Simple guidelines for sending your album artwork to music distribution services
Dimensions:
Your artwork must be a perfect square:
minimum size: 1400 x 1400 pixels / maximum size: 3000 x 3000 pixels
minimum resolution: 72dpi (300dpi for best quality)
Format:
JPEG file format
RGB color mode (not CMYK)
Size:
Less than 25mb
(To access these info on a Mac control-click on you file, or right-click if you have a two-button mouse, and select “Get Info”. On a PC right-click on the file and select “Properties”.)
Quality:
Image must not be blurry, pixelated, misaligned, or have other quality issues
About Text:
Your image should display artist name and release title only. These should match exactly your release info and metadata (must match your physical album cover artwork if you have, or if you are going to print any copies). You can use an image without text since most music platforms display the artist and release info next to the album artwork. Generic artwork (such as a solid color square with no text) may not be accepted
Artwork should not display the following:
– Text that says “Exclusive,” “Limited Edition,” “New Release,” the release date, or anything else that states a time frame.
– Copyrighted images
– Any references to pricing
– URLs, logos, or any reference to a Digital Service Provider, record label, website, or other brands
– E-mail addresses, social media logos and info, URLs, or any other contact information
– Any reference the format as a physical or digital product. For example, CD, DVD, or Digital Exclusive
– Pornography, violence, gore or inappropriate images of any kind
– UPC barcodes and ISRCs
– Content the release doesn’t include. For example, “included DVD” or “includes lyrics”
– Scan of a CD cover (the image must be retail-ready artwork)
– The cover art up-sells to another product (i.e., merch, other albums by same artist, etc)
Also bare in mind:
• Artwork that has been used for another title is not accepted
• Cover art must not be misleading. For example, referencing an artist that does not perform on the release.
• In tribute albums the original artist name must not be as large as (or larger than) the performing artist
Get a unique cover for your album from music-artwork.com gallery. Every cover is carefully designed and comes with a 3000×3000 pixels file, suitable for all digital music distribution platforms.
