It’s been years, and somehow artists still can’t tag collaborators correctly on Spotify. Every week someone uploads a track, types their friend’s name into the “featuring” field, and then wonders why it created a brand-new empty profile with one lonely song and no listeners. That’s not a feature. That’s a mistake.
If you’re reading this before uploading your song — good. You can still save yourself. If you’ve already made a mess — we’ll walk you through how to fix it.
Table of Contents
Why Correct Tagging Matters
Spotify is built around metadata. When you type an artist’s name incorrectly or skip the step of selecting their actual Spotify profile, you break the metadata. That means:
- Your collaboration won’t appear in their “Featured On” section.
- The algorithm won’t connect you two — you lose recommendation power.
- Your name fragments into multiple profiles that confuse both fans and Spotify.
- You start showing up in search next to ten different versions of yourself.
Think of it like Instagram. You wouldn’t make five different profiles for yourself, right? So why would you do it on Spotify?
Step 1: Claim Your Artist Profile
The first time anyone uploads a track with your name on it, Spotify automatically creates a profile for you — even if you didn’t ask for it. That’s your digital footprint. Claim it immediately through Spotify for Artists.
To do it right:
- Go to artists.spotify.com and click “Claim Your Profile.”
- Search for your artist name or paste the direct link to your artist page.
- Verify ownership by logging in through your distributor or official email.
- Once approved, you’ll see the blue check mark and full dashboard access.
That profile — the one with the blue tick — is your home base. Everything should point to it. For full setup tips, read How to Access Your Spotify Artist Profile and How to Optimize Your Spotify Artist Account.
Step 2: How to Tag Collaborators Correctly
When you upload a song through your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, UnitedMasters, etc.), it’ll ask you who’s on the track. Don’t just type their name. That’s how you create a “ghost profile” — a one-song graveyard that will never connect to anything else.
Here’s what you do instead:
- Ask your collaborator for their Spotify Artist URL. It looks like this:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Xyo4u8uXC1ZmMpatF05PJ - Paste that URL or URI directly into your distributor’s collaborator field.
- If your collaborator uses multiple aliases, make sure they send you the link to the correct one.
- Double-check spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Every detail matters.
When tagged correctly, the song will appear in both artists’ “Featured On” sections, and both audiences will see it in their algorithms. Everybody wins.
Step 3: What Happens When You Do It Wrong
If you skip this step and just type someone’s name, Spotify creates a brand-new profile with just that song on it. That’s a dummy account — no image, no followers, no reach. The algorithm doesn’t associate it with the real artist, and fans have no idea who it is.
If someone tags you incorrectly and you see a ghost profile with your name and one track, you can’t fix it yourself. You have to contact the person who uploaded the song — the idiot who tagged you wrong — and make them fix it in their distributor dashboard. They’re the only one who can do it.
Politely (or not) explain that they need to replace the bad tag with your correct Spotify artist link. Once they re-upload or correct the metadata, Spotify will merge the listings automatically.
Step 4: Cleaning Up Duplicate Profiles
Duplicate artist profiles aren’t just messy — they actively damage your algorithmic visibility. They confuse fans and waste all the streaming data you’ve built up.
Here’s how to clean it up:
- Search your name on Spotify and identify all duplicate profiles.
- Note which songs are connected to which profile.
- If it’s your own upload, fix the artist tag in your distributor to point to your verified Spotify URI.
- Once corrected, contact Spotify for Artists Support and request a merge, providing both links and proof of ownership.
- If it’s someone else’s upload, contact them to fix their metadata first. You can’t fix what you don’t control.
After duplicates are cleared, ask Spotify support to remove any empty ghost profiles that remain. Once all songs point to your verified page, the system will consolidate your streams and recommendations.
Step 5: Prevent It from Happening Again
- Use your verified artist link every time someone features you.
- Keep your Spotify profile claimed and updated.
- Stick with one distributor when possible to avoid metadata conflicts.
- Audit your artist name regularly for duplicates or typos.
- Share your artist link publicly — don’t assume people can “find” you.
Tagging properly once saves you months of chaos later. It’s the difference between having one strong, unified presence and five random ghost profiles that nobody listens to.
The Bottom Line
If you’re an artist with multiple aliases, or you collaborate often, take control of your data. Spotify’s system rewards accuracy — the better your metadata, the better you perform. Tag correctly, clean up duplicates, and make sure every track you’ve ever touched leads back to one central identity: you.
Turn Strategy into Action
If you’re ready to clean up your Spotify presence, fix your duplicate profiles, or tag your collaborations properly, check out our services:
Also read How to Access Your Spotify Artist Profile and How to Optimize Your Spotify Artist Account for step-by-step guidance.
360 Promo is a full-service music marketing, promotion, distribution and admin company. Learn more about us and what we do at 360 Promo, follow us on Instagram and contact us to tailor a plan that works for you.