Apple Music
Updated July 2026.
Yes — LabelGrid delivers your releases to Apple Music, including its Shazam integration. Apple Music for Artists provides tools to customize your presence, understand your audience, and promote your music across Apple’s ecosystem (including Shazam).
Portal: artists.apple.com
Delivery specs at a glance
Section titled “Delivery specs at a glance”| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Audio format accepted | Lossless WAV or FLAC master |
| Artwork spec | Minimum 3000x3000px, RGB, square (1:1), no promotional text, URLs, or QR codes |
| Lossless / Hi-Res / Spatial support | Lossless; Dolby Atmos spatial audio supported (uploaded with its own ISRC) |
| Territory / regions | Global |
| Monetization / Content ID | Streaming royalties and iTunes song sales |
| Artist-profile linking | Claim via Apple Music for Artists after delivery |
| Go-live timeline | Typically 1–5 business days after delivery |
For more on distribution timing and store coverage, see Distribution Lead Times and Supported Stores. To claim your profiles across platforms, see Claim Your Profiles. LabelGrid distributes to all major DSPs — see LabelGrid Music Distribution Platforms.
Important Apple Music Requirements
Section titled “Important Apple Music Requirements”Before distributing to Apple Music, understand these key requirements:
Mandatory Credit Categories
Section titled “Mandatory Credit Categories”Apple Music requires at least ONE credit in EACH of these three categories for every track:
| Category | Required | Example Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Composition & Lyrics | Yes | Composer, Lyricist, Songwriter |
| Performers | Yes | Lead Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Piano |
| Production & Engineering | Yes | Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer |
Metadata Restrictions
Section titled “Metadata Restrictions”Apple Music has strict metadata requirements:
| Prohibited | Why |
|---|---|
| Emojis | Not allowed in titles, artist names, or lyrics |
| ”Album Version” | Assumed default, don’t include |
| ”Dolby Atmos” | Format references not allowed in titles |
| Self-censoring | Don’t use asterisks - Apple handles censoring automatically |
| URLs/logos | No website addresses or QR codes in artwork |
Self-Censoring Policy
Section titled “Self-Censoring Policy”Artists should NOT self-censor with asterisks (fk).** Instead:
- Use the actual word in the audio
- Mark the track as explicit
- Apple handles censoring automatically for clean versions
Release Type Formatting
Section titled “Release Type Formatting”| Type | Apple Music Format |
|---|---|
| Single | Automatically adds ”- Single” suffix |
| EP | Automatically adds ”- EP” suffix |
| Album | No suffix added |
Multiple Artists (Various Artists Rule)
Section titled “Multiple Artists (Various Artists Rule)”If your release has 5 or more primary artists, it must use “Various Artists” as the main artist at the album level.
| Number of Artists | How to Credit |
|---|---|
| 1-4 primary artists | List each as primary artist |
| 5+ primary artists | Use “Various Artists” at album level |
Do NOT use: “V/A”, “V.A.”, or other abbreviations. Use the full text “Various Artists”.
Indian Music Genre Requirement
Section titled “Indian Music Genre Requirement”If your music is in an Indian language (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, etc.), you must select an Indian language-specific genre as your primary or secondary genre.
| Language | Use Genre |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Hindi |
| Tamil | Tamil |
| Telugu | Telugu |
| Bengali | Bengali |
| Punjabi | Punjabi |
| Other regional | Regional Indian |
This helps your music appear in the correct regional charts and playlists.
Spatial Audio Support
Section titled “Spatial Audio Support”LabelGrid supports Dolby Atmos delivery to Apple Music. If you have spatial audio mixes, you can upload them separately in the track’s Dolby tab with their own ISRC. Apple Music subscribers can enjoy your immersive mixes on supported devices.
Animated Cover Art (Apple Motion Artwork)
Section titled “Animated Cover Art (Apple Motion Artwork)”Apple Music supports animated, or motion, album art. LabelGrid delivers it to Apple Music alongside your standard static cover art — static cover art is still required.
Two formats are required as a pair: a square 1:1 version and a tall 3:4 version. You can’t upload one without the other — LabelGrid requires both before the release can proceed. Accepted file formats are MP4, MOV, WEBM, and GIF. Motion art is included in all plans at no extra cost.
For full specifications and how to add it, see Apple Music Motion Art.
Profile Customization
Section titled “Profile Customization”Your Apple Music artist profile is your storefront on the platform. Make it stand out with custom content.
Profile Elements You Can Edit
Section titled “Profile Elements You Can Edit”| Element | Requirements | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Profile Photo | Minimum 750 x 750px, no text or logos | Use a clean, professional image |
| Header Image | Wide format banner | Match your current era/aesthetic |
| Bio | Text description | Tell your story authentically |
| Band Members | Individual member info | Helps fans discover side projects |
| Influences | Up to 5 artists | Shows up to Apple’s editorial team |
| Collaborators | Artists you’ve worked with | Helps with recommendations |
Q&A Feature
Section titled “Q&A Feature”Apple Music lets you answer 5 curated prompts that appear on your profile:
- “Find a song of yours on Apple Music that you love and tell us what makes it special”
- “What’s one of the most memorable moments in your career so far?”
- And 3 more rotating prompts
Limit: 250 characters per answer
How to Edit Your Profile
Section titled “How to Edit Your Profile”- Go to artists.apple.com
- Sign in with your Apple ID
- Navigate to Artist Profile
- Click Edit on any section
- Upload images or enter text
- Save changes (updates appear within 24 hours)
Analytics Dashboard
Section titled “Analytics Dashboard”Apple Music for Artists provides detailed insights into how your music performs.
Key Metrics
Section titled “Key Metrics”| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Plays | Total number of streams |
| Listeners | Unique listeners |
| Shazams | How many times your songs were Shazammed |
| Song Sales | iTunes purchases |
| Top Cities | Where your listeners are located |
| Top Countries | Geographic breakdown |
| Listener Demographics | Age and gender (where available) |
| Source of Plays | How listeners found your music |
Trends & Insights
Section titled “Trends & Insights”- See daily, weekly, monthly, or all-time data
- Compare performance across releases
- Track playlist additions
- Monitor Shazam velocity (rate of change in Shazams)
Shazam Integration
Section titled “Shazam Integration”Since Apple owns Shazam, your Shazam data is integrated directly into Apple Music for Artists.
What Shazam Data Shows
Section titled “What Shazam Data Shows”- Total Shazams for each track
- Shazam Velocity - how quickly Shazams are increasing
- Popular Segments - the exact moments in your song that people Shazam most
- Geographic hotspots - where your music is being discovered “in the wild”
Why Shazam Matters
Section titled “Why Shazam Matters”Shazam data is an early indicator of real-world interest:
- Songs trending on Shazam often break through to mainstream
- High Shazam velocity signals your music is catching on
- Popular Segments help you understand which parts of your songs resonate
Promote Tab
Section titled “Promote Tab”The Promote tab in Apple Music for Artists offers a suite of marketing assets.
Available Promotional Tools
Section titled “Available Promotional Tools”| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Social Media Posts | Customizable graphics with your music |
| Milestones | Shareable cards for achievements |
| Embeddable Players | Add Apple Music players to your website |
| Set Lists | Playlists to promote live shows |
| QR Codes | Direct links to your music |
Milestones
Section titled “Milestones”Milestones are shareable graphics that celebrate your achievements:
- First 1,000 / 10,000 / 100,000 / 1M plays
- Shazam milestones
- Editorial playlist adds
- Chart positions
- Album anniversaries
How to Create Promotional Assets
Section titled “How to Create Promotional Assets”- Go to artists.apple.com
- Navigate to the Promote tab
- Select the asset type you want to create
- Choose a template, layout, and background color
- Download and share on your social channels
Editorial & Playlists
Section titled “Editorial & Playlists”Apple Music’s editorial team curates playlists across genres and moods. While there’s no formal pitch process like Spotify, you can increase your chances of being noticed:
How to Get Editorial Attention
Section titled “How to Get Editorial Attention”- Complete your profile - Fill out Q&A, influences, collaborators
- Deliver early - Submit releases at least 2-3 weeks before release date
- Provide context - Add detailed metadata through your distributor
- Be consistent - Regular releases help build editorial relationships
Lyrics
Section titled “Lyrics”Apple Music displays lyrics directly in the app. To ensure your lyrics appear:
- Provide lyrics through your LabelGrid release (in the track metadata)
- Or submit through a lyrics service like Musixmatch
Apple also supports Time-Synced Lyrics that scroll as the song plays - these are typically generated automatically or can be submitted through your distributor.
Music Videos
Section titled “Music Videos”Apple Music supports official music videos. To deliver videos:
- Contact LabelGrid support about video delivery
- Provide video file meeting Apple’s specifications
- Videos appear on your artist page and track pages
Apple Music Analytics API
Section titled “Apple Music Analytics API”For labels and teams who need programmatic access, Apple offers an Analytics API:
- Retrieve play data programmatically
- Build custom dashboards
- Integrate with your business intelligence tools
Contact Apple for API access through the Apple Music for Artists dashboard.
Best Practices
Section titled “Best Practices”- Complete your profile - Artists with full profiles get more visibility
- Answer Q&A prompts - Editors read these when considering artists
- Check Shazam data - It’s an early indicator of emerging interest
- Share Milestones - They drive engagement and streams
- Deliver releases early - Give editors time to discover your music
- Keep imagery updated - Match your profile to your current era
”Does LabelGrid deliver to Apple Music?”
Section titled “”Does LabelGrid deliver to Apple Music?””Yes — LabelGrid delivers your releases to Apple Music, including its Shazam integration. Once your release is live, claim your Apple Music for Artists profile for analytics and promotional tools.
”How long does a release take to go live on Apple Music?”
Section titled “”How long does a release take to go live on Apple Music?””Apple Music typically goes live within 1 to 5 business days after delivery. Deliver ahead of your release date so the release is processed in time.
”How do I claim my Apple Music for Artists profile?”
Section titled “”How do I claim my Apple Music for Artists profile?””Request access at artists.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID. LabelGrid delivers your releases so Apple can match and verify your profile.
”Does Apple Music support Dolby Atmos / spatial audio?”
Section titled “”Does Apple Music support Dolby Atmos / spatial audio?””Yes — Apple Music supports Dolby Atmos. LabelGrid delivers spatial audio mixes uploaded in the track’s Dolby tab with their own ISRC, alongside the standard stereo master.
”What credits does Apple Music require?”
Section titled “”What credits does Apple Music require?””Apple Music requires at least one credit in each of three categories per track: Composition and Lyrics, Performers, and Production and Engineering. One person can fill multiple categories.
”How do I get on Apple Music editorial playlists?”
Section titled “”How do I get on Apple Music editorial playlists?””There is no formal pitch form. Complete your profile, deliver 2 to 3 weeks before release, and provide detailed metadata so Apple’s editorial team can discover your music.
”Can I take my music down from Apple Music?”
Section titled “”Can I take my music down from Apple Music?””Yes — request a takedown through your LabelGrid dashboard and the removal is sent to Apple Music. Processing time varies.
Resources
Section titled “Resources”Official Apple Music Documentation
Section titled “Official Apple Music Documentation”- Apple Music Style Guide - Complete metadata formatting standards
- Metadata Standards - Detailed requirements for submissions
- Credits Delivery Guide - How to properly credit contributors
- Lyrics Guidelines - Requirements for lyrics submissions
Additional Resources
Section titled “Additional Resources”- Apple Music for Artists - Artist portal and analytics
- Shazam for Artists
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