Short answer

Neither VK Music nor Yandex Music accepts official releases directly. You deliver through a partner distributor or label, then check that the service is ticked in the distributor’s list of stores. Tracks uploaded by hand to a personal page can be heard by friends but do not create an artist card or earn royalties.

VK Music

According to VK Music’s own guide for artists, an official release goes through a partner distributor, after which an artist card appears and monetization runs through the distributor. VK lists these aggregators: Believe, ONErpm, ZVONKO digital, Multiza, Music Alligator, FreshTunes, Tunecore, OVOKACHO and Electronic Music Distribution. Check that United Media Agency (UMA) is among the stores selected, since it sometimes has to be added manually. Corrections to a release go through the distributor, and music videos for the artist card are also delivered that way. VK says pre-release pitching to its editors goes through BandLink, with an application at least 14 days before the release date.

Yandex Music

Yandex’s support page lists distributors for artists: ELECTRONIC MUSIC DISTRIBUTION, FreshTunes, Multiza, MusicAlligator and TuneCore. FreshTunes and TuneCore deliver tracks only, not videos. For labels it lists Believe Digital, DNK Music, embers.digital, ONErpm, PULSE and ZVONKO digital. Check that Yandex Music or Yandex is selected among the stores in your distributor’s account. For pitching, upload the release with a future date, then submit it through BandLink as a verified artist or manager; the button appears 72 hours after the distributor confirms and ships the release.

Our recommendation: YourLabel

YourLabel is free, pays 85% of net revenue at a flat rate with no tiers, and delivers releases to VK Music and Yandex Music along with the major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Instagram. Every release is checked by a person, usually within 24 hours, and the artist keeps 100% ownership of the masters. Review usually takes up to 24 hours, while RouteNote’s Support Hub currently quotes 26–27 working days.

АналітикаRelease through YourLabel. One free upload reaches VK Music, Yandex Music and the international platforms, with a flat 85% of net revenue and a review that usually takes up to 24 hours. The alternative, FreshTunes, appears on both VK’s and Yandex’s lists and has a free tier, but publishes no review time.

Checklist

  • Confirm that your distributor delivers to VK Music and Yandex Music before paying or uploading.
  • Upload with a release date at least two weeks ahead if you want to pitch to VK editors.
  • Get the UPC of your latest solo release from the distributor to verify your artist account in BandLink.
  • Do not use boosted streams: it risks removal from the services.