Your song can be live on Spotify and other streaming services while the lyrics are still missing.
That is because your audio and your lyrics do not always travel through the same system.
Musixmatch gives artists a way to take control of that.
Musixmatch is a lyrics platform that supplies official and synchronized lyrics to Spotify and other streaming, search and social platforms.
For artists, the process happens through Musixmatch Pro.
Why use Musixmatch?
Musixmatch lets verified artists manage the words connected to their music instead of hoping somebody else gets them right.
You can use it to:
- add official lyrics
- correct existing lyrics
- synchronize lyrics with the recording
- manage song information and credits
- send lyrics to supported partner platforms
Synchronized lyrics, sometimes called synced lyrics, follow the song in real time so listeners can read each line as it is sung.
That is the experience listeners see on services such as Spotify.
Step 1: Get the music released first
Musixmatch needs a recording to connect your lyrics to.
Your music distributor is the company that delivers your recordings and release information to digital services.
Make sure your distributor has delivered the song and the release exists on the platforms Musixmatch will use to identify it.
If you are still preparing the release itself, our music distribution checklist covers the things worth handling before distribution.
Step 2: Create a Musixmatch Pro account
Musixmatch Pro is the artist-facing version of Musixmatch.
It offers both free and paid plans. If your main goal is adding, editing and syncing lyrics on Spotify, Spotify currently says Musixmatch’s free tier is enough.
When creating the account, use an email address connected to the artist, label or management company when possible. That can make verification easier.
Step 3: Verify your artist
Once you are inside Musixmatch Pro:
- Open Roster.
- Select Add artist.
- Enter the artist’s Spotify URL.
- Complete the requested artist information.
- Submit the profile for verification.
Musixmatch reviews the request and generally responds by email within a few business days.
Double-check the artist profile before claiming it. Artists with similar or identical names can create the same kind of profile confusion here that they can on streaming services.
If you still need access to the artist’s Spotify profile, our Spotify for Artists setup guide can help.
Step 4: Find the song
After Musixmatch verifies the artist, open the artist’s roster.
Songs that need work may appear under To Do. You can also find releases under Music.
If a song is missing, Musixmatch currently lets verified users choose Add missing release from the Music section.
Musixmatch says a manually added release can take up to 48 hours to appear.
Step 5: Add or correct the lyrics
Select the song, open Lyrics and enter the complete lyrics.
This sounds easy.
It is also where you should slow down.
Do not submit what you think the artist sang. Submit what the artist actually sang.
Musixmatch and Spotify recommend:
- writing every lyric in full
- writing repeated lines each time instead of using shortcuts such as “x2”
- including only words that are actually sung
- using the lyrics’ native script
- checking spelling, punctuation and wording carefully
If there is an official lyric sheet, use it.
There is no reason for the artist’s own verified lyrics to contain a fan transcription error that has been floating around the internet for six years.
Step 6: Sync the lyrics
Once the words are correct, you can synchronize them to the recording.
Open Sync for the song and listen through the track while setting the timing for each line.
Musixmatch recommends syncing a line when its first word is sung.
If multiple vocals overlap, prioritize the main vocal when deciding which line to follow.
Spotify Premium users can link their Spotify account so Musixmatch can access the song audio. Musixmatch also provides an Audio section for manually adding audio when needed.
Take your time here.
Lyrics that consistently appear a second late are technically synchronized. They are also annoying.
Step 7: Send the lyrics
Once the lyrics and timing look right, submit them through Musixmatch.
Do not expect every partner platform to change instantly.
For Spotify, changes submitted through Musixmatch can take a few days to appear.
The timing on other services can vary.
Where can Musixmatch lyrics appear?
Musixmatch distributes official lyrics across a network of music, social and digital partners.
Current Musixmatch tools specifically promote distribution to services such as Spotify, Apple Music and Instagram, along with other digital platforms.
Musixmatch also supports lyric experiences across platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat through its broader partner network.
Not every service relies exclusively on Musixmatch.
For example, Apple Music for Artists also lets authorized artists and teams submit and correct lyrics directly through Apple’s own artist tools.
The important thing is knowing which route controls the lyrics on the service you are trying to fix.
Keep checking your catalog
Getting verified is not a one-time cleanup project.
Check new releases after they go live.
Make sure the right lyrics reached the right song. Fix mistakes when you find them. Synchronize tracks that still have plain lyrics only.
If your catalog is large, start with the songs people actually listen to and work outward from there.
Your fans should not have to guess the words
You already wrote them.
Musixmatch gives you a way to make sure listeners see the right ones.
Claim the artist. Check the catalog. Add the official lyrics. Sync them carefully. Then keep the information current as new music comes out.
If fans are going to sing the wrong words anyway, at least you will know you did your part.
