By submitting a release through Tunearo you agree to comply with our guidelines and the requirements of our distribution partners. Failure to comply may result in your release being taken down, your account being suspended and any revenue being withheld.
What We Accept
We distribute original music with compliant metadata, audio and artwork. All releases must meet the standards of our distribution partners including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others.
What We Do Not Accept
The following will result in immediate rejection and may result in account suspension:
Misleading content — releases designed to mislead listeners or platforms
Sound-alike music — recordings intended to imitate or be mistaken for another artist
Duplicate audio — the same recording released multiple times under different titles
Remixes, lofi, sped up or slowed versions without documented proof of rights (You can also send this documentation early at Release Clarification - Tunearo)
Public domain music
Cover songs without a valid mechanical licence (You can also send this documentation early at Release Clarification - Tunearo)
Music with unresolved legal or rights issues
AI generated music submitted as original human-created content
Music sampled from third party recordings without clearance documentation (You can also send this documentation early at Release Clarification - Tunearo)
Rights & Ownership
You must own or control 100% of the rights to everything you submit including the master recording, the underlying composition, the artwork and any samples used.
Beat licences If you used a beat purchased from a third party producer you must provide the original licence agreement. Basic or standard licences typically do not include commercial distribution rights. An exclusive or unlimited licence is required.
Cover songs Cover songs require a valid mechanical licence from an authorised licensing body. Cover songs are only available on Artist Plus and Label plans and may slow Quality Control by up to 2 days. Before submitting, please send all applicable licenses and proof to: Release Clarification - Tunearo.
Metadata Requirements
Accurate metadata is essential. Incorrect metadata can delay your release and payments.
Titles
Capitalise the first letter of most words
Do not capitalise: a, an, and, as, at, by, for, from, in, into, of, off, on, onto, or, out, over, so, the, to, up, with, yet
Do not include "featuring", "feat." or "with" in the title field
No URLs, social handles or promotional text in titles
Artists
Separate multiple artists with a pipe symbol: Artist1|Artist2
Use the Display Artist field for formatted names e.g. Artist1 feat. Artist2
Do not use "Various Artists" for fewer than 5 artists
Copyright
P-line year and holder are required on every release
C-line year and holder are required on every release
Use your legal name or registered company name — not brand names or unverifiable entities
ISRC
Every track must have a unique ISRC
If you don't have one we'll assign one automatically
Never reuse an ISRC for a different recording
UPC
Every release needs a unique UPC/barcode
We can assign one automatically if you don't have one
Never reuse a UPC for a different release
Genres
Primary genre is required on every release
If your genre is Classical the Composer field is mandatory
Vocals & Language
Always specify whether the track contains vocals
Select the correct language from the dropdown
Audio Requirements
Format: WAV
Channels: 2-channel stereo
Bit depth: 16 or 24 bit
Sample rate: minimum 44.1 kHz
Duration: minimum 30 seconds
No silence longer than 2 seconds at the start or end
No clicks, pops or distortion
Artwork Requirements
Format: JPEG or PNG
Dimensions: minimum 3000 x 3000 pixels (square only)
File size: maximum 10MB
No explicit imagery
No URLs, social handles or website addresses
No third party logos
Text limited to artist name and release title only
Must match the release title and artist name exactly
Artificial Streaming
We have a zero tolerance policy for artificial streaming activity including purchasing streams or plays, using bots or automated services, and incentivised streaming schemes.
Any account found to be engaged in artificial streaming will be immediately suspended and all revenue withheld.
Identity Verification
All users must complete identity verification (KYC) before submitting releases. This is required by our distribution partners to ensure compliance and protect against fraud. We use Didit to do this.
Release Timelines
We recommend submitting releases at least 2 weeks before your intended release date. During periods of high volume, processing times may be longer.
Compliance Review
All releases are reviewed by our compliance team before distribution. We use ACRCloud audio recognition technology to scan all submissions for copyright issues.
Releases that fail our compliance review will be rejected with a reason provided. You may be asked to provide additional documentation including proof of ownership, beat licence agreements, mechanical licences for cover songs or stem files.
Platform Requirements
Spotify - Follow the Spotify Metadata Style Guide. No artificial streaming activity.
Apple Music - Follow the iTunes Style Guide for metadata capitalisation and formatting.
YouTube - Schedule videos at least 3 days after upload. No fake engagement or Content ID misuse.
Amazon - Comply with the Amazon Music Content Policy.
FAQ:
Can I submit licenses & proof on my tracks before rejection?
Can I submit licenses & proof on my tracks before rejection?
Yes! It will drastically improve turnaround times. To do this, you can submit all proof at: Release Clarification - Tunearo.
Do you ever suspend accounts for what we submit?
Do you ever suspend accounts for what we submit?
Yes. We take compliance seriously and will suspend accounts that repeatedly submit non-compliant content, attempt to distribute music they do not own, engage in artificial streaming, or provide false information during the submission process. In serious cases accounts may be permanently closed and any withheld revenue will not be returned. We always aim to work with artists to resolve issues before taking action, but we reserve the right to act immediately where necessary.
What happens if my release is rejected?
What happens if my release is rejected?
You will receive a notification with a reason for the rejection. In most cases you can resolve the issue and resubmit. If you are unsure why your release was rejected or how to fix it, contact [email protected] and we'll help you.
What is a mechanical licence and do I need one?
What is a mechanical licence and do I need one?
A mechanical licence gives you the legal right to record and distribute a cover version of a copyrighted song. If you are releasing a cover song you must obtain a mechanical licence before submitting. Services such as Affordable Song Licensing and Easy Song Licensing can help you obtain one quickly and affordably.
Can I distribute a beat I bought on Fiverr or Beatstars?
Can I distribute a beat I bought on Fiverr or Beatstars?
It depends entirely on the licence you purchased. Basic and standard licences typically do not include commercial distribution rights. You need an exclusive or unlimited distribution licence from the producer. Always check your licence agreement before submitting.
Can I distribute the same release on multiple platforms through Tunearo?
Can I distribute the same release on multiple platforms through Tunearo?
Yes - when you submit a release you can select which platforms you want it distributed to. By default we distribute to all standard platforms.
Can I release music under a different artist name to my real name?
Can I release music under a different artist name to my real name?
Yes — you can use any artist name you choose. However your legal name must be on file with us through our KYC verification process.
Need help?
If you have any questions about whether your release is eligible please contact us at [email protected] before submitting.