Trying to get songs on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major streaming platforms sounds straightforward. That is, until your release gets rejected and you’re not sure why! It happens more often than you’d think, and usually for reasons that are completely avoidable.
We sat down with BandLab’s Distribution team to identify the most common mistakes, and what you can do to make sure your release gets through the first time.
Music distribution best practices: Your go-to checklist
1. Keep your cover art clean
Cover art is the number one reason releases get rejected, so it’s the first thing worth getting right. Streaming platforms have strict rules about what can appear on it.
Only your artist name, release title, and label name are allowed. Anything beyond that, including social media handles, “out now” banners, or promotional text of any kind, can get your submission declined.
Your cover art also needs to be unique to your release. Stock images, generic templates, or artwork reused across multiple tracks can get flagged by retailers. This is the first thing listeners get of your music, so make it count.
2. Get your credits right
It might not be the most exciting part of releasing music, but getting your credits right can be the difference between a smooth approval and an unnecessary delay. Incomplete composer or lyricist credits are one of the most common issues our Distribution team comes across, and it usually comes down to something as simple as a missing first or last name.
Every field in your release form exists for a reason. Retailers require complete and accurate information before they’ll accept a submission, and that includes songwriter credits, producer credits, and any featured artists. If someone contributed to the track, make sure they’re credited correctly.
It’s also worth double-checking your ISRC codes and giving yourself enough lead time on your release date. Submitting too close to your intended date is a common mistake that can push things back further than expected.
BandLab’s release forms include prompts and information icons next to every field that explain exactly what’s needed. Read through them before you hit submit. The creators who move through the approval process quickly are the ones who get this right the first time.
3. Make sure you own the rights
If you want to get songs on Spotify and beyond (and keep them there) this is possibly the most important step! Before you distribute any track, you need to hold all the rights to the music you’re submitting. That includes any beats, samples, or instrumentals used in the track.
A scenario our team comes across regularly: a creator finds a beat on YouTube, writes and records over it, and submits it for distribution. What they don’t always realise is that without a proper license from the beat’s producer, they have no legal right to distribute or monetize the track. Retailers will catch this, and the release can be pulled down even after it’s gone live.
If you’re working with someone else’s beat, make sure you have a license in place before submitting. BandLab’s release form lets you upload your license and rights documentation directly, giving our team the context they need to verify your submission and keep things moving.
Pro tip: Want to play on the safe side? The BandLab Sounds library has over 250,000 royalty-free loops and samples, completely cleared for use in your releases!
4. Understand retailer guidelines
Streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music each have rules every release has to follow before it can go live. These guidelines apply across the board to every artist and distributor submitting music, and getting familiar with them goes a long way in avoiding unnecessary rejections.
For example:
- Most platforms require cover art to meet a minimum dimension threshold. Good news: If you distribute on BandLab, our built-in AI Cover Art Upscaler will resize your artwork for you!
- Most platforms will also reject any release containing explicit content that has not been correctly labelled with a content advisory
These rules apply regardless of who you distribute through.
The same logic applies to earnings. Rates are set by the platforms themselves, and your distributor has no say in them. Most platforms use a pro-rata model, distributing pooled revenue to rights holders based on their share of total streams. Understanding this makes it easier to plan your releases and know what to expect from your payouts.
Why BandLab Distribution makes it easier
Follow the steps in this checklist and getting your songs on Spotify, Apple Music, and every other major platform without rejection is a piece of cake. And if you’re already creating on BandLab, upgrading to membership gives you access to seamless global Distribution.
This lets you create, mix, master, and distribute your music right on your phone, without leaving the app or touching a third-party platform. Your songs go out to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and beyond. Plus, 100% of your earnings are yours to keep!
BandLab Distribution also includes an AI Cover Art Upscaler and an auto-suggestion feature to help you fill in your metadata accurately from the start. This means less guesswork and fewer rejections! Ready to release your music to the world?
