To make music as an NFT, you upload a formatted audio file (MP4 for OpenSea) to a marketplace like OpenSea or BitSong Studio, mint it as a unique token on the blockchain, then set a fixed or dynamic price and royalty percentage for secondary sales. The core process takes about 15 minutes once your audio and cover art are prepared, and you don't need any coding knowledge, both platforms handle the smart contract deployment for you.
How to make music as an NFT: choose your track and platform
Your first decision is which audio piece to tokenize. Unreleased tracks, emotionally resonant songs, or exclusive live versions perform best because collectors want scarcity and a personal connection. Avoid tracks already available for free on streaming services unless you bundle them with unique perks like stems, lyric sheets, or a video message. If you want dynamic pricing (price rises with each mint) and automatic royalty splits among multiple collaborators, use BitSong Studio, which is built specifically for music NFTs and runs on the Cosmos-based BitSong blockchain.
Format your audio and artwork to meet platform limits
OpenSea requires MP4 video files for collection or item uploads, it does not accept WAV or MP3 directly. Convert your audio track to an MP4 file using any free converter (e.g., FFmpeg or online tools) by pairing the audio with a static image or simple waveform visual. The maximum file size is 50MB for direct single-item uploads, and 5GB if you use OpenSea Drops (for large drops, you need a separate approval process). One-file-type-per-collection rule: once you upload an MP4 in a collection, all subsequent items must also be MP4s, you cannot mix in JPG or GIF images. For cover art, use JPG or PNG images (these are accepted for the collection logo and item thumbnail). BitSong Studio is more flexible: it accepts audio files directly (MP3, WAV) plus optional artwork and video, with no 50MB cap mentioned in their docs, just ensure your file is under 100MB for smooth upload.
Create a new collection and deploy your smart contract on OpenSea
Log into OpenSea, then click Studio in the left sidebar. Click Create new in the lower left corner, then choose Create Collection, this mints the NFT directly into your wallet. You'll be prompted to deploy a smart contract: add a logo image (your cover art), the contract name (e.g., "My Music Collection"), and a token symbol (e.g., "MUSIC"). Select the EVM blockchain (Ethereum, Polygon, or Base, Polygon is cheapest for music NFTs with near-zero gas fees). Click Deploy and confirm the transaction in your connected wallet (MetaMask or WalletConnect). Once deployed, you'll land in your new collection dashboard.
Upload your music, name your item, and set the NFT supply
Inside your collection, click Create item or the + button. Upload your MP4 audio file as the NFT media. Add a name for the item (e.g., "Midnight Dreams, Original Mix"). Set the supply: enter 1 for a one-of-one edition, or 10, 50, or 100 for multiple copies (editions). Write a description that includes the track's story, the inspiration, and any bonus content (e.g., "Includes stem files and a thank-you video"). Add an external link to your website or social profile. Click Mint and confirm the transaction in your wallet. The item appears in your collection with a unique token ID.
Set your sale price, royalties, and list on the marketplace
In your collection settings (click the gear icon), find Creator earnings and enter your royalty percentage, typically 5-10% for music NFTs. This percentage is enforced by the smart contract on every secondary sale automatically; you don't need to manually track resales. To list your item for sale, go to the item page and click Sell. Set the duration (1 day, 3 days, 7 days). Once listed, your NFT is visible to millions of collectors. When someone buys it, the payment goes to your connected wallet minus the platform fee, and your royalty percentage is automatically deducted from the resale price and sent to you each time it changes hands.
Alternative: mint music NFTs with dynamic pricing on BitSong Studio
For musicians who want automatic price increases and multi-collaborator royalty splits, BitSong Studio is the dedicated music-NFT platform. First, install the Keplr wallet extension and create a BitSong wallet (follow their official "How to Create a BitSong Wallet with Keplr" guide, it takes two approvals). Visit BitSong Studio in your browser and connect Keplr (approve the connection twice). Create your artist profile: enter a username, email, and profile picture. Navigate to My Tracks and click Upload. Select your audio file (MP3 or WAV), choose the cover artwork, and optionally upload a video or click Continue without video. Enter the song title (this becomes the NFT name), select the language, and specify the version (e.g., "Original", "Acoustic", "Radio Edit").
Next, add contributor data: for each collaborator (Producer, Publisher, Composer), enter their name and BitSong wallet address. Set additional fees: a creator fee (royalty) applied to both mints and burns, enter 5-10% for ongoing income. Review all details, then click Mint. Confirm the transaction in Keplr (approve the gas fee). Your NFT is now live on the BitSong marketplace with automatic royalty distribution to all contributors on every sale.
Market your music NFT to fans and collectors
Your NFT won't sell itself, you need to promote it actively. Start with social media: post short audio/video snippets on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok with a direct link to your listing. Use visually striking artwork and tease behind-the-scenes content. Build an email list from your existing fanbase: send an exclusive early-access announcement with a presale link and a limited-edition bonus for subscribers. Collaborate with influencers or playlist curators in your genre, offer them a free copy or a commission on sales via a unique referral link. Join NFT communities on Discord and Reddit (e.g., r/NFT, music-NFT focused servers) and share your story authentically, not just a link. Before you promote, ensure you start an NFT project with a clear roadmap so your audience knows what to expect.
Mint an NFT for free (free minting guide)
To avoid upfront gas fees, use OpenSea's lazy minting feature on Polygon or Base blockchains. When creating your collection, select Polygon as the blockchain, minting on Polygon is free (no gas fee) because transactions are not charged to the creator. For truly zero-cost minting, use OpenSea's "Create and mint" flow on Polygon: upload your MP4, set the supply, and click Mint, no wallet transaction is required; the NFT is created when the first buyer purchases it.
Mint an NFT on OpenSea (OpenSea minting walkthrough)
The complete OpenSea minting flow: 1) Go to OpenSea.io and connect your wallet (MetaMask recommended). 2) Click Studio in the left sidebar. 3) Click Create new > Create Collection. 4) Upload your logo (cover art), enter the contract name and token symbol, select the blockchain (Polygon for free minting), and click Deploy. 5) Confirm the deployment transaction in your wallet (on Polygon, this is free). 6) Once deployed, click Create item. 7) Upload your MP4 audio file, add a name, set the supply (e.g., 1 or 10), write a description, and add optional traits. 8) Click Mint, on Polygon, no confirmation is needed; on Ethereum, confirm the gas fee. 9) After minting, click Sell to set a price and list it. 10) Set your creator earnings (royalty percentage) in the collection settings before listing. Your NFT is now live and searchable on OpenSea.
