> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wavjunkie.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Uploading Music to WAVjunkie
> File requirements, the upload wizard, auto-save, recovery, and best practices.
This guide covers everything you need to know about uploading your music to WAVjunkie, including file requirements, metadata, the wizard, and the auto-save / recovery flow.
***
## Before you upload
### Payout setup required
Before you can upload any music, you must complete your **payout setup**. This ensures you can receive earnings when listeners purchase your releases. Head to **Settings → Payouts** to connect your payment account. Once your account is verified, the upload page unlocks.
### File requirements
#### Audio format
WAVjunkie accepts **WAV files only** with the following specifications:
| Requirement | Accepted values |
| ----------- | ----------------------------- |
| Format | WAV (Waveform Audio) |
| Bit depth | 16-bit or 24-bit |
| Sample rate | 44.1kHz or higher recommended |
| Channels | Stereo preferred |
**Why WAV only?** WAV files provide the highest audio quality for your listeners. When buyers purchase your music, they receive the same high-fidelity files you upload.
#### File size
* No specific size limit per file
* Upload times may vary for larger files
#### Cover art
| Requirement | Specification |
| ------------ | ------------------ |
| Format | JPG, PNG, or WEBP |
| Minimum size | 1400 × 1400 pixels |
| Recommended | 3000 × 3000 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1 (square) |
***
## Release types
### Single
* **1 track**
* Perfect for standalone songs
* Quick to upload and publish
### EP (Extended Play)
* **2–5 tracks**
* Great for themed collections
* Shorter than a full album
### Album
* **5–20 tracks**
* Full-length projects
* Maximum impact for dedicated fans
***
## The upload wizard
WAVjunkie uses a 5-step wizard to guide you through the upload process.
**Auto-save is on by default.** Your progress saves automatically as you move between steps and you'll see a "Progress auto-saved" confirmation. If you accidentally close the tab, refresh, or lose connectivity, your metadata is preserved.
### Step 1: Release type
Choose your release format: **Single**, **EP**, or **Album**. This determines how many tracks you can upload and how your release is categorized.
### Step 2: Upload tracks
#### Uploading your WAV files
1. Click "Upload WAV File" or drag and drop
2. Wait for the file to upload and validate
3. Metadata (title, duration) is automatically extracted
4. Repeat for additional tracks (EPs and Albums)
#### Cover art upload
1. Click "Upload Cover Art" or drag and drop
2. Preview your artwork
3. Ensure it meets the minimum size requirements (1400×1400px)
**Tips for great cover art:**
* Use high-contrast, eye-catching designs
* Include your artist name and release title
* Avoid excessive text
* Ensure it looks good as a thumbnail
Cover art is optional but recommended. If no cover art is provided, WAVjunkie will use a default cover (shown below).
#### Track order
For EPs and Albums, you can reorder tracks by dragging them into your preferred sequence.
#### Automatic metadata extraction
WAVjunkie automatically extracts:
* **Track title** — from the filename or WAV metadata
* **Duration** — calculated from the audio data
You can edit these values if needed.
### Step 3: Release details
| Field | Description | Required |
| ----------- | ----------------------- | -------- |
| Title | Release title | ✅ Yes |
| Description | About your release | No |
| Genre | Primary genre/sub-genre | ✅ Yes |
| Price | Sale price in USD | ✅ Yes |
#### Genre selection
Choose from over 100 sub-genres organized into 16 categories: Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop/Rap, Electronic/Dance, R\&B/Soul, Country, Jazz, Classical, and more.
### Step 4: Credits & rights
This step captures important information about your release's credits and legal status.
#### Credits
| Field | Description | Required |
| ----------- | --------------------------- | --------------------- |
| Songwriter | Who wrote the lyrics/melody | Yes — defaults to you |
| Producer | Who produced the track | Yes — defaults to you |
| Remixer | If this is a remix | No |
| Vocals | Featured vocalists | No |
| Instruments | Instrument players | No |
#### Tags
Add optional tags to help listeners discover your music:
* **Mood tags** — Energetic, Chill, Dark, Uplifting, Melancholic, etc.
* **Format tags** — Instrumental, Vocal, Acoustic, Live, Remix, etc.
#### Copyright / Performing Rights Organisation (PRO)
If you are registered with a PRO, enter it here. Optional but recommended for royalty tracking.
* **BMI** – Broadcast Music, Inc.
* **ASCAP** – American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
* **Other** – e.g. PRS for Music, SACEM, GEMA
#### ISRC code
If you have an International Standard Recording Code (ISRC), enter it here. Optional but helpful for tracking and royalties.
#### Legal declarations
**Self-published status**
* ✅ Self-published (you own all rights)
* ❌ Publisher represented (enter publisher name)
If you have a publisher, you'll need to provide the publisher name and any relevant documentation.
**Sample usage**
* ✅ No samples used
* ❌ Contains samples (authorization required)
If you use samples, you **must** upload a PDF of your sample authorization/clearance.
**Cover version**
* ✅ Original composition
* ❌ Cover version (mechanical license required)
If this is a cover, you **must** upload a PDF of your mechanical license.
**Drag and drop is supported for licence PDFs.** You can drag a mechanical licence or sample-authorization PDF straight onto its upload tile in Step 4 — you don't need to click through to a file picker. The tile validates the file is a PDF and saves it against the release immediately. This change prevents accidental navigation away from the wizard.
### Step 5: Publishing
#### Visibility options
**Publish immediately** — Your release goes live as soon as you submit.
**Schedule for later** — Choose a specific date and time. Great for coordinated marketing campaigns, midnight releases, and building anticipation.
**Save as draft** — Keep working on your release without publishing. Return anytime to continue editing.
**A release cannot be published without tracks.** WAVjunkie blocks any attempt to make a release live, scheduled, or visible on Discover unless at least one WAV file is attached. If a release loses its tracks (for example after a failed upload), use **Re-upload Tracks** from My Releases to add new audio files before publishing.
***
## Auto-save and session recovery
WAVjunkie's upload wizard is built around the assumption that something will go wrong at some point — a tab closes, the browser crashes, the laptop sleeps. The wizard is designed so that nothing you've entered is lost.
### How auto-save works
* Every time you move between wizard steps, your progress is saved automatically.
* A small "Progress auto-saved" confirmation appears so you know it's been captured.
* The save covers all metadata: title, description, genre, credits, tags, PRO/ISRC, legal declarations, scheduled date, etc.
* WAV file uploads and cover art uploads complete to storage as soon as they finish — they don't depend on you clicking "Save" or reaching Step 5.
### Session recovery
If your session is interrupted and you return to the upload page, you'll see a **recovery banner** at the top with two options:
1. **Resume** — Picks up exactly where you left off in the wizard, with all metadata and any uploaded files restored.
2. **Save as Draft to My Releases** — Saves the release as a draft visible from **My Releases**, so you can come back to it later from anywhere.
**WAV files are not part of the recovery snapshot.** If your session was interrupted before a WAV finished uploading, that track will need to be re-uploaded when you resume. Cover art and all metadata are preserved.
### Drafts in My Releases
Drafts created via the recovery flow appear in **My Releases** with a "Draft" badge alongside your published and scheduled releases. You can:
* Open and continue editing them
* Re-upload missing WAV files
* Publish or schedule when ready
* Delete the draft if you no longer need it
### Editing a scheduled release date
If your release is scheduled for a future date, you can change that date at any time from **My Releases → Edit**:
* Open the release and scroll to the **Scheduled Release Date** section.
* Pick a new date and time, then click **Save Changes**.
* A confirmation dialog shows the previous and new dates side by side.
* Once you confirm, you'll receive an automated email confirming the change.
***
## Monthly upload limits
Upload limits depend on your artist plan:
| Plan | Tracks per month | Billing |
| ---- | ---------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Free | 20 tracks | \$0 |
| Grow | 50 tracks | \$59.99/year (annual only) |
| Pro | 100 tracks | $14.99/month or $129.99/year |
All limits reset on the **1st of each month**. Your current usage and remaining uploads are displayed in the upload wizard.
If you're hitting your upload limit, consider upgrading at **Settings → Plans**. Grow and Pro plans also include FM features at no extra cost.
**Community rewards:** From time to time, WAVjunkie may grant bonus uploads as a thank-you for contributions like bug reports or community support. These temporary extras are added to your monthly limit and displayed automatically on the upload page.
***
## After publishing
### Managing your releases
From **My Releases** in your dashboard, you can:
* **Edit** — Update metadata, description, tags
* **Delete** — Remove the release permanently
* **View Analytics** — See plays, downloads, earnings
### Editing a published release
You can update:
* ✅ Title and description
* ✅ Price
* ✅ Tags and genre
* ✅ Cover art
* ✅ Visibility settings
You **cannot** change:
* ❌ Audio files (delete and re-upload instead)
* ❌ Release type
### Deleting a release
When you delete a release:
* It's permanently removed from the platform
* Existing purchasers retain their download access
* Your earnings from past sales are unaffected
***
## Troubleshooting
### "Invalid file format" error
**Cause:** Your file is not a valid 16-bit or 24-bit WAV file.
**Solution:**
1. Open your audio in a DAW (Ableton, FL Studio, Logic, etc.)
2. Export as WAV with 16-bit or 24-bit depth
3. Re-upload the new file
### Upload stuck or failed
**Possible causes:**
* Slow internet connection
* File too large for your connection
* Browser timeout
**Solutions:**
1. Refresh the page and try again — your metadata is auto-saved
2. Try a different browser
3. Check your internet connection
4. Try a smaller file first to test
### Cover art too small
**Cause:** Image dimensions are below 1400×1400 pixels.
**Solution:** Use a higher-resolution source image. Don't stretch small images — they'll look blurry.
### Can't see my published release
Check these settings:
1. **Visibility** — Is it set to visible?
2. **Draft status** — Is it still marked as draft?
3. **Schedule** — Is it scheduled for a future date?
4. **Cover version / sample** — Is it being held for licence review? See [Content Guidelines](/artists/content-guidelines).
***
## Best practices
### Audio quality
* ✅ Export at the highest quality your master allows
* ✅ Use 24-bit for maximum fidelity
* ✅ Properly level and master your tracks
* ❌ Don't over-compress or over-limit
### Metadata accuracy
* ✅ Use a consistent artist/display name
* ✅ Include all relevant credits
* ✅ Choose accurate genres and tags
* ✅ Write engaging descriptions
### Cover art
* ✅ Invest in professional or high-quality artwork
* ✅ Ensure text is readable at small sizes
* ✅ Use consistent branding across releases
* ❌ Don't use copyrighted images without permission
### Pricing
| Release type | Suggested range |
| ------------ | --------------- |
| Single | $1 – $1.99 |
| EP | $2.99 – $7.99 |
| Album | $7.99 – $14.99 |
Consider your audience, production quality, and comparable releases when pricing.
WAVjunkie has a minimum price of \$1.
***
## Legal requirements summary
| Situation | Required documentation |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| Original music (self-published) | None |
| Music with publisher | Publisher information |
| Contains samples | Sample authorization PDF |
| Cover version | Mechanical license PDF |
Uploading content you don't have rights to is a violation of our Terms of Service and may result in DMCA takedowns and account suspension.
***
## Quick reference checklist
Before hitting publish, verify:
* [ ] WAV files are 16-bit or 24-bit
* [ ] Cover art is at least 1400×1400px
* [ ] All credits are accurate
* [ ] Genre and tags are relevant
* [ ] Price is set correctly
* [ ] Legal declarations are truthful
* [ ] Required licence PDFs are uploaded (if applicable)
* [ ] Description is compelling
* [ ] Visibility/schedule is correct
***
## Need help?
If you encounter issues during upload:
* **Email**: [admin@wavjunkie.com](mailto:admin@wavjunkie.com)
* **Subject**: Upload Support
Include your artist name, release title, a description of the issue, and any error messages.
Happy uploading! 🎵