FeaturedGuides
Can you release an AI track in 2026? Rules, rights and labeling
Can you release an AI-generated song on Yandex Music and other services? Understand AI labels, Suno ownership, takedown risks and an honest path to release.
creator blog
Know-how forindependentartists
Practical guides to releasing, promoting and earning from music. Clear answers to complex questions.
Guides
How to release an album or EP in 2026: preparation, timing and promotion
Understand platform rules for singles, EPs and albums, sequence your tracks, choose a focus track, prepare metadata and plan your Yandex Music album promotion.
Finance
How to earn from your music in 2026: 8 artist income sources
Artist income in 2026: streaming royalties, Yandex Music donations, Russia’s RAO and VOIS, shows, merchandise, sync and services. Plus payout calculations and Russian self-employed taxes.
Marketing
Getting into Yandex Music’s My Vibe: track promotion in 2026
How My Vibe works after its 2026 update, what Nitro and BandLink pitching do, which listener signals matter and how to prepare for Yandex Music recommendations.
Guides
Your Yandex Music artist profile: create, verify and update it
How Yandex Music artist profiles appear, how to verify in BandLink, update photos and descriptions, and unlock donations, analytics and pitching. A 2026 guide.
Guides
creator AI Studio: music, cover art and video
How to use creator AI Studio: develop a track, create cover art and video visuals, check your results and prepare materials for a standalone project or release.
Guides
Your release isn’t on platforms: what to check
What to do if your track is missing from Yandex Music, VK or Spotify: check delivery, dates, territories and artist profiles, then use our support request template.
Guides
Your track is on the wrong artist profile: how to fix it
Correct a release assigned to the wrong artist on Yandex Music or Spotify: collect the right links, contact support and check your profile before your next release.
Guides
AI song generators: 5 services and a step-by-step workflow
Compare AI song and music tools in 2026: features, free-plan limits, track rights and the path from a prompt to cover art and release.
Guides
How to write your first song: lyrics, music and structure
A step-by-step plan for your first song: find an idea, write verses and a chorus, develop a melody, record a demo, check rights and prepare for release.
Comparisons
Music production software: beginner-friendly DAWs compared
Compare desktop music production software: FL Studio, Ableton Live, REAPER, GarageBand and LMMS. Find a DAW for beats, vocals and your first release.
Comparisons
Music-making apps for your phone: which should you choose?
Compare mobile music apps: BandLab, GarageBand, FL Studio Mobile and Koala Sampler. Capture ideas, make beats and record vocals on your phone.
Guides
How to make your first beat: rhythm, bass, melody and arrangement
Build your first beat in a DAW, step by step: tempo, drums, bass, harmony, melody, arrangement, sample licenses and export for the next stage.
Guides
How to record a song at home: vocals, equipment and workflow
Prepare your room, connect a microphone, set levels, record vocal and instrument takes, and deliver organized tracks for mixing.
Guides
How to mix a track: a step-by-step beginner’s guide
Prepare a session, set levels and panning, use EQ, compression, space and automation, and export your mix for mastering.
Guides
Track mastering: what it is and how to prepare a release
Understand mastering versus mixing, check mix readiness, loudness, True Peak, encoding and the final file format before release.
Rights
Content ID claimed my own track on YouTube: what should I do?
Why Content ID may claim your own release, how claims differ from strikes, and how to request a claim release and channel allowlisting.
Finance
How much does Yandex Music pay per 1,000 streams in 2026?
There is no fixed rate per 1,000 streams. Learn to calculate actual Yandex Music earnings from your own artist report.
Comparisons
Music distributor or record label: the difference and how to choose
Who owns the rights, how the money is split, and when you need a record label rather than a way to deliver your music to platforms.
Finance
Music royalties: types, calculations and how you get paid
Understand master and publishing royalties, streamshare, the journey from platform to artist, and how to read your royalty report.
Comparisons
Moving from FreshTunes: a guide to changing distributors
What was known about FreshTunes in 2026, and how to move your catalog while reducing the risk of downtime and duplicate releases on platforms.
Guides
UPC codes for music: what they are and how they differ from ISRCs
What a music release’s UPC identifies, where to find it and how to get one. Understand UPC, EAN and GTIN codes versus a track’s ISRC, with practical examples.
Guides
ISRC codes: what they are, where to find yours and how to get one
Understand your track’s ISRC, when to retain an existing code, when a new one is needed, and how it differs from a release’s UPC.
Guides
Releasing on Spotify from Russia in 2026: how it works
Spotify left Russia in 2022, but artists can still deliver music through distributors. Understand the process, timelines and realistic expectations.
Distribution
How to release music on VK Music in 2026: an artist’s guide
Release a song on VK Music through a distributor: upload steps, audio and cover requirements, VK Studio, and royalties.
Guides
Spotify artist verification in 2026: how to claim your profile
Claim your profile through Spotify for Artists: find your artist URI, verify your connection to the artist, and handle a profile that is already claimed.
Comparisons
Music distributors in Russia in 2026: prices and royalties compared
Compare music distributors serving Russia in 2026: prices, commission, royalties, platform coverage, payments from Russia, payouts, and support.
Marketing
Marketing your first track: a 30-day checklist
A day-by-day plan for promoting your debut single: the month before release, the first 48 hours, and what comes next. Practical guidance informed by our catalog.
Guides
How to release music on Yandex Music in 2026: an artist’s guide
Release a song on Yandex Music through a distributor: upload steps, WAV and cover requirements, timelines, pricing, and BandLink.
Guides
How to release a cover song legally: agreements, rights, and distribution
A guide to releasing a cover under Russian law: licensing agreements, the limits of RAO representation, and the rights documents needed for review.
Marketing
How to get on Yandex Music playlists: pitching through BandLink
Where to pitch a track to Yandex Music, when the BandLink button appears, how early to apply, and what to tell the editors.
Guides
How to prepare a track for release: the complete checklist
Your complete music release checklist: WAV or FLAC, cover art, metadata, rights, release date, pitching, and a final check before uploading.
Guides
How to release a track across streaming platforms in 2026
How to release a song on Yandex Music, VK, Spotify, Apple Music, and other services: choosing a distributor, preparing your release, timing, and costs.
Marketing
Promoting music on TikTok in 2026: what works for Russian audiences
TikTok access in Russia in 2026 and practical alternatives: VK Clips, YouTube Shorts, and Reels. Short-video strategies and platform considerations.
Rights
Music copyright in Russia: what is protected and how to prove ownership
How automatic protection works, how composition copyright differs from recording rights, how to document authorship, and why an ISRC is not proof.
Guides
Track cover art: dimensions, formats, and requirements
Cover art dimensions for creator, Spotify, and Apple Music; JPG/PNG and sRGB requirements; prohibited text; and common reasons for rejection.
Distribution
How to release a song for free in 2026: uploads, platforms and costs
Where to upload a song for free, why Yandex Music and VK Music require a distributor, the cost behind free distribution and when a subscription makes sense. A 2026 guide.
Get started
Your artist journey
Four steps from an idea to your first payout. Read in order or jump to the stage you need.
- CreateSongs, beats and mixingStart withHow to write your first song
- ReleasePreparation and uploadingStart withHow to prepare a track for release
- PromoteArtist profiles, playlists and social mediaStart withYour Yandex Music artist profile
- EarnRoyalties and protecting your rightsStart withMusic royalties
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