DSP Delivery Timeframes
Know how long it takes for your music to go live on each platform after approval and plan around holidays and blackout dates
Plan your release so it goes live on time, every time
Delivery timing varies by DSP, and that timing directly affects whether your release appears everywhere on the date you announce. If you are planning a coordinated campaign across streaming platforms, social media, press, and playlist pitching, you need enough lead time for every platform to finish processing before release day.
A release can be approved quickly and still arrive at different times across different services. The safest approach is to treat delivery windows as estimates, build in buffer time, and avoid scheduling your campaign around the earliest possible live date.
How delivery works
After you submit a release in DIMBER, our team reviews the metadata, artwork, audio, and release setup before approving it for delivery. Once approved, DIMBER sends the release to every DSP you selected.
Each DSP then runs its own ingestion, validation, and publishing process. That means the delivery clock starts when DIMBER approves your release, not when you first submit it.
Standard delivery timeframes
Use these estimates to plan your release schedule after DIMBER approval:
- Spotify: 2-5 business days
- Apple Music: 1-5 business days
- YouTube Music: 1-3 business days
- Amazon Music: 2-5 business days
- TIDAL: 3-7 business days
- Deezer: 2-5 business days
- Boomplay: 3-7 business days
- Audiomack: 2-5 business days
- Mdundo: 3-7 business days
- Other DSPs: 3-10 business days
These timeframes are estimates, not guarantees. DSPs process deliveries at their own pace, and timing can vary based on internal review queues, regional processing, and seasonal volume. Always build in buffer time.
Recommended lead times
Submit standard releases at least 3-4 weeks before your target release date. That window gives DIMBER time to review your release and gives DSPs enough time to ingest and publish it across platforms.
If you want to pitch to editorial playlists, submit 4-6 weeks in advance. That extra time helps you avoid rushed approvals and gives you a better chance of meeting platform pitching deadlines.
Submitting less than 2 weeks before your release date creates a high risk that your music will not be live on all platforms on release day. DIMBER cannot guarantee delivery windows shorter than 2 weeks.
Blackout dates and holiday delays
DSP processing often slows down during major holiday periods. Reduced staffing, heavier submission volume, and longer ingestion queues can all add extra time to standard delivery windows.
Expect the most common delays around Christmas and New Year, Thanksgiving, Easter, and regional public holidays. During late December through early January, delivery can take an additional 2-5 business days beyond normal estimates.
Plan releases in November and early December carefully. DSP ingestion queues often back up during this period, and late-December releases may not go live until mid-January. If you need a holiday release, submit by early December.
What happens if a DSP is delayed
If one DSP is slower than the others, your release may go live on some platforms before it appears everywhere else. That is normal and does not always mean something is wrong with the release.
DIMBER monitors delivery status and follows up with DSPs when a delivery appears stuck or unusually delayed. You can also check delivery status in your DIMBER dashboard to see which platforms have completed processing and which are still pending.
Release day strategy
Use this checklist to reduce the risk of release day delays:
- Submit early: 3-4 weeks minimum for standard releases
- Check delivery status: Monitor progress in your DIMBER dashboard
- Build buffer for holidays: Add extra lead time around seasonal blackout periods
- Don't announce until approved: Wait for DIMBER approval before locking in campaign timing
- Coordinate social media: Align posts, links, and promo with confirmed live dates