Spotify's loudness normalization and codec quality requirements
Spotify normalizes playback to -14 LUFS and re-encodes to Ogg Vorbis at 96-320 kbps depending on your tier. To survive that pipeline cleanly, your master needs proper loudness, true peak headroom, and a clean lossless source. Distributors take WAV at 16-bit/44.1 kHz minimum; some require 24-bit. Get this right once and you're done.
6 tools for Spotify uploads
WAV to MP3 for Spotify uploads
Compress WAV to high-quality 320 kbps MP3.
FLAC to MP3 for Spotify uploads
Convert lossless FLAC to portable MP3 for any player.
M4A to MP3 for Spotify uploads
Convert iTunes-style M4A files to MP3.
Audio Normalizer for Spotify uploads
Normalize loudness to a consistent target level.
Album Snippet Maker for Spotify uploads
Turn an album into 30-second preview clips by energy.
Spotify Canvas Maker for Spotify uploads
Create looping 9:16 video canvases for Spotify.
Spotify Uploaders FAQ
What format does Spotify require for uploads?
Most distributors (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby) require WAV at 16-bit/44.1 kHz minimum, FLAC also accepted. Spotify itself re-encodes to Ogg Vorbis on playback.
What loudness target for Spotify?
-14 LUFS integrated, with -1 dBTP true peak ceiling. Going louder triggers Spotify's normalization pull-down; going quieter triggers a boost that can introduce peak issues.