Apple Music / iTunes: Key Requirements
Apple Music and iTunes have among the strictest metadata and content requirements of any streaming platform. Releases that do not meet their standards will be rejected. Here is what you need to know.
Metadata Requirements
- Artist name: Must match exactly across all tracks. Do not use ALL CAPS.
- Track titles: No ALL CAPS. No excessive punctuation.
- Featuring artists: Must be listed in the designated field, not in the track title
- Composer field: Required on every track — must be a real person name, not the artist name unless the artist wrote the song
- Genre: Must be accurate. Apple Music will re-categorise incorrectly labelled releases
Cover Art Requirements
- Minimum 3000 × 3000 pixels, maximum 4000 × 4000 pixels
- Must be a perfect square (1:1 ratio)
- No Apple logos, Apple Music branding, or iTunes branding
- No website URLs, social media handles, or pricing information on the artwork
- No blurry or pixelated images
- RGB colour space only (not CMYK)
Audio Requirements
- Minimum quality: 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo WAV or AIFF
- No silence longer than 10 seconds at the start or end of a track
- No clipping or distortion
- No test tones, beeps, or placeholder audio
Content Restrictions
- No content that infringes copyright
- No misleading metadata (e.g., a track title that misrepresents the content)
- Explicit tracks must be flagged as explicit
- Podcast-style content, audiobooks, or non-music content is not accepted
Pre-Order / Pre-Save
Apple Music supports pre-orders through iTunes. If you want your release available for pre-order, schedule it at least 7 days in advance and use InterSpace SmartLinks to promote the pre-save.