. Moderation may remove it if the system decides the rights aren't yours. On a phone this is the only option, through the VK app: you can't release a track into the catalogue from a smartphone.
How to release a track on VK Music officially
An artist can't upload a release to the catalogue directly: VK Music accepts material only from distributors and labels. The process is the same for every platform:
- a finished master in WAV, 16 or 24 bit – the platforms don't accept MP3;
- cover art of 3000×3000 pixels, without third-party logos or small text;
- metadata: the artist name exactly as it will always be written, the title, genre and release date;
- delivery through a distributor and about 2 business days of waiting;
- after release – a request for the artist card.
A release needs an uncompressed master: an MP3 has already lost part of the data in encoding, and the platform would make its own versions from it worse than from the source. If all you have is an MP3, ask whoever mixed the track for the master.
Through a distributor the release appears in the VK Music catalogue in 2 business days, and the same file goes to Yandex Music, Zvuk, Spotify and 250+ other services at no extra cost; the rights to the recording stay with the artist. If the release is tied to a concert, a video or an ad campaign, set the date at least two weeks ahead – time for moderation, editorial pitching and pre-saves.
Why a release can be rejected
The most common reasons are the same on every platform: cover art with store logos, links, phone numbers or extra text; someone else's sample, beat or cover version without confirmed rights; metadata that doesn't match – the artist name spelled one way on the cover and another way in the release card; silence or technical defects at the start and end of the file. Checking this before sending is cheaper than redoing it: a rejection means a new moderation round and a moved release date.
The artist card and VK Studio
The artist card appears automatically with the first official release: the platform sees a new performer in the metadata and creates a page. You can't create it in advance, and audio files already in your profile don't affect it – profile uploads and the catalogue live separately.
Rights to the card are confirmed through the artist dashboard – easiest when the distributor that holds the release confirms the request; we do this for our artists. The dashboard is called VK Studio: a free section with daily plays by track, audience data and listening sources; there you also change the photo and description and pin a release. Tracks are not uploaded through VK Studio, and the artist name can only be changed after publication through support and the distributor.
Take the link to your card from the card itself via the Share menu and put it in your community header and your multi-link next to other platforms: that way listeners land on your whole catalogue, not one track. How much VK Music pays – VK Music pay per stream.
Frequently asked questions
How do I upload a track to VK Music officially?
Not directly: VK Music accepts releases only from distributors. You need a WAV master, 3000×3000 cover art and metadata, delivered through a distributor. At OUR ANGELS it is 1 500 ₽ per single and the release goes live in 2 business days.
What is the difference between an audio upload and a release?
An audio upload is visible only to you and your friends: it isn't in the catalogue or search, doesn't create an artist card, isn't recommended and earns nothing. An official release gives you all of that.
How do I create an artist card on VK Music?
It appears automatically after the first official release. Then you request confirmation through the platform's dashboard – usually the distributor that holds the release files the request.
Can I upload a track to VK for free?
Only as an audio file on your own page. An official release in the VK Music catalogue goes through a distributor and costs 1 500 ₽ per single, one-off, at OUR ANGELS.
Can I release a song on VK Music from my phone?
From a smartphone you can only add an audio file to your page through the VK app. An official release needs an uncompressed master and goes through a distributor.
Release your music with OUR ANGELS
OUR ANGELS is an independent music label in Moscow, working since 2010, with 7,200+ releases in the catalogue. We deliver releases to Yandex Music, VK Music and Zvuk together with 250+ other stores and streaming services worldwide: 1 500 ₽ per single and 3 000 ₽ per EP or album, one-off, live in 2 business days, editorial pitching included. The rights stay with the artist, and royalty reports come once a quarter.
See every service on the price list, send us a demo or get in touch.
Read next: How to upload music to Yandex Music · How much VK Music pays per stream · How much Yandex Music pays per stream · Music streaming services in Russia 2026
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