Metadata Styleguide

Summary

This style guide ensures your music content meets the formatting requirements and guidelines of digital retail partners. By following these standards, you’ll avoid technical issues, rights complications, and delays in publishing your releases to platforms like iTunes, Spotify, and more.

Prerequisites

• Revelator Account: Ensure you have proper credentials to upload music and manage metadata.

• Correct Asset Files:

  • Audio: WAV format (16-24-bit, 44.1-192 kHz, stereo)

  • Artwork: JPG file, square dimension (minimum 3000×3000 px), RGB color mode

• Proper Rights & Licensing:

  • Ownership or license to distribute the recordings

  • Licensing for any cover songs, samples, or remixes used

Steps

1. Prepare Your Artist and Contributor Details

• Primary Artist: Assign at least one contributor as the “Primary Artist.” Platforms display these names in the main artist field.

• Common Roles: Identify “Featuring,” “Remixer,” “Composer,” “Arranger,” etc., as needed.

• Consistency: Use the exact same spelling and formatting for an artist name across all releases to prevent multiple or incorrect artist pages.

• No Unverified Aliases: Do not include aliases, date ranges, or instrument names in the artist fields (e.g., “John (1943–1971)” or “Susan [flute, sax]”). Avoid “AKA” or translation text within the same field.

2. Enter Featured Artists Correctly

• “+Add Another”: If an artist is featured, select “+Add Another” under the artist field and enter the featured artist’s name there, rather than putting it in the track title.

• Soundtracks & Classical: If a composer or conductor is a highlighted contributor on the cover art, list them as “Primary Artist.” For Classical music, do not list producers or other roles as primary unless it’s standard practice in the classical genre.

3. Handle Various Artists & Multi-Artist Collaborations

• No “Various Artists”: Do not label an artist or album “Various Artists.” Instead, mark it as a compilation in the main info page and list correct primary artists for each track.

• Single-Name Collaborations: Groups with combined names (“Simon & Garfunkel,” “Rodrigo y Gabriela”) should be treated as one artist. However, if two distinct artists perform together only for certain tracks, list them separately.

4. Format Album Titles

• Exact Match with Cover Art: Album titles must match the text on the cover art precisely.

• Indicate “Live”: Only use “Live” if the majority of tracks are recorded live. Do not use “Live” for studio recordings.

• No Extra Labels: Avoid “EP,” “LP,” or “Single” in the title; stores apply these designations internally.

• No Misleading Info: Do not reference popular lyrics, artist names not involved, or promotional phrases like “Exclusive,” “Limited Edition,” or “O.S.T.”

5. Format Track Titles

• Consistency: Track titles must match the audio content. Do not label a track “Track 1” if the actual title is different.

• Version Details: If you have multiple versions (e.g., “Radio Edit,” “Extended Version”), enter this in the separate “Title Version” field, which will automatically be enclosed in parentheses.

• Medleys: List each song in the medley separated by a slash (e.g., “Boom Clap / All of Me / Happy”).

• No “Original Mix”: The original version doesn’t need “Original Mix” appended unless there’s a specific need to differentiate from other mixes.

• No Misleading Covers: Phrases like “Originally performed by…” or referencing the original artist belong in the publishing/licensing section, not the track title.

6. Observe Genre-Specific Guidelines

• Primary Genre:

  • Karaoke: Instrumental cover albums must be labeled “Karaoke” to remain compliant.

  • Soundtrack: Mark the primary genre as “Soundtrack” for film, TV, or game music. Add parentheses describing the source (e.g., “(Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)”).

  • Classical: Use “Classical” only for actual classical works (e.g., Beethoven, Mozart). Do not categorize modern rock or pop with orchestral elements as classical.

• Karaoke/Tribute:

  • If using the original artist’s name in a karaoke or tribute track title, follow the “Karaoke Exception” by stating “Originally Performed By (Artist Name).”

  • Recognize that some stores may hide karaoke/tribute content from general searches unless users specifically search for “karaoke” or “tribute.”

• Classical:

  • Composer Listings: Always include the composer for classical pieces, using the standard composer name (“Tchaikovsky,” “Mozart,” “Debussy,” etc.).

  • Artist Role: Performers must be listed with a “Primary” or relevant classical role (e.g., “Conductor,” “Soloist”). Featured roles are generally not used in classical.

  • Titles: For classical works, use formal naming conventions, including key, catalog number, and movement (e.g., “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio”).

  • Proper Casing: Use title case for English; for languages like French or Italian, use sentence case.

7. Complete the Publishing Tab

• Original Songs:

  • List composers’ real names, and assign the correct role (songwriter, lyricist, etc.).

  • Assign a split percentage if multiple composers are involved.

• Cover Songs:

  • List the original artist and original composition in the “Compositions” field (not in track/album titles).

  • For movie/game/TV covers, list the composer plus any relevant show/film details in “Composition Title.”

  • Medleys: Acquire licenses for every covered composition included.

• Public Domain:

  • Only mark as public domain if you are certain it is out of copyright. If unsure, contact support.

  • Use “Traditional” if the original composer is unknown.

8. Prepare Compliant Album Artwork

• Required Artwork Elements:

  • Must clearly display the album title and artist name (except for compilations with 4+ primary artists).

  • Must fill the entire square canvas without stretching or pixelation.

• What to Avoid:

  • Text overshadowing the album title or artist name.

  • Trademarks, celebrity images, or third-party logos without permission.

  • Explicit nudity—stores disallow artwork with exposed sexual content.

9. Verify Audio File Format

• WAV Only: 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo format.

• Song Length: 2 seconds minimum, 60 minutes maximum.

10. Double-Check Additional Details

• Casing & Spelling: Avoid ALL CAPS, all-lowercase, or random casing. Use correct title casing for English or standard conventions for other languages.

• Explicit Content: Only mark a track explicit if the lyrics warrant it. Instrumental tracks cannot be explicit unless their titles are explicit.

Verification / Expected Outcomes

• Metadata Alignment: The displayed artist, album title, track titles, and artwork are consistent across all platforms.

• Fewer Rejections: Releases are less likely to be flagged by digital stores for formatting, rights, or content issues.

• Timely Publication: Properly formatted releases typically go live faster with minimal corrections needed.

Examples & Use Cases

1. Classical Release:

   • Primary Genre: “Classical”

   • Artist Roles: “Composer,” “Conductor,” “Soloist” set correctly

   • Track Titles: Include key, catalog number, and movement details

2. Karaoke EP:

   • Primary Genre: “Karaoke”

   • Track Titles: “Song Title (Karaoke Version)”

   • Original Artist: Listed in the Publishing tab only with “Originally Performed By…”

Troubleshooting & FAQ

• Why was my album title changed?

  • Possibly due to mismatched cover art, promotional phrases, or misleading references.

• Why is my release delayed?

  • Often caused by formatting inconsistencies, missing composer info, or incorrect roles (especially for classical releases).

• Can I list a band I used to be in?

  • No. Only include the names of artists who actually perform on the current release.

Additional Resources

• Revelator Support: For questions about licensing, metadata, or distribution specifics.

• Common Classical Composers: Refer to a standard list for correct name spellings.

• DSP Guidelines: Check each platform’s (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) style requirements.