Validation

This page covers formatting standards, common validation errors, and pre-submission checklists for DDEX import. For field definitions, see Release metadata and Track metadata.

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Formatting standards

ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)

• Format: CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN (dashes are optional and stripped on storage)
  • CC — 2-letter country code (uppercase)
  • XXX — 3-character alphanumeric registrant code
  • YY — 2-digit year of reference
  • NNNNN — 5-digit designation code
• Length: 12 characters without dashes, up to 15 with dashes
• Examples: USRC11234567, US-RC1-12-34567, GBAYE0000001
• Rules:
  • Must be globally unique
  • Cannot be changed once the release has been distributed or taken down
  • Regular ISRC and Dolby ISRC on the same track must be different values
  • If re-uploading a track with an existing ISRC, the title and mix version must match exactly

UPC / EAN (barcode)

• UPC-A: 12 numeric digits (with check digit)
• EAN-13: 13 numeric digits (with check digit)
• Example: 075992755296
• Rules:
  • Must be globally unique
  • Auto-generated if left blank
  • Cannot be changed once distributed or taken down

ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code)

• Format: T-NNNNNNNNN-C (T, 9 digits, 1 check digit)
• Example: T-335186427-8

Territory codes

• Standard: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 (two uppercase letters)
• Examples: US (United States), GB (United Kingdom), DE (Germany), JP (Japan), AU (Australia), FR (France)
• Worldwide: Use * for worldwide territory coverage

Language codes

• Standard: Use codes supported in LabelGrid’s language table
• Examples: en, es, fr, de, ko, pt, ar, ja_Jpan, zh_Hans, zh_Hant

Dates

• Format: YYYY-MM-DD
• Example: 2025-06-15

Artwork

• Minimum dimensions: 3000 x 3000 pixels (enforced)

• Upload validation: Image MIME type is validated; common accepted types include JPEG, PNG, GIF, WEBP, BMP, and TIFF

• Distribution best practice: Use square JPEG or PNG (1:1)

• Animated / Motion art: In workflows that require paired motion art, provide both formats:

  • Square format (1:1 aspect ratio)
  • Tall format (3:4 aspect ratio)

  Uploading only one format can fail validation in those workflows.

Audio files

• Recommended formats: WAV (preferred) or FLAC (lossless)
• Remote URL ingest currently accepts: WAV/FLAC plus MP3/MPEG, OGG, and AIFF variants
• Channels: Must be stereo (exactly 2 channels)
• Recommended spec: WAV, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, Stereo
• Dolby Atmos: Requires a separate immersive audio file (minimum 6 channels / 5.1 surround)
• Minimum duration: 30 seconds per track

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Common mistakes and how to avoid them

1. Duplicate ISRC

“The ISRC (USXX12345678) is already in use by another track: Track Name. If you are re-uploading this track, please ensure the Title and Version Title are the same as the existing track.”

Each ISRC must be globally unique. If re-uploading a previously distributed track, the title and version must match exactly.

Fix: Generate a new unique ISRC, or ensure the title and mix version match the original track exactly.

2. Changing ISRC or UPC after distribution

“ISRC cannot be changed to USXX12345678 because the release has already been distributed.” “This barcode number cannot be changed because this release has already been delivered. A takedown must be issued for the existing product and a new product must be created.”

Once a release has been distributed or taken down, its ISRC and UPC are locked. To use a different code, you must create a new release.

Fix: Create a new product with the new identifier. Issue a takedown for the old product if needed.

3. Overlapping artist roles

For metadata consistency, avoid assigning one artist to multiple display roles (primary, featured, remixer) on the same track/release.

Fix: Choose one role per artist. If an artist both performed and remixed, credit them under their primary role and note the remix in the mix version field.

4. Remixer without mix version

If a remixer is credited on a track, include a mix version (and localize it wherever you localize titles) to avoid ambiguous platform display.

Fix: Add a mix version (e.g., “Extended Mix”, “Radio Edit”, “Dub Mix”) in all languages.

5. Missing contributor categories

“Each track needs at least one contributor assigned to the role of [missing categories]. The same contributor can have multiple roles.”

Every track must have at least one contributor from each of the three categories. The error message will list only the missing categories.

Fix: Ensure every track credits at least one Performer (e.g., Primary Artist), one Composition/Lyrics role (e.g., Songwriter or Composer), and one Production role (e.g., Producer). The same person can fill multiple roles.

6. Percentage shares not totaling 100%

“Total shares for Publishers does not add up to 100%.” “Publisher shares for region US does not add up to 100%.”

Publisher and copyright owner shares must sum to exactly 100% per region. Writer shares must also total exactly 100%.

Fix: Double-check your math. Each region’s shares must independently total 100%.

7. Duplicate publisher or writer for same region

Do not repeat the same publisher or copyright owner for the same territory.

Fix: Combine entries for the same publisher into a single entry with the correct total percentage.

8. Producer alias without producer role

The producer alias field is only valid when the Producer role is selected as a contributor role.

Fix: Select the “Producer” contributor role before entering a producer alias.

9. Non-preferred audio formats

For reliable distribution results, use lossless WAV/FLAC. Some upload paths accept additional formats, but they are not recommended as delivery masters.

Fix: Upload WAV (preferred) or FLAC files. Re-export from your DAW in lossless format — do not convert an MP3 to WAV, as this does not restore quality.

10. Artwork too small

Artwork must be at least 3000 x 3000 pixels. Platforms require high-resolution cover art.

Fix: Export artwork at 3000 x 3000 pixels or larger. Do not upscale a smaller image — re-create it at the proper resolution.

11. Missing AI disclosure

AI usage disclosure for artwork and audio should be set for complete metadata and review clarity.

Fix: For each release, declare whether AI was used in artwork creation (None / Some / All). For each track, declare whether AI was used in audio creation.

12. Uploading only one animated cover format

Some motion-art workflows require both the square (1:1) and tall (3:4) versions together.

Fix: Provide both formats together when using animated/motion cover workflows.

13. Regular ISRC and Dolby ISRC are the same

“Regular ISRC and Dolby ISRC cannot use the same ISRC value (USXX12345678).”

The stereo and Dolby Atmos versions of a track must have different ISRCs.

Fix: Assign a separate, unique ISRC to the Dolby Atmos version.

14. Duplicate catalogue number

“A release with this catalogue number (CAT001) already exists for this label. Please specify a unique catalogue number.”

Catalogue numbers must be unique within your label.

Fix: Use a unique catalogue number for each release under the same label.

15. Instant gratification exceeds 50%

No more than 50% of the tracks on a release can be marked as instant gratification (available before the full release date).

Fix: Reduce the number of instant gratification tracks to at most half of the total track count.

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Pre-submission checklists

Release checklist

• Title is entered (in at least the primary language)
• Release type is set (Single, Album, EP, Compilation, Mix, or Podcast)
• At least one primary artist is credited
• Release date is set in YYYY-MM-DD format
• Catalogue number is unique within your label (max 20 characters)
• Primary genre is selected from the LabelGrid genre list
• C-Line and P-Line are filled in (name + year)
• Explicit content flag is set
• Artwork is uploaded: minimum 3000 x 3000 px (square JPEG/PNG recommended)
• Artwork AI usage disclosure is set (None / Some / All)
• UPC/EAN is either entered (valid 12-13 digit format) or left blank for auto-generation
• Pre-order date (if set) is before the release date (best practice)
• Animated cover art (if used) includes both square (1:1) and tall (3:4) versions where required
• Album-level artists appear on at least one track (required by some platforms)

Track checklist (repeat for each track)

• Title is entered
• ISRC is assigned and valid (12-character format: CCXXXYYNNNNN) when available
• Dolby ISRC (if applicable) is different from the regular ISRC
• At least one primary artist is credited
• Explicit content flag is set (recommended)
• Audio AI usage disclosure is set (recommended)
• Audio file is uploaded in preferred lossless format (WAV or FLAC), stereo, minimum 30 seconds
• Contributors include at least one from each category:
  • Performer (e.g., Primary Artist, Vocalist, Instrumentalist)
  • Composition & Lyrics (e.g., Composer, Lyricist, Songwriter)
  • Production & Engineering (e.g., Producer, Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer)
• Mix version is set if a remixer is credited (and localized where titles are localized)
• Mechanical license is uploaded if composition type is “Cover Song”
• No artist appears in multiple roles (best practice for clean metadata)
• Publisher shares total exactly 100% per region
• Copyright owner shares total exactly 100% per region
• Writer shares total exactly 100%

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Next steps

• XML reference — ERN 4.3 structure and examples
• Release metadata — Release-level field reference
• Track metadata — Track-level fields and contributor roles