Single, EP, or Album: What to Choose

Why Does This Choice Matter?

The release type you choose in Step 1 isn't just a label: it determines how many tracks you need to upload before you can submit the release for review, and a few validation rules change depending on the type. Getting it right from the start saves you from having to adjust tracks later.

As a practical rule: decide the type before uploading your audio files. If you change it after tracks have already been added, you may no longer meet the required count for the new type.

Single

• Track count: exactly 1.
• The track's title must match the release title exactly (case-insensitive). If they differ, the validation checklist won't pass.
• Main artists: up to 4 before Spotify groups the release as "Various Artists."

Use it for a single song: a lead single, a one-off collaboration, or any one-track release.

EP

• Track count: between 2 and 6.
• Main artists: up to 3 before the "Various Artists" warning.

Use it for a short body of work — more than a single, but not a full album. Unlike a Single, each track can have its own title freely (it doesn't need to match the release title).

Album

• Track count: 7 or more, with no upper limit.
• Main artists: up to 3 before the "Various Artists" warning.
• If your album compiles songs that were already released before (e.g., a "Greatest Hits"), you can turn on the "This is a compilation" toggle in Step 2 of the advanced form without changing the type — this is just an extra piece of metadata and doesn't change the minimum track count.

Use it for a complete body of work.

Quick Reference

A Note on "Compilation"

There's also a fourth type, Compilation, meant for special cases that group songs from different sources. The system doesn't enforce a minimum track count for it. If your project doesn't clearly fit Single, EP, or Album, contact support before selecting it to confirm it's the right choice.