Metadata Mistakes That Get Music Releases Rejected (and How to Avoid Them)

Most rejected releases don't fail because of the music. They fail because of metadata: the artist name, titles, credits and other text attached to the release. The usual culprits are featured artists in the wrong field, versions written the wrong way, ALL CAPS, generic titles, a wrong explicit flag and names that don't match across the release. All of them are easy to fix before you submit.

Here are the mistakes that come up most often, why stores care, and how to get each one right. Store style guides differ and change over time, so check your distributor's current guidelines too.

1. Inconsistent artist names

Your artist name must be spelled exactly the same way on every release: same spelling, spacing, capitalization and punctuation. "DJ Nova", "Dj Nova" and "DJ NOVA" can end up as three different artist profiles.

Other artist-name problems:

• Adding extra information to the name, like "Nova (Official)", "Nova - Producer" or "Nova from London".
• Listing multiple people in one artist field, like "Nova & Kai" when they're really two separate artists. Enter each artist separately so each one links to their own profile (unless "Nova & Kai" is the actual name of a duo).
• Picking the wrong profile. If another artist shares your name, make sure your distributor links the release to your existing profile, not theirs. Mention it when you submit.

2. Featured artists in the title instead of the artist field

Don't type "Song Title (feat. Kai)" by hand if your distributor has a featured-artist field. Add Kai as a featured artist in the credits, and let the stores format it. Adding "feat." in the title and in the artist field often produces duplicates, and putting it in the title only means Kai's profile never gets the credit.

The same goes for the primary artist: don't repeat the artist's name in the track title.

3. Featuring someone without permission

Only credit artists who actually appear on the recording and have agreed to be credited. Listing a famous name to get attention is misleading. Stores reject it, and the artist or their label can have the release taken down. If your collaborator has an existing profile, confirm which one is theirs.

4. Versions written the wrong way

Versions like remixes, live recordings and remasters belong in a consistent format, usually in brackets after the title:

• "Midnight Drive (Kai Remix)"
• "Midnight Drive (Live)"
• "Midnight Drive (Acoustic)"
• "Midnight Drive (Remastered 2026)"

Common mistakes:

• Leaving out the version, so the remix looks like a duplicate of the original.
• Calling something a remix, live or remastered when it isn't.
• Using version info that describes the release rather than the track, like "(Single)" or "(Official Audio)".

Remember that each version is a different recording and needs its own ISRC. See ISRC and UPC codes explained.

5. Capitalization and ALL CAPS

Stores generally expect standard title case in English: "The Night We Met", not "THE NIGHT WE MET" or "the night we met". All caps or all lowercase is often only accepted when it's truly the artist's stylized name and used consistently. Even then, some stores may ask you to justify it.

Also avoid:

• Extra punctuation or emojis in titles
• Unnecessary words like "Official", "Audio", "Free Download" or "New Single"
• Track numbers or file names ("01_midnight_drive_final_v3")

6. Generic titles and missing information

Titles like "Track 1", "Untitled", "Intro" with no context, or "Beat 17" can be flagged, especially on releases with many tracks. Some stores are strict about releases that look like low-effort or mass uploads. Give every track a real, descriptive title.

For classical music, audiobooks and spoken word, stores have their own detailed formatting rules. Check them before you submit.

7. Wrong genre

Pick the genre that honestly describes the music. Choosing a popular genre that doesn't fit doesn't help you get discovered. It puts your music in front of the wrong listeners and editors. The same goes for your Spotify pitch; see how to pitch your song to Spotify editorial playlists.

8. Wrong language

The language field is the language of the lyrics, not where you live. An instrumental track should be marked as instrumental or with no linguistic content (use whatever option your distributor gives you). Mixed-language songs should list the main language sung.

9. The explicit flag

Mark a track explicit if the lyrics or content contain strong language or themes that are unsuitable for children. Forgetting the flag can get a release pulled or restricted later. Marking a clean track explicit can keep it out of some playlists and family accounts. If you have a clean edit, it's a separate recording with its own ISRC.

10. Duplicates and soundalikes

Stores remove or reject:

• Duplicate releases: the same audio uploaded again as a "new" release to reset stats or reach new playlists.
• Soundalikes and misleading titles: tracks that copy the title or style of a well-known song to catch search traffic, or "tribute" releases that look like the original.
• Unlicensed covers or samples. Covers need the right licensing for the composition, and samples need clearance.

If you want to re-release a song, reuse its original ISRC and ask your distributor how to do it properly.

11. Wrong release date

Double-check the release date before you submit. It's easy to type the wrong year or pick a date that's too close to allow stores to process the release. If you want the release to show an original release date (for example, when bringing an older catalog to a new distributor), enter that separately where your distributor asks for it.

Changing a date after delivery is possible, but it takes time and can affect your pitch and pre-saves. See the release timeline checklist.

12. Credits and ownership lines

The copyright line (for the composition or artwork, depending on the store) and the production line (for the sound recording) should name the real owner: you, your label or your company. Leaving them blank or copying them from another release causes problems later when you need to prove ownership.

Checklist before you submit

1. Artist name identical to your previous releases
2. Featured artists in the featured field, with their permission
3. Versions written in brackets, consistent and accurate
4. Title case, no ALL CAPS, emojis or filler words
5. Every track has a real title
6. Honest genre and correct lyric language
7. Explicit flag set correctly on every track
8. No duplicates, soundalikes or uncleared samples
9. Release date checked, with enough lead time
10. Copyright and production lines filled in with the real owner

Key takeaways

• Consistency across your catalog matters more than any single field.
• Let the stores format featured artists. Don't type them into titles.
• Be honest: genre, credits, versions and explicit content.
• Fix metadata before you submit. Changing it after delivery is slower.

Metadata review at Stillmore Group

The Stillmore Group team reviews every release before it goes to the stores: metadata, artwork and audio. If something would likely cause problems, we ask for changes so you can fix it and resubmit. For the artwork side, see cover art requirements for Spotify, Apple Music and other stores.