What are you uploading?
Free uploads are for getting heard, selling is for getting paid per download, and an album or EP puts several tracks under one cover. You can edit any of them later.
Upload a free song
For singles you want heard. Anyone can stream it, and you get a link and a short video to share.
MP3 up to 8 MB
Sell a song or beat
Set a price from Ksh 50. Listeners hear a 30-second preview, buyers download the full track, and you keep 90%, paid to M-PESA.
MP3 up to 15 MB, at least 60 seconds
Upload an album or EP
Two to 30 tracks under one cover and title. Schedule the drop with a countdown if you like.
MP3s up to 8 MB each
Not sure? If buyers should pay to download it (beats too), sell it. Two or more songs going out together, upload an album or EP. Otherwise, upload it free.
Compare all three side by side
| Free song | Sell a song or beat | Album or EP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to upload | Free | Free | Free |
| Listeners can | Stream and download | Stream a 30 s preview, buy the full song | Stream every track |
| You earn from | Plays and promotion | Each sale (90%, or about 96–98% on PRO) | Plays and promotion |
| Price | Free | You choose, from Ksh 50 | Free |
| File | MP3, up to 8 MB | MP3, up to 15 MB, at least 60 s | MP3s, up to 8 MB each |
| Tracks per upload | 1 | 1 | 2 to 30 |
| Cover art | From 360×360, cropped square | From 360×360, cropped square | One square cover for all |
| Schedule a release | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube video on the page | Yes | Yes | No |
| Edit or remove later | Yes | Yes | Yes, per track |
Before you upload
- Your song as an MP3. Free songs up to 8 MB, songs for sale up to 15 MB and at least 60 seconds.
- Square cover art. JPG, PNG or WebP, at least 360×360 pixels. Not square? You crop it while uploading.
- A title and a genre. If your MP3 already has a title, genre or cover inside it, Ziki fills them in for you.
- A complete profile. A photo, short bio, location and one social link, so listeners know who you are.
- The rights to the music. You must own the recording and the song, or have permission to distribute them.
How uploading works
- Choose the type. Pick a free upload, a song or beat for sale, or an album or EP.
- Add your MP3. Drop the file in. While it uploads you can type the details, and you can preview it before publishing.
- Fill in the details. Title, genre, cover art and an optional description. Set a price if you're selling, and tick AI-assisted if AI was used.
- Publish or schedule. Release now or pick a date. You get a link to share and a 10-second video for Status, Reels and TikTok.
Ziki is a Kenyan music platform where independent artists from Kenya and East Africa upload and share their music, fans stream it free, and producers sell beats and earn. Uploading is free on every account, sales are paid out to M-PESA, and on Ziki PRO (Ksh 49 a month) Ziki takes no commission.
Questions about uploading
What is the difference between a free upload and selling music on Ziki?
A free upload can be streamed by anyone and earns you listeners. A song or beat for sale has a price you set (from Ksh 50): listeners hear a 30-second preview and buyers pay to download the full MP3. Both are free to upload.
How much do I get when someone buys my song or beat?
On a Basic account you keep 90% of each sale and Ziki covers the payment fee, so a Ksh 1,000 sale pays you Ksh 900. On Ziki PRO (Ksh 49 a month) Ziki takes 0% commission and only the payment processor's fee comes off, usually leaving about Ksh 960 to 985. Earnings are paid out to M-PESA.
How do I sell a beat on Ziki?
Choose “Sell a song or beat”, upload the beat as an MP3 of at least 60 seconds, set your price and publish. It is listed under Beats in the marketplace, and buyers get a standard non-exclusive licence that requires them to credit you.
What files can I upload, and how big can they be?
Upload MP3 audio: up to 8 MB for a free song or album track, and up to 15 MB for a song you sell. Cover art can be JPG, PNG or WebP, at least 360×360 pixels and up to 5 MB; if it is not square you crop it while uploading.
How do I upload an album or EP?
Choose “Upload an album or EP”, add one cover and a title, then drop in 2 to 30 MP3s. You can reorder and rename tracks, and every track also gets its own page.
Can I schedule a release for later?
Yes. Turn on scheduling while uploading and pick a date up to a year ahead. Until then your link shows a countdown, and the song goes live by itself.
Can I add a music video?
Yes. Paste a YouTube link under Advanced when uploading, or later when editing the song. The video appears on your song page.
Why can't other people see my upload?
Uploads stay hidden until your profile is complete: a profile photo, a short bio, your location and at least one social link. A scheduled release also stays hidden until its release time.
What if I used AI to make the song?
You can still upload it. Tick “AI-assisted” if AI was used for vocals, the beat, lyrics, mixing or anything else, and listeners will see an AI-assisted label.
Can I edit or delete a song after uploading?
Yes. From your dashboard you can change the title, genre, description, price, cover art and video, or remove the song.
New to Ziki? See what Ziki offers artists, the licence buyers get, or our step-by-step upload guide.
By uploading you agree to our Terms of Service. Only upload music you own or have permission to distribute.