Apple Music and the iTunes Store only receive music through distributors and labels authorized by Apple. Andina Music delivers your release to Apple Music, manages codes and metadata according to Apple’s style guide and reports the royalties earned from streaming and downloads. This page explains what Apple requires, how it differs from other platforms and how to make the most of Apple Music for Artists.
How your music reaches Apple Music and the iTunes Store
With a single release uploaded to the Andina Music dashboard, your music is delivered at the same time to Apple Music (streaming) and the iTunes Store (downloads). Apple reviews artwork and metadata with stricter criteria than most platforms: a release that doesn’t meet its style guide can be held until it’s fixed. That’s why it pays to prepare the material carefully and schedule the date with some margin. The general process is the same as in digital music distribution: account creation, release preparation, delivery, reports and royalties.
Apple Music’s requirements for your release
Audio: lossless quality
Apple Music streams in lossless quality (Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless), so delivering the master as WAV or FLAC at 24 bit and 44.1 kHz or higher makes the most of the platform. Apple also marks masters prepared to its specifications by certified studios with the Apple Digital Masters badge; it isn’t a requirement to publish, but an optional quality standard. If your project is mixed in Dolby Atmos (Spatial Audio), ask us about delivery availability for your case before planning the release.
Cover art
A square image of at least 3000 × 3000 px, JPG or PNG, RGB. Apple rejects blurry, pixelated or cropped artwork and illegible text, and doesn’t allow URLs, social handles, prices, the word “explicit”, other platforms’ logos or references to physical formats (“CD”, “vinyl”). The artist name and title on the image must match the metadata.
Metadata and Apple’s style guide
Apple publishes a style guide with specific rules on capitalization, parentheses for versions (“Remix”, “Acoustic”, “Live”), featured artists, artist names and generic titles. Some of the most relevant:
- Featured artists are entered as featured artists; they’re never typed into the title.
- Every track carries an explicit or clean flag; albums with a single explicit version can’t be listed as “clean”.
- Songwriter, lyricist and producer credits are included per track. Apple shows credits in the app.
- Titles, artists and version must be identical across all platforms: that’s what avoids duplicates and royalty problems. More in music metadata.
ISRC and UPC
As on any platform, Apple identifies each recording by its ISRC and each release by its UPC. If you reuse the codes from a previous release, Apple recognizes the recording as the same one; if it’s new, Andina Music assigns the codes at no extra cost.
Lyrics
Apple Music displays lyrics, often synced to the audio, which reach the platform through lyrics providers. If you want your lyrics shown, ask us about the procedure available for your release.
Apple Music for Artists
Apple Music for Artists is Apple’s free dashboard for artists: it lets you claim your profile, upload your artist image, see plays, listeners, iTunes Store purchases, Shazam data and the playlists featuring your music, and check milestones by track and country. The profile is claimed on the Apple Music for Artists site once your music is live on Apple Music; access is approved by Apple. Unlike Spotify, Apple doesn’t offer a public form to pitch tracks to its editorial playlists: editorial considerations are handled through distribution partners, always in advance and with no guarantee of placement.
Pre-adds and scheduled releases
A release delivered in advance can appear on Apple Music as “coming soon” and allow pre-adds: listeners add it to their library before the date and receive it automatically on release day. For that option to be available, the release must be delivered and approved with some margin; we recommend scheduling two to three weeks ahead. On the iTunes Store the equivalent is the pre-order.
Shazam and the Apple ecosystem
Shazam belongs to Apple and its database is fed, among other sources, by the Apple Music catalog, so a release published on Apple Music can usually be identified with Shazam shortly after going live. Shazam data (where and when your song is recognized) appears in Apple Music for Artists. Your music is also available on the Apple devices and services where Apple Music is integrated, such as Apple TV, HomePod and CarPlay.
Differences from Spotify worth knowing
- Stricter review of artwork and metadata: style-guide rejections are more frequent on Apple.
- Downloads: the iTunes Store still sells music; download revenue is reported separately from streaming.
- Audio quality: Apple Music streams lossless; a 24-bit master is put to better use.
- Editorial pitching: Spotify opens it to artists in Spotify for Artists; Apple has no public form.
- Credits and lyrics are visible in the app, which makes complete metadata more important.
If your music isn’t on Spotify yet, also read how to get your music on Spotify: the audio and artwork requirements are almost the same and you can prepare a single set of assets for both platforms.
Common mistakes when distributing to Apple Music
- Artwork with URLs, prices or tiny text, or under 3000 px.
- Wrong capitalization or version formatting in the title according to Apple’s style guide.
- Featured artists typed into the title instead of entered as featured artists.
- Missing explicit flag, or applied to a whole album unnecessarily.
- Incomplete songwriter credits.
- A release date with no margin for Apple’s review.
- Switching distributors with new ISRC or UPC codes, which breaks the continuity of the release.
Frequently asked questions about Apple Music
Can I upload my music to Apple Music without a distributor?
No. Apple only accepts content from authorized distributors and labels. Andina Music acts as your distributor for Apple Music and the iTunes Store, along with the rest of the platforms.
How long does Apple Music take to publish my release?
Usually 24 to 72 hours after approval, although Apple’s review can hold a release if the artwork or metadata doesn’t meet the style guide. Schedule the date two to three weeks out.
Do I need a special master for Apple Music?
No. A 16- or 24-bit WAV or FLAC master at 44.1 kHz or higher is enough. 24-bit masters make better use of lossless playback, and the Apple Digital Masters badge is an optional standard for certified studios.
How do I claim my profile on Apple Music for Artists?
With your music live, request access on the Apple Music for Artists site with your profile. Apple reviews and approves the request. If the release was attached to the wrong profile, it’s corrected through the distributor.
How are Apple Music royalties paid?
Apple reports consumption and sales to the distributor with a one- to two-month delay. Andina Music consolidates those reports with the other platforms’ and pays royalties under your agreement. More about royalties and reports.
Will my music also be on the iTunes Store?
Yes. Delivery to Apple includes Apple Music (streaming) and the iTunes Store (downloads) with the same release.
Get your music on Apple Music with Andina Music
We deliver your music to Apple Music, the iTunes Store, Spotify, YouTube Music, TikTok, Amazon Music, Deezer and 150+ platforms, with ISRC and UPC codes at no extra cost, reports by platform and territory and human support by email. Keep your rights and work with a team that knows each store’s requirements.
