How to set up and optimize your Apple Music for Artists profile

If your music is available on Apple Music but you haven’t claimed your artist profile, you’re missing out on tools that help you take control of your presence, understand your audience, and grow your fanbase.

This guide walks you through the process—from claiming your profile to using Apple Music for Artists to promote your music more effectively.

Claim your artist profile

Before you can customize your Apple Music presence, you’ll need to claim your artist page through Apple Music for Artists.

First, make sure your music is already live on Apple Music. If not, use a distributor like DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby to release it.

Once your music is available:

• Visit artists.apple.com
• Click Sign in or Join now
• Log in with your Apple ID (or create one specifically for your artist project)
• Enter your artist name or paste your Apple Music artist URL
• Complete the verification process—Apple may ask for links to your distributor or social media

After approval, you’ll get access to your artist dashboard, where you can customize your profile, track performance, and more.

Customize your artist page

Your profile is often the first impression a listener gets. It should reflect your music, your personality, and your visual identity.

Here’s what you can update:

• Profile photo: Use a high-quality image (minimum 750 x 750 pixels). Avoid text, borders, logos, or anything promotional—Apple requires clean visuals.
• Header image: Add a wide-format banner that fits your style. This could be album artwork, a live shot, or a portrait.
• Featured track: Choose one song or release to spotlight at the top of your profile. It’s a simple way to direct attention to what matters most.
• Links: Include your website and social profiles so listeners can connect with you off-platform.

A consistent, professional profile shows fans you care about your presence on Apple Music, helps them recognize you across platforms, and signals that you take your music career seriously.

About your artist bio

If your profile doesn’t yet include a bio, you can still give listeners a sense of who you are through the Q&A section in Apple Music for Artists. This feature lets you speak directly to fans in your own words—and gives Apple’s editorial team a better understanding of your story.

You’ll be prompted to answer questions like:

• Describe one of your earliest musical memories in detail
• What’s one of the most memorable moments in your career so far?
• Is there anything left on your bucket list as an artist or band?

You can also include information about collaborators, band members, pronouns, and influences. While that additional context won’t appear publicly, it helps Apple’s editors get to know you better.

To get started, log into your dashboard and fill out the Q&A section under Artist Profile. Your responses may be reviewed and published on your profile, but publication isn’t guaranteed.

In some cases, Apple may add an official bio to your profile. These are typically written by Apple’s editorial team or sourced from Xperi (formerly AllMusic/Rovi). If that happens and you’d like to request a change:

• Reach out to Xperi directly with your edits or a draft
• Keep in mind that updates are not guaranteed and are reviewed according to Xperi’s editorial policies
• Apple doesn’t currently accept bio submissions or edits directly through Apple Music for Artists

If you want more detail, you can check Apple’s official artist profile guidelines—but everything you need to get started is right here.

Promote your music on Apple Music

Once your profile is claimed and customized, make sure you’re using it to its full potential.

• Submit upcoming releases through your distributor in advance so Apple’s editorial team can consider them for playlist placement
• Build your own playlists that include your music alongside similar artists
• Share your Apple Music links across your website, email list, and social platforms—make it easy for fans to listen and follow

Planning your releases ahead of time and having all your visuals and links ready gives you a better shot at visibility on the platform.

Keep your presence active

Staying current with your profile reflects the care you put into your music—and the people who follow it.

• Update your featured track whenever you release something new
• Swap out your header image during a new album or tour cycle
• Use your social media to direct traffic to your Apple Music profile
• Ensure your branding is consistent across platforms—photos, tone, and links should feel cohesive

The more aligned your presence is, the more trustworthy and professional you’ll appear to listeners and industry contacts.

Track your performance

Apple Music for Artists includes a dashboard that gives you insight into how your music is performing and who’s listening.

Here’s what you’ll be able to track:

• Plays and listeners: See which songs are getting traction
• Playlist placements: Find out where your tracks are being featured
• Demographic data: Understand where your audience is located and what their listening habits look like

You can use this data to:

• Double down on songs that are performing well
• Adjust your release strategy based on what’s connecting
• Identify cities or countries where your fanbase is growing (for tour planning, ads, or promo)

The more familiar you are with your data, the more informed your next moves can be.

Final thoughts

Setting up your Apple Music for Artists profile gives you more than just a better-looking page—it gives you insight, control, and a platform to grow from.

Take the time to get verified, personalize your profile, and keep it active. Monitor your data, promote with intention, and let your presence on Apple Music work for you—not just sit there.

A strong profile supports your broader strategy. And the stronger the foundation, the better your music can reach the people who need to hear it.