Cover Art & Metadata
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      What should I be careful about when creating cover art?

      Learn what to consider when designing your cover art to meet distribution standards and avoid rejections.

      Creating professional, compliant cover art is a crucial step in releasing music. Your cover art is often the first impression listeners will have of your release—it appears on streaming platforms, stores, and marketing materials. Poorly designed or non-compliant artwork can lead to your release being delayed, rejected, or removed from platforms altogether. To avoid these issues, it's essential to follow platform-specific guidelines and best design practices.

      Here’s what you should be careful about when creating cover art for your music release:

      Key Things to Be Careful About

      1. Follow Platform and Distributor Rules

      Most digital platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.) have strict guidelines that your artwork must follow. Common rules include:

      • No URLs, contact info, or social media handles

      • No logos or branding from digital platforms (e.g., Spotify logo)

      • No pricing information, barcodes, or QR codes

      • No references to physical formats (e.g., “CD”, “vinyl”, or “out now”)

      • No misleading or unauthorized content, such as using well-known artist names, images, or brand visuals

      • Artist and title names must match the metadata exactly (if included)

      2. Meet Technical Specifications

      Your image file must adhere to technical requirements, or it may be rejected.

      • Minimum size: 3000 x 3000 pixels

      • Resolution: 72 DPI or higher

      • Color mode: RGB

      • File type: JPG or PNG

      • Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square)

      3. Design for Professionalism and Clarity

      Even if your image meets the technical rules, poor design can hurt your brand or limit discoverability.

      • Use high-resolution images with no visible pixelation or compression

      • Make sure text (if used) is legible at small sizes

      • Avoid overly dark, blurry, or washed-out images

      • Ensure visual consistency with your music style and branding

      • Leave safe margins so that important elements aren't cropped on platforms

      4. Check Legal Rights

      Make sure you have the legal right to use all images, fonts, and elements.

      • Do not use copyrighted photos or logos without permission

      • Use royalty-free or original artwork whenever possible

      • Get written permission if using photography featuring people

      Common Mistakes to Avoid

      • Including Instagram handles or URLs on the artwork

      • Adding “Parental Advisory” without proper justification or approval

      • Using low-resolution or stretched images

      • Uploading different artist or title names than those entered in the metadata

      • Copying another artist’s cover style too closely or using AI-generated images that mimic other brands

      Extra Tips and Best Practices

      • Design with thumbnail viewing in mind: Most users will see your art on mobile screens

      • Consider using a professional designer or validated design tools to avoid technical errors

      • Preview your cover in grayscale to test contrast and readability

      • Save a layered PSD or source file so you can easily make updates if needed

      • Align your cover art style across releases to build a cohesive artist identity

      Creating compliant and appealing cover art is more than a technical task—it’s a branding opportunity. Be sure to take the time to get it right so that your music gets the attention it deserves and avoids any unnecessary delays.