What happens when you change your name on DistroKid

When you change your artist name in DistroKid, the change applies to new music you upload going forward — but it does not automatically update your name on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, or the other platforms where your music already lives. Those platforms keep their own copies of your artist information, so you have to update each one separately. DistroKid is the middleman that sends your music out; it does not control what those platforms display once the music arrives.

The reason this matters: if you change your name in DistroKid but not on Spotify, your old releases will still show your old name, and new releases will show your new name. Listeners see two different artist pages. Streaming counts and followers stay split between them. You lose the benefit of having all your music under one name.

The process takes two steps: change your name in DistroKid itself, then go to each platform and update it there. Some platforms let you do this yourself; others require you to contact support.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing your name in DistroKid only affects music you upload after the change — existing releases keep their old artist name on streaming platforms.
  • You must update your artist name separately on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and other platforms where your music appears.
  • Spotify and Apple Music let you update your name yourself through their artist dashboards; other platforms may require you to contact their support teams.
  • The name change takes effect when ready in DistroKid but can take days or weeks to appear across all streaming platforms.

How to change your name in DistroKid

Log into your DistroKid account and go to your profile settings. Click on your artist name or the account icon in the top right corner, then select "Account Settings" or "Profile Settings" depending on which version of the site you see. Look for a field labeled "Artist Name" or "Display Name."

Type your new artist name into that field. DistroKid allows most characters, but avoid special symbols that platforms might not accept — stick to letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens. Once you have entered the new name, save the changes. The name updates in your DistroKid dashboard when ready, and any music you upload from that point forward will carry the new name.

Keep in mind: this change does not touch the music you have already distributed. Your old releases remain under your old artist name on all platforms until you update them individually.

Updating your name on Spotify for Artists

Go to artists.spotify.com and log in with the account connected to your music. Click on your artist profile, then look for "Edit Profile" or a pencil icon next to your artist name. You will see a field for your artist name — change it to match what you just set in DistroKid.

Spotify applies the change to your artist page within a few hours, but the change may take longer to show on individual song pages and in search results. If you have multiple artist profiles on Spotify (which can happen if you uploaded music under slightly different name spellings), you may need to contact Spotify support to merge them. Spotify does not have a self-service merge tool, so you will need to use their support form and explain that the profiles are the same person.

Updating your name on Apple Music

Log into music.apple.com with your Apple ID and navigate to your artist profile. Look for an "Edit" button or settings option on your profile page. Apple Music lets you edit your artist name, bio, and image directly. Change your artist name to match your DistroKid update and save.

The change usually appears within 24 hours, though it can take up to a week for Apple to update all instances across their system. Like Spotify, Apple Music can create separate profiles if your name spelling has varied — contact Apple Music support if you need to consolidate them.

Updating your name on YouTube Music and Google Play

YouTube Music and Google Play Music use the same artist database. Go to youtube.com, click your profile icon, and select "Create a channel" if you do not have one yet, or go to your existing channel. On your channel page, click "Customize channel" and edit your channel name. This name appears as your artist name on YouTube Music.

For Google Play Music (which is being phased out in favor of YouTube Music), the process is similar — update your artist profile through your Google account settings. Changes take effect within a few hours on YouTube Music but may take longer on Google Play if you still have access to it.

Updating your name on Amazon Music and other platforms

Amazon Music does not have a self-service artist dashboard the way Spotify and Apple Music do. To change your artist name there, contact Amazon Music support through their help center and provide your artist ID and the name change you want to make. They will update it on their end, though it can take one to two weeks.

For smaller platforms like Bandcamp, Tidal, Deezer, or any others where your music appears, check whether each one has an artist dashboard. If it does, log in and update your name. If it does not, look for a support contact form and send a request with your artist ID and the name change. Keep a list of where your music is distributed so you do not miss any platforms.

What to do if your old and new names are showing up separately

If you changed your name in DistroKid but did not update it everywhere, you may see your music split between two artist pages on the same platform. On Spotify and Apple Music, this is usually fixable by contacting support and explaining that both names are you — they can sometimes merge the profiles or redirect one to the other.

On YouTube Music, you can only have one channel, so the split happens less often. On Amazon Music and other platforms, the split may be permanent unless you contact support and ask them to consolidate. The sooner you update your name across all platforms after changing it in DistroKid, the less likely you are to end up with this problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my name in DistroKid change it on all platforms automatically?

No. DistroKid only controls the name on new music you upload. Existing releases keep their old artist name on Spotify, Apple Music, and everywhere else. You have to update each platform separately.

How long does it take for a name change to show up on streaming platforms?

Spotify and Apple Music usually update within hours to a day. Amazon Music and smaller platforms can take one to two weeks. YouTube Music updates within a few hours. Check back after a few days if you do not see the change right away.

What if I want to keep my old artist name for existing music but use a new name for future releases?

You can do this by creating a separate artist profile in DistroKid for your new name and uploading future music under that profile. Your old music stays under your old name, and new music appears under the new name. Listeners will see two separate artist pages, so this works best if you are making a clear break between the two projects.

Can I change my artist name back to what it was before?

Yes. Follow the same process: change it in DistroKid, then update it on each platform. There is no limit to how many times you can change your name, though frequent changes can confuse listeners and split your streaming counts.

What if a platform does not have an artist dashboard?

Contact that platform's support team through their help center. Provide your artist ID (which you can find in DistroKid or on your artist page) and the name change you want. Support will update it manually, though it may take longer than self-service updates.