Release Metadata and Artwork Requirements

Most returned releases are not returned for anything dramatic. They fail on small, checkable things: an artist name spelled two ways, a cover with a web address on it, a track with no producer credit, a language field set to “Other”. Each one costs days, and some are easy to avoid if you know what the reviewer looks at.

This guide is a pre-flight checklist for release metadata and artwork. It explains what each field is for, what the WBBT Release Wizard checks, and the mistakes that cause a release to be sent back. The rules come from WBBT’s published guidance and the wizard itself. Stores can have rules of their own, so treat this as a strong baseline and check the stores’ current requirements for anything unusual.

What quality control looks at

A person reviews each release before it is delivered. The review checks four things: that the files can be used, that the information is complete and consistent, that the rights position is clear, and that nothing will confuse a listener or a store. Passing review is not a promise that a store will accept the release, but a clean submission makes problems at the store less likely.

Work in this order: artwork, audio, titles, artists and credits, language and genre, rights and declarations, copyright lines, and dates. Then run the checklist near the end of the guide.

Artwork requirements

Check	What to do
Shape and size	Square (1:1). The standard WBBT specification is 3000 by 3000 pixels. The wizard accepts JPG, PNG or HEIC up to 30 MB.
Sharpness	Export from the original design file, not a screenshot or a social post. Look at the image at about the size of a thumbnail on a phone.
Text	Only text that is part of the design. Spell the artist name and title exactly as in your metadata.
Forbidden elements	No store logos, web addresses, prices or promotional wording. No misleading artist names or logos you do not have the right to use.
Rights	Own or license every photo, illustration and typeface. If you used an AI image tool, check its terms for commercial use.
Safe area	Keep important text away from the edges. Stores crop and round covers in different places.

Export in the sRGB colour space so that colours look the same across devices. If your design includes a version or edition, make it a deliberate part of the title and the version field, not a surprise on the artwork only.

Audio files

Upload the final lossless master. WBBT’s published guidance is WAV at 16-bit or 24-bit and 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. Use the best source you have and never convert a compressed file to WAV and call it a master. Before you upload, listen to each file from start to end, and check for:

• clipping and distortion on the loudest moments;
• unplanned silence or clicks at the beginning and the end, and an ending that is cut short;
• the right file for the right track, with the final mix and not an earlier bounce with a similar name;
• consistent channel balance, with no one-sided audio.

The guide to release-ready audio checks before you upload goes through each of these checks, with the stores’ published loudness and true-peak figures. Dolby Atmos and other specialist deliveries need a separate specification from support. If your release is for the dancefloor, the electronic music release checklist covers the extra steps.

Titles and versions

Keep the title clean and put everything else in its own field.

• Title: only the name of the song. No “(Official)”, “[Free Download]”, “HD”, release dates or promotional wording.
• Version: mix or edit names such as Radio Edit, Extended Mix, Acoustic or Remix go in the version field, not in the title.
• Featured artists: add them as Featured in the credits. Do not type “feat.” into the title.
• Capitalisation: choose one style and use it across the whole release. Stylised names are fine when they are really the name.
• Single releases: a release with one track carries the same title as that track. If the two differ, the wizard flags it. Version information still goes in the version field.
• Repeated titles: two tracks on one release with the same title need different versions.

Artists and credits

Credits are where most mismatches begin, because they are typed by hand in several places.

• One spelling per person. The name on the artwork, in the release form, in My Artists and on your artist profiles should match. A name that differs by one character can create a second profile in the stores.
• Use roles correctly. The wizard offers Primary Artist, Featured, Remixer and Contributor, and a separate place for Producers. At most three Primary Artists belong on one track, and anyone beyond that is credited as Featured.
• Every track needs a Primary Artist, a Producer, a Composer and a Performer. For the Composer, give the full legal first and last name. For the Performer, name the person and the instrument or vocal role.
• Do not credit people who did not work on the track. Adding a famous name to catch searches is a quick way to a rejection. List the people who made the recording.
• Link existing profiles. If you already have a Spotify or Apple Music artist profile, supply the artist link, not a track or album link, so the release lands on the right page. See how to distribute music to Spotify and Apple Music for the whole route.

Language, genre and explicit content

• Language is chosen from a list. If the track has no lyrics, use the Instrumental setting. “Other”, “Unknown” and “Multiple” are not languages, so pick the language of the lyrics.
• Genre is chosen from a list too. Pick the closest match and do not try to type your own.
• Lyrics belong on tracks with vocals. An instrumental track should not carry lyrics. Leave out promotional text and unusual formatting.
• Explicit means the content is explicit according to store guidelines. A clean version should actually remove the explicit material and say so in the version.

Rights, ownership and AI declarations

These answers are rights statements, not formalities. They are reviewed.

• Composition type: mark each track as an Original composition or a Cover. A cover needs the licences that apply to it in your territory.
• Content ownership: choose Original when everything is yours, and Licensed when the track contains samples or other material you licensed from others. Licensed content needs its clearance papers.
• AI usage: declare no AI used, AI assisted or fully AI generated for every track. A declared track needs the AI tool’s invoice or licence. Read how to distribute AI music before you answer if you are unsure.
• Territories: select only the territories where you hold the rights.

Copyright lines

The © line names the owner of the composition and artwork. The ℗ line names the owner of the sound recording. In the wizard, enter the owner’s name only. Do not type the symbol or the year in the name, because the year has its own field. A line is refused if it contains a web address, an email address, an emoji, no letters at all or more than 120 characters. Custom copyright names depend on your plan, and releases use the default names until your plan lets you change them. Releasing under your own label name explains the options.

Dates and identifiers

• Release date: must respect the lead time for your plan. The Free plan needs a release date at least 14 days ahead, and the wizard shows the earliest date your account can choose. Leave a longer margin for a campaign.
• Original release date: only for music that has been released before. It must be a real date, not in the future and not after the new release date.
• ISRC and UPC: leave the fields blank for a new release and WBBT generates them. Enter existing codes only for music that has been distributed before. ISRC and UPC codes explained shows when a recording keeps its code.
• Duplicate ISRCs: two different recordings must not share one code.

A ten-minute pre-submission check

1. Open the cover on your phone. Is it sharp, square and free of web addresses, logos and prices?
2. Read the artwork against the form. Do the artist and the title match the form letter for letter?
3. Play each master from start to end. Is it the final mix, free of clipping, with a clean beginning and ending?
4. Check each title. No “feat.”, no “(Official)”, versions in the version field, and a single carries its track’s title.
5. Check the credits. Primary Artist, Producer, Composer with a full name, and Performer on every track, and no more than three Primary Artists.
6. Check language and genre. Listed values only, and Instrumental for tracks without lyrics.
7. Check the rights answers. Cover or original, original or licensed with papers, and an AI declaration with its document where needed.
8. Check the © and ℗ names. Owner names only, with no symbol, year or web address.
9. Check the dates and territories. A date inside your lead time, a real original release date where relevant, and territories you hold.
10. Check the identifiers. Blank for new music, original codes for music released before.

Then read the Review screen line by line, as a store would. Save a draft if you need a break. If you prefer to work in a chat, an assistant connected through WBBT MCP can run the same checks on a draft, but you still read the result and press Distribute yourself.

Why releases are returned, and how to fix them

Typical reason	What usually causes it	The fix
Artist name mismatch	The name differs between tracks, the form and the artwork	Pick one spelling and use it everywhere
Artwork not accepted	Not square, blurry, or showing a web address, logo or price	Re-export a clean 3000 by 3000 pixel square
Audio problem	Clipping, a wrong file, an upconverted MP3 or a cut-off ending	Upload the correct lossless master
Credits incomplete	No producer, composer or performer on a track	Add the missing credits with real names
Rights questions	A cover, sample or AI track without papers	Upload the licence, invoice or clearance and answer accurately
Invalid value	Language “Other”, a genre outside the list, lyrics on an instrumental	Choose a listed value and mark instrumentals correctly
Date not accepted	A release date inside the lead time	Move the date later, or check your plan’s window

When a release comes back, read the reason in your account, change what it names and resubmit. Ask support if the reason is unclear, and send the release title, the UPC or ISRC and what you changed.

Frequently asked questions

What size should my cover art be?

Square, with a standard specification of 3000 by 3000 pixels. The Release Wizard accepts JPG, PNG or HEIC files up to 30 MB. Keep the design sharp at thumbnail size, because stores and phones show it very small.

Can I put my website, social handles or a price on the artwork?

No. Leave out web addresses, store logos, promotional pricing and any wording that is not part of the design. Text on the artwork should match the artist and title in your metadata.

Should I write “feat.” in the track title?

No. Add the guest as a Featured artist in the credits and put a mix or edit name in the version field. Stores build the display title from those fields, so a manual “feat.” or “(Official)” in the title usually creates duplicates or a return.

Why is my language or genre rejected?

Both come from fixed lists. A track with no lyrics is marked Instrumental, and a value such as “Other” or “Unknown” is not a language. Pick the closest listed genre rather than typing your own.

What happens if my release fails the checks?

A person reviews the release and returns it with a reason. Correct that specific problem and resubmit. Do not upload the same files again unchanged, and do not change a declaration, such as the AI declaration, only to get through.

Can I fix metadata after the release is live?

Yes, through a correction request with the release identifier and the exact fields to change. Stores decide which updates they accept, and some details cannot be changed after release. Do not upload a duplicate release to fix a spelling mistake. See the WBBT FAQ for the process.

Next steps and further reading

Finish your files, run the check above and submit your music. The WBBT FAQ answers questions on audio, artwork and credits, and the pricing page shows the release window for each plan. If your music is for DJs, use the electronic music release checklist, and if you are comparing partners, the distributor comparison worksheet lists what to ask. Store requirements change, so check Spotify’s and Apple Music’s own artist guidance for anything specific.