How to Use Spotify Canvas for Cool Video Features

Get a free music video with all CD Baby distribution through June 8th. Details below!

Why you should have a Spotify Canvas for every song

Spotify Canvas is a feature that allows you to upload 3-8 second looping videos for each of your tracks on Spotify. This visual branding tool on Spotify is powerful because it has proven to draw listeners deeper into the music.

High-quality Spotify Canvases have shown to increase:

• track shares by an average of 145%
• playlist adds by 20%
• streams by 5%
• and profile visits by 9%

Given that video can stir a more immediate and high-impact emotional connection, this all makes sense. At the very least, adding a Spotify Canvas for each of your tracks shows you’re serious about your music. There are also affordable ways to create a Spotify Canvas in minutes. So why wouldn’t you make use of ALL the real estate Spotify provides?

Want to create a FREE Canvas for Spotify? Sign up a new album or single for CD Baby distribution by June 8th and we’ll give you one free credit for a video made by our friends at Rotor.

MAKE A SPOTIFY CANVAS

How to create an engaging Spotify Canvas

If you need help making a Spotify Canvas, CD Baby has partnered with Rotor Videos to simplify the video production process. More info below.

If you’re making your own videos, Spotify offers these helpful suggestions when you’re shooting or editing the looped video that will accompany your track:

1. Avoid footage with talking, rapping, or singing. Your looped video will not be synced to the music, so any mouth movements will be distracting.
2. No frenetic cuts or flashing effects. The idea is to draw someone in, not give them a stroke.
3. Keep the action centered. Player controls may appear over the lower half of the screen, so the most important stuff should be in the center or slightly higher.
4. Spotify Canvas is a vertical video format. You have to upload a video with a 9:16 aspect ratio. You can’t edit the framing within Spotify for Artists.
5. No artist, track, or album names. Those things are already viewable to listeners.
6. Tell a story. Short-form video platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok show that you can deliver a powerful punch in a matter of seconds.
7. Tell a bigger story. Upload Canvases for each song on an album that speak to one another or progress along a timeline.
8. Amplify your brand consistency. Make your Canvases fit in with your other visuals on Spotify, such as the profile picture and header image.
9. Switch your Canvases whenever. You can change a song’s Canvas any time, so think of ways to make it interactive and dynamic.
10. Experiment with different kinds of loops. Spotify defines them as:
    • The Continuous Loop – “has the satisfying feel of a seamless looping GIF with no clear beginning or end.”
    • The Hard Cut loop – “has clear edit points that can be artfully disguised.”
    • The Rebound – “plays your clip forward and then reverses it.”

 

Specifications for Spotify Canvas videos

Your Spotify Canvas should meet these requirements:

• 9:16 ratio (vertical)
• At least 720px tall
• An MP4 or JPEG file
• 3s to 8s long (MP4 only)

An affordable and automated way to make Spotify Canvases

The team at Rotor has built a great tool to help independent artists make three different types of Canvases:

• hard cut videos
• rebound/boomerang videos
• and continuous loop videos

Here’s how to produce Spotify Canvases using Rotor

This video from Rotor walks you through the process of making your Spotify Canvas in minutes. If you prefer to read step-by-step instructions, scroll down.

1. Go HERE
2. Click “Start Your Canvas”
3. Click “+ New Video”
4. Select the type of video you want to create and hit “Next”
5. Name your Spotify Canvas project (which will probably match your song title)
6. Choose whether to upload your own video or browse Rotor’s library of premium footage
7. Search by collection, mood, keyword, etc.
8. Once you find a clip you like, click “Use this clip”
9. To adjust the cropping or clip length (between 3-8 seconds), click “Edit Snippet”
10. Click “Reposition” and then drag the frame to reposition
11. Toggle the time bar to adjust the length
12. Select an editing style (which is basically a vibe/effect)
13. Select the looping mode (choose from hard-cut, rebound, or fade-repeat)
14. View a preview of how your Spotify Canvas will appear on various mobile devices
15. And then Rotor’s automated editing tech will apply your effects to the clip and create your Canvas video
16. Download it, and then…
17. Upload it through Spotify for Artists! (Step-by-step instructions below).

As an alternative solution, you can hire a skilled videographer, animator, or designer to make a compelling, custom Canvas via Spotify’s SoundBetter program (a collaboration marketplace), as they’ve added Canvas Design as a category.

The big difference between Rotor and SoundBetter is that Rotor is automated, fast, and affordable, while SoundBetter employs a real person to help with visual design. Because of this, prices at SoundBetter can start around $150. Of course you’re paying more for input from a professional designer, but if you’re on a budget you can’t beat Rotor!

Check your Spotify Canvas views

Once you’re granted access to Canvas you’ll be able to see how many people viewed your videos on Spotify. A column for views appears within the MUSIC tab of your Spotify for Artists account.

If a significant percentage of listeners are also watching your Canvases, you’ll know your efforts are paying off. If hardly anyone is watching them, you might need to step up your video efforts or put your energy elsewhere.

How to upload a Spotify Canvas for your track

Once you’ve created a video that meets Spotify’s requirements, you can upload it as a Canvas within Spotify for Artists.

The process is similar on both mobile and desktop. Since most artists will encounter this feature in mobile first, I’ve outlined those steps below.

1. Select the appropriate track within Spotify for Artists!

2. Click the + for the right song.

3. Choose a video from your camera roll (or drag and drop a video from desktop).

4. Trim the video to between 3-8 seconds.

5. Review your Canvas and click Next to upload.

6. Verify you have the right to post this video content, and then share your Canvas on social!

Where is Spotify Canvas NOT available yet?

Spotify Canvas is available in many territories. However, Canvas is NOT available to consumers in the following countries:

• Russia
• Ukraine
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Moldova
• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Morocco
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Tunisia
• United Arab Emirates
• India

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Canvas gives you an exciting way to say more about yourself on Spotify

Now you know how to create and upload short videos that bring listeners closer to your music on Spotify. In order to use Canvas though, you first need to become a verified artist on Spotify. CD Baby makes Spotify artist verification fast and simple.

As a CD Baby client, once you’ve claimed your Spotify for Artists account, you should see Spotify Canvas as an option. Have fun!

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Sell & stream your music everywhere. Claim your free video now!

Make a stunning FREE music video in minutes—no video production skills needed.

From now through June 8, when you submit music through CD Baby, you’ll receive credit to create a music video using Rotor, a video creation site for musicians.

GET STARTED

Here’s how it works:

• Upload your song
• Add your own video clips and/or clips from Rotor’s library
• And apply a video style and captions
• Rotor’s AI automatically edits it all together to match the pacing of your music

The result is a professional-quality video to use on YouTube, streaming platforms, and social media—with no video production skills or resources required.

Free video offer ends June 8

Earn credit for a free Rotor video with each song or album you release with CD Baby.

Here’s how it works:

1. Pay for distribution through cdbaby.com.
2. You’ll receive a confirmation email with a link for your free credit through Rotor.
3. Then click the link, and you’ll be brought over to a special page to redeem your credit.
4. Log in or create an account on Rotor.
5. Credit will be added to your account so you can create a video!

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Music not quite ready to release?

No problem. Just pay for distribution now and use your free video credit later.

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The post How to Use Spotify Canvas for Cool Video Features appeared first on DIY Musician.