Cover Art Rules
Pixel-perfect specs and content restrictions for artwork that passes QC and lands on every DSP.
Technical specs
Your cover art is the first thing listeners see. Get the specs wrong and your release stalls in QC before it ever ships, so nail it the first time.
- Square format
- Minimum 3000x3000px
- Maximum 4500x4500px
- JPEG format
- RGB color space, not grayscale
- Maximum 10MB file size
- 300 dpi resolution
Allowed text
Only include text that identifies the release and the people behind it. Keep artwork text limited to the approved elements below.
- Main artist name
- Featuring artist name
- Release name
- Label name or logo
- Producer name
Metadata must match
The title and artist metadata you enter during upload must match the text on your artwork exactly. If the artwork says one thing and your metadata says another, QC will reject the release and delay delivery.
The title and artist metadata you enter during upload must match the text on your artwork exactly. Mismatches trigger QC rejections and delay your release. This is not a suggestion. It is a requirement across every major DSP.
No reused artwork
You cannot reuse the same or slightly altered artwork across different releases. Each release needs its own visual identity, or DSPs may reject it and stall QC.
Prohibited content
Remove anything promotional, misleading, or unrelated to the release itself. If any of the following appears on the artwork, expect QC to stop the release.
- URLs and website addresses
- Social media handles
- Store or streaming platform logos such as Spotify or Apple Music
- Track listings
- Descriptions or bios
- Phone numbers or email addresses
- Prices
- Pornography or sexually explicit imagery
- Offensive symbolism
- Misleading information
- References to physical formats such as CD, vinyl, or cassette
Next steps
Now that your artwork is ready, finish the rest of your release packaging before you upload.