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
Section titled “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
Section titled “Original Content”What Qualifies as Original
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “Cover Songs”A cover song is a new recording of a song originally performed by someone else. To distribute a cover, you must obtain a mechanical license for the underlying composition.
LabelGrid partners with Easy Song Licensing to help you get licensed. When you mark a track as a cover, you’ll be guided through the licensing process.
For the full guide on licensing, setup steps in LabelGrid, and what you can and can’t change, see Cover Song Licensing.
Samples and Interpolations
Section titled “Samples and Interpolations”What is a Sample?
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “AI-Generated Content”AI tools are increasingly used in music creation and artwork. LabelGrid requires AI disclosure on every release - both for artwork (release level) and audio (track level).
Key points:
- ✅ AI-assisted composition, production tools, and original AI artwork are generally accepted
- ❌ AI voices imitating real artists, deepfake vocals, and mass-produced AI spam are not allowed
- Honest disclosure does not negatively impact your release
For the full guide on AI policies, disclosure options, platform-specific requirements, and best practices, see AI-Generated Content.
Prohibited Content
Section titled “Prohibited Content”The following content cannot be distributed through LabelGrid:
Absolutely Prohibited
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “Explicit Content”What Counts as Explicit
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “User-Generated Content (UGC) & Remixes”Official Remixes
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “Compilations and Various Artists Releases”How “Various Artists” Works
Section titled “How “Various Artists” Works”“Various Artists” is automatically generated by the system — you should never type it as an artist name. Here’s how it works:
- Add artists per track — assign each track’s performer(s) as Main Artist at the track level
- System calculates — LabelGrid evaluates the number of unique main artists on the release and automatically determines when to display “Various Artists” at the release level
- Individual credits preserved — every artist still appears on their respective tracks across all platforms
Spotify note: Spotify displays “Various Artists” on releases with 5 or more main artists. Releases with fewer than 5 main artists show all artists individually.
Creating a Compilation
Section titled “Creating a Compilation”To release a compilation:
- Set the Release Type to Compilation
- Have rights to all tracks included
- Get permission from all artists (if you don’t own masters)
- Add each track’s performer as Main Artist at the track level — do not manually enter “Various Artists”
- Ensure proper metadata for each track
Licensing for Compilations
Section titled “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
Section titled “Quality Standards”Regardless of content type, all releases must meet quality standards:
Audio Quality
Section titled “Audio Quality”- Minimum 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV files
- No clipping or distortion
- No excessive silence
- Professional mix quality
Metadata Quality
Section titled “Metadata Quality”- Accurate and complete information
- No misleading artist names
- No spam keywords
- Proper language settings
Artwork Quality
Section titled “Artwork Quality”- Minimum 3000×3000 pixels
- No text clutter or URLs
- Appropriate imagery
Before You Release
Section titled “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
Section titled “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?
Section titled “Need Help?”If you have questions about whether your content can be distributed or need help with licensing, contact our support team.
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