What should I do if my release is rejected because of its cover art?

The artwork you choose for your release says a lot about the quality and message of your music. Cover art images that do not follow the guidelines set in place by streaming platforms puts any release at risk of being taken down by digital streaming platforms.

Copyright

While we work to honor artistic choices, we are also required to follow certain style guidelines set in place by the streaming platforms that your music is delivered to. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to use images that you have secured the rights to use for profit. Please refrain from using the following in cover art images you submit for distribution:

• Popular athletes, celebrities, artists, public figures, copyrighted TV/movie/anime characters, Emojis or references to Bitmoji

• 3rd party logos or watermarks (brand logos, social media logos, photo editing application logos, iMessage screenshots, etc.)

• Watermarks from cover art creation apps, including Bazaart, pic collage, etc.

• Nudity, pornography, BDSM, or any references to either

• Websites/URLs, phone numbers, social media handles or QR codes

• References to physical packaging such as barcodes and the “compact disc” logo

• Pricing information or word "exclusive"

• Promotion for another product

• Any misleading information or reference to content that your release does not contain

• Illicit activity such as hate speech, extreme violence, or depictions of minors participating in illegal activities

Public domain images, although permitted, may sometimes trigger copyright flags, especially if the images are well-known or commonly recognized. Confirmation of their public domain status is necessary to avoid potential rejections.

Some websites that we can accept royalty-free images from are:

• Pixabay

• Canva

• Pexels

• Unsplash

• PosterMyWall

• Adobe

• Img2Go

• PlaceIt

• Shutterstock

• Getty Images

• Freepik

• iStockPhoto

• other stock photo websites

Some websites that can not accept cover art images from are:

• DeviantArt

• Medium

• Imgur

• WeHeartIt

• Etsy

• Redbubble

• News websites or blogs

• Wallpaper websites

• any other websites that have images that are not royalty free

Please note that if your cover art uses a royalty-free image but still includes rejections for other things, it will still be rejected and you will be prompted to make edits.

Here are some examples of cover art that were rejected due to Copyright:

Rejected for: Regular Show characters

Rejected for: Image of Kobe Bryant

Rejected for: Watermark and unlicensed third party image

Rejected for: References to packaging (bar code)

If you have a subscription to a photo editing library or have purchased a third party image for use on your release's cover art, we ask that you submit relevant documentation to us for aid in our content review process. Additionally, if you use royalty-free images, include a source link to verify proper usage. Opt for alternative artwork if adequate proof cannot be provided.

Ensure that any third-party images are accompanied by sufficient documentation proving the rights and licenses for use. If you use free artwork, include source links to validate its authenticity and licensing. This verification step can significantly expedite the approval process and prevent rejections.

Quality

Visual representation of a release is very important for any musical artist. We want to ensure your cover art is of the highest quality, so images must also adhere to the below guidelines:

• Image file should be .jpg or .png file and under 150 MB in size

• Image should be 3000 x 3000 pixels (6000 x 6000 max) with a minimum resolution of 72dpi and be a square shape

• Image must not be overly blurry or pixelated

• The parental advisory logo must not be overly blurry or obstructed

• No solid colors or color gradients as cover art

• Text on cover artwork must not be cut off (such as track titles, artist names, and the parental advisory logo)

• No offensive imagery, symbolism or inciting violence

Here are some examples of cover art that were rejected due to Quality:

Rejected for: Solid Color/Gradient Image

Rejected for: Solid Color/Gradient Image

Rejected for: Blurriness and Cut Off Text

Mismatched Text

Per the guidelines set in place by streaming platforms, all relevant contributor/title text present on a release’s cover art must be present in the release’s metadata. To avoid your release getting held up due to any rejection reasons, we recommend following the guidelines below:

• If your cover art contains text, it should match the project name and/or credited artists

• Any contributor names and/or titles present in the cover art must match the release metadata exactly or include relevant abbreviations

  • Relevant fields include: primary artist name, featured artist names, record label name, songwriter names, producer names, release and track titles

  • Additionally, ensure that all text is fully legible and complies with metadata visibility requirements to avoid rejections based on text-truncation or ambiguity. Use trusted editing tools to make necessary adjustments before submission.

• Your cover art should only include a parental advisory sticker if your release contains audio that is labeled as explicit

• You must not obstruct the parental advisory logo to where it cannot be seen or recognized

• Do not use generic art templates or art that doesn’t match the album you’re delivering

If your cover art is rejected for any of the reasons above, you are free to update the cover art image per the rejection notes that you receive and resubmit for our approval. Proactive measures such as verifying that all text matches between your metadata and the cover art before submission can streamline the approval process.

If you have any additional questions regarding your release's cover art, please contact our support team.