Ad Account Settings: Currency, Timezone & Payment
Duration: 4-5 minutes | Prerequisites: Business Manager + Instagram account connected
Overview
An Ad Account is where your actual campaigns run. It's separate from Business Manager—think of Business Manager as your office building, and Ad Accounts as the individual offices inside it. You manage billing, payment methods, currency, and timezone at the Ad Account level.
Why Ad Account Settings Matter
Your Ad Account controls:
Payment methods and billing
Currency (what you pay in)
Timezone (when your ads run)
Budget and spending limits
Connected Instagram accounts
Overall campaign performance
Important: Currency and Timezone are set when creating the account and CANNOT be changed later. Choose carefully.
Creating a New Ad Account
Step 1: Go to Ad Accounts
In Business Manager, click Settings (bottom left)
Select "Ad Accounts" from the left menu
Click "Add"
Select "Create a new ad account"
Step 2: Enter Basic Information
Ad Account Name: Use your artist name (e.g., "[Your Artist Name] Main Account")
Timezone: Select your actual timezone (Germany = Europe/Berlin) — THIS CAN'T CHANGE
Currency: Select EUR if you're in Europe — THIS CAN'T CHANGE
Advertising Industry: Select "Entertainment" or "Music"
Step 3: Assign Admin Access
After creating the account, go to "Users" on the Ad Account page
Click "Assign"
Find your name
Select "Full Control" (if you're sole owner)
Confirm the assignment
Pro Tip: If the "Full Control" option doesn't show for others, make sure you have admin access first.
Setting Up Payment Methods
Where to Add Payment Info
In your Ad Account, click the three dots (⋯) menu
Select "Edit"
Click "Go to Billing Hub"
Payment Options
Recommended (Credit Card):
Fastest to set up
Payments processed immediately
Best for short campaigns (music releases)
Alternative (Bank Account):
Takes 7-10 days to verify
Good for large monthly budgets
Slower payment processing
Meta Funds (Top-Up):
Pre-load credit into your account
Useful if you don't have a credit card
You control your budget strictly
Billing Hub Settings
In the Billing Hub, also set:
Business Information: Company name, address, tax info (appears on invoices)
Spending Limit: Optional—caps how much you can spend per month
Monthly Budget: Set an overall ad account limit
Connecting Instagram Accounts to Ad Account
Process
In Ad Account settings, find "Connected Assets"
Click "Instagram Accounts"
Click "Add"
Select the Instagram account you want to advertise from
Verify via email/SMS if prompted
Confirm connection
Note: You can connect multiple Instagram accounts to one Ad Account (useful for managing multiple artists).
Ad Account Health Check
Before running campaigns, verify:
☑️ Timezone is correct (when ads run)
☑️ Currency is correct (what you pay in)
☑️ Payment method is active
☑️ Instagram account is connected
☑️ You have admin access
☑️ No restrictions or violations on account
Common Issues
Q: "I can't see the option to assign myself to the Ad Account"
A: You don't have admin access in Business Manager yet. Go back to Business Manager → Users and make sure you're set as Admin.
Q: "Can I change my currency after creating the account?"
A: No. Currency is locked at creation. If you chose wrong, you'll need to create a new Ad Account.
Q: "Should I create multiple Ad Accounts?"
A: One per release works well for testing. Multiple accounts let you isolate budgets and audiences, but add complexity. Start with one.
Checklist
☑️ Ad Account created with correct name
☑️ Timezone set correctly (FINAL DECISION)
☑️ Currency set to EUR/USD correctly (FINAL DECISION)
☑️ Payment method added and verified
☑️ Instagram account connected
☑️ Admin access assigned
☑️ Ready to set up conversion tracking (next step)
Next: Facebook Pixel Setup
With your Ad Account ready, the next critical step is setting up a Facebook Pixel. This tracks when people who click your ads listen to your song on Spotify, buy your merch, or take other valuable actions. This data helps Meta optimize your campaigns automatically.