Quick Answer
Always upload WAV (44.1kHz, 16-bit minimum). Never upload MP3 to your distributor.
Distributors like Western Beats transcode your file to the format each platform requires. If you give them a compressed MP3, they can't restore quality that was already lost. Give them the best possible source file.
WAV vs MP3 — Key Differences
| WAV | MP3 | FLAC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | None (lossless) | Lossy (quality lost) | Lossless compressed |
| File size (3 min track) | ~50MB | ~7MB | ~25MB |
| Quality loss | None | Yes — permanent | None |
| Accepted by distributors | ✓ Yes | ⚠️ Often rejected | ✓ Yes |
| Best for | Distribution upload | Social media previews | Distribution upload |
Exact Requirements by Platform
| Platform | Accepted Format | Sample Rate | Bit Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | WAV / FLAC | 44.1kHz+ | 16-bit+ | Streams at OGG 320kbps to users |
| Apple Music | WAV / FLAC / AIFF | 44.1kHz+ | 16-bit+ | Lossless up to 24-bit/192kHz for Lossless tier |
| JioSaavn | WAV / FLAC | 44.1kHz | 16-bit+ | Streams at MP3 320kbps to premium users |
| Amazon Music | WAV / FLAC | 44.1kHz+ | 16-bit+ | HD tier plays up to 24-bit/192kHz |
| Gaana | WAV / MP3 (320kbps) | 44.1kHz | 16-bit | Accepts 320kbps MP3 as minimum |
| Wynk Music | WAV / MP3 (320kbps) | 44.1kHz | 16-bit | Similar to Gaana requirements |
🟢 What to upload to Western Beats: WAV file, 44.1kHz sample rate, 16-bit or 24-bit, stereo. If your DAW exports 24-bit/48kHz, that's also perfectly fine — we handle the transcoding to each platform's required format automatically.
Common Mistakes Indian Artists Make
- Uploading an MP3 exported from a DAW — even 320kbps MP3 has irreversible quality loss compared to WAV.
- Converting an old MP3 to WAV and uploading that — this does NOT restore quality. The quality was lost when the MP3 was created.
- Uploading 22kHz or 32kHz files — these sound noticeably worse on quality speakers and audiophile listeners will notice.
- Using 8-bit files — these sound like old phone audio. Always use 16-bit minimum.
- Uploading in CMYK — audio files don't have colour mode, but WAV files exported incorrectly from some video editors can have issues.
- Normalising to -14 LUFS before upload — let the distributor handle loudness normalisation. Spotify will normalise to -14 LUFS anyway.
Upload your WAV — we handle the rest.
Western Beats accepts WAV and FLAC files and transcodes them perfectly for every platform. Free forever.
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