Content Guidelines
Understanding what content can and cannot be distributed helps ensure your releases go live without issues. This guide covers content policies, licensing requirements, and prohibited material.
General Content Requirements
All content distributed through LabelGrid must:
- Be owned by you or properly licensed
- Not infringe on anyone’s copyrights or trademarks
- Comply with platform content policies
- Meet quality standards for commercial distribution
Original Content
What Qualifies as Original
Original content is music that you created or own the rights to:
- Songs you wrote and recorded
- Beats and instrumentals you produced
- Songs created with collaborators (with their permission)
- Music you’ve acquired full rights to
Rights You Need
To distribute original content, you need:
| Right | Description |
|---|---|
| Master rights | Ownership of the sound recording |
| Composition rights | Ownership of the underlying song (or proper license) |
| Performer releases | Permission from all performers |
| Sample clearances | Licenses for any sampled content |
Cover Songs
A cover song is a new recording of a song originally performed by someone else.
Mechanical License Requirement
To distribute a cover song, you must obtain a mechanical license for the underlying composition.
How to Get a Mechanical License
For US distribution:
- Use a licensing service like Easy Song Licensing, Songfile, or DistroKid’s cover song licensing
- Licenses are typically affordable per-song fees
What the license covers:
- Right to record and distribute the song
- Does not cover music videos or sync uses
- Does not allow you to change lyrics significantly
What You Must NOT Change
When recording a cover:
- ❌ Don’t change the fundamental melody
- ❌ Don’t change lyrics in ways that alter meaning
- ❌ Don’t add new sections or lyrics
- ✅ You can change the arrangement, tempo, key, and style
Medleys and Mashups
Medleys (multiple songs combined) and mashups require:
- Mechanical licenses for EACH song used
- All songs must be properly credited
- Complex medleys may require direct publisher permission
Samples and Interpolations
What is a Sample?
A sample is a portion of an existing recording used in a new song. Using samples without permission is copyright infringement.
Clearing Samples
To legally use a sample, you need TWO licenses:
| License | From Whom | For What |
|---|---|---|
| Master license | Original record label | The specific recording |
| Publishing license | Song publisher/writer | The underlying composition |
Sample Clearance Process
- Identify the song and recording owners
- Contact the label for master rights
- Contact the publisher for composition rights
- Negotiate terms (may include upfront fee + royalty share)
- Get written agreements before releasing
Interpolations
An interpolation is when you re-record part of another song’s melody or lyrics (rather than using the actual recording).
Interpolations require: Publishing license (not master license)
Royalty-Free Samples
Samples from royalty-free libraries may be used if:
- You have a valid license from the library
- The license covers commercial distribution
- You follow the library’s terms (some require credits)
AI-Generated Content
Current Platform Policies
Streaming platforms have evolving policies on AI-generated content:
| Platform | Policy |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Prohibits content created to artificially inflate streams |
| Apple Music | Requires human creative involvement |
| Amazon Music | Follows general quality standards |
| YouTube Music | Requires disclosure of AI content |
What May Be Rejected
- ❌ Fully AI-generated music with no human involvement
- ❌ AI voices imitating real artists without permission
- ❌ Mass-produced AI content intended for streaming fraud
- ❌ Deepfake vocals of existing artists
- ❌ Sound-alikes intended to impersonate real artists
What Is Generally Acceptable
- ✅ AI-assisted composition (you wrote it, AI helped)
- ✅ AI as a production tool (mixing, mastering assistance)
- ✅ AI-generated elements combined with human performance
- ✅ Original AI voices (not imitating real people)
Disclosure Requirements
Some platforms require disclosure when AI plays a significant role. Be prepared to:
- Indicate AI involvement in your metadata
- Explain the human creative contribution
- Provide documentation if requested
Prohibited Content
The following content cannot be distributed through LabelGrid:
Absolutely Prohibited
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Hate speech | Content promoting violence or discrimination |
| Illegal content | Promotes illegal activities |
| Harmful content | Encourages self-harm or dangerous behavior |
| Unauthorized recordings | Bootlegs, leaked content |
| Impersonation | Pretending to be another artist |
| Spam/low-quality | AI-generated spam, sound effects as music |
Content Requiring Special Handling
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Explicit content | Must be marked as explicit |
| Politically sensitive | May have limited distribution |
| Religious content | Some platforms have restrictions |
| Sound effects/ASMR | May be rejected as non-music |
Explicit Content
What Counts as Explicit
Content should be marked explicit if it contains:
- Strong profanity
- Sexual content or references
- Graphic violence
- Drug references
- Content unsuitable for minors
How to Mark as Explicit
In LabelGrid, set the explicit flag at:
- Track level - Mark individual explicit tracks
- Release level - If most/all tracks are explicit
Self-Censoring Policy
Do NOT self-censor your lyrics with asterisks or bleeps.
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| ”F**k” in lyrics | ”Fuck” with explicit flag enabled |
| Self-bleeped audio | Clean audio or explicit audio |
Why? Apple Music and other platforms handle censoring automatically. Self-censored content creates confusion and may be rejected. If your song contains explicit content:
- Use the actual words in your audio
- Mark the track as explicit
- Platforms will handle clean versions automatically where needed
Platform Handling
Explicit content may:
- Be filtered in family/kids modes
- Require age verification in some regions
- Have limited radio play
- Display explicit label (E) in stores
User-Generated Content (UGC) & Remixes
Official Remixes
To release an official remix:
- Get written permission from the original artist/label
- Obtain necessary licenses (master + publishing)
- Credit the original work properly
- Follow any restrictions in your agreement
Unofficial Remixes and Bootlegs
These cannot be distributed:
- ❌ Remixes without artist/label permission
- ❌ Bootleg recordings
- ❌ Mashups without all licenses
- ❌ DJ mixes with unlicensed tracks
Fan-Made Content
If fans create content using your music:
- They need your permission to distribute commercially
- Consider offering official remix opportunities
- Monitor for unauthorized commercial use
Compilations and Various Artists Releases
Creating a Compilation
To release a compilation:
- Have rights to all tracks included
- Get permission from all artists (if you don’t own masters)
- Ensure proper metadata for each track
- Use “Various Artists” for artist name if multiple artists
Licensing for Compilations
| Scenario | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Your own catalog | Standard distribution rights |
| Other artists’ tracks | Written licensing agreements |
| Cover songs | Mechanical license for each cover |
Quality Standards
Regardless of content type, all releases must meet quality standards:
Audio Quality
- Minimum 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV files
- No clipping or distortion
- No excessive silence
- Professional mix quality
Metadata Quality
- Accurate and complete information
- No misleading artist names
- No spam keywords
- Proper language settings
Artwork Quality
- Minimum 3000×3000 pixels
- No text clutter or URLs
- Appropriate imagery
Before You Release
Use this checklist before submitting:
- I own or have licensed all content
- Cover songs have mechanical licenses
- Samples are cleared or royalty-free
- AI content meets platform requirements
- Explicit content is properly marked
- Remixes have proper authorization
- Quality standards are met
What Happens If Content Is Rejected
If your release is rejected for content issues:
- Review the rejection reason - Check your email for details
- Address the issue - Get proper licenses, remove problematic content
- Resubmit - Update your release and submit again
- Contact support - If you believe the rejection is in error
Need Help?
If you have questions about whether your content can be distributed or need help with licensing, contact our support team.