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Multilanguage Metadata

When distributing music internationally, you can add translations for titles and other metadata in multiple languages. This helps streaming platforms display your content correctly in different regions and improves discoverability for international audiences.

Why Add Translations?

Adding translations to your releases and tracks provides several benefits:

BenefitDescription
Regional displayStreaming platforms show titles in local languages
Search discoveryUsers can find your music searching in their language
Voice searchPhonetic spellings enable voice assistant discovery
Professional appearanceProper localization shows attention to international markets

Supported Languages

LabelGrid supports 28 languages across multiple writing systems:

Latin Script

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Spanish
  • Spanish (Latin America)
  • Portuguese
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • Estonian

Asian Languages

  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Cantonese
  • Japanese (requires phonetic spelling)
  • Korean
  • Thai
  • Vietnamese

Other Scripts

  • Arabic
  • Hebrew
  • Hindi
  • Russian
  • Macedonian

Regional Languages

  • Luganda
  • Malagasy
  • Nigerian Pidgin

What Can Be Translated

Release Translations

For releases, you can translate:

FieldDescription
Album titleThe main release name
Mix versionVersion descriptor (e.g., “Deluxe Edition”, “Remastered”)
DescriptionLong-form release description for promotional use

Track Translations

For tracks, you can translate:

FieldDescription
Track titleThe song name
Version titleVersion descriptor (e.g., “Radio Edit”, “Extended Mix”)
LyricsSong lyrics in different languages

Adding Translations to a Release

Step 1: Open the Title Tab

  1. Go to your release
  2. Click the Title tab in the release form

Step 2: Add Your Primary Language

The first language section is for your primary content:

  1. Select the language from the dropdown
  2. Enter the album title
  3. Add a mix version if applicable (e.g., “Deluxe Edition”)
  4. Add a description if desired

Step 3: Add Additional Languages

To add translations:

  1. Click the + Add Language button
  2. Select the new language from the dropdown
  3. Enter the translated title
  4. Add translated mix version and description if applicable
  5. Repeat for each language you want to add

Step 4: Set Preferred Language

If you have multiple languages:

  1. Use the Preferred Language dropdown at the top
  2. Select which language should display by default on streaming platforms

Tip: Set your preferred language to match your primary target market. Streaming platforms will fall back to English if the preferred language isn’t supported.

Adding Translations to a Track

The process for tracks is similar to releases:

  1. Open the track and go to the Title tab
  2. Enter your primary language title and version
  3. Click + Add Language to add translations
  4. Set the preferred language if you have multiple languages

Translating Lyrics

If you have lyrics in multiple languages:

  1. Go to the Lyrics section of the track
  2. Add lyrics for each language version
  3. Each language entry can have its own lyrics text

Japanese Language Requirements

Japanese is a special case that requires additional information.

Why Japanese Needs Phonetic Spelling

Japanese uses three writing systems (Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana) that aren’t easily searchable using Latin characters. Streaming platforms require phonetic spelling (Romaji) to:

  • Enable search in Latin characters
  • Support voice search (Alexa, Siri, etc.)
  • Display readable text for non-Japanese users

How to Add Japanese Translations

When you select Japanese as a language:

  1. Enter the title in Japanese characters (Kanji/Hiragana/Katakana)
  2. A Phonetic Spelling field appears automatically
  3. Enter the Romaji (Latin alphabet) pronunciation

Example:

FieldValue
Japanese Title真夜中の夢
Phonetic SpellingMayonaka no Yume

Important: The phonetic spelling field is required for Japanese. Your release will not pass validation without it.

How Translations Display on Streaming Platforms

When your release goes live, streaming platforms handle translations differently:

Platform Behavior

PlatformTranslation Handling
SpotifyShows preferred language; users can see other languages in some regions
Apple MusicDisplays based on user’s region and language settings
YouTube MusicShows preferred language with regional variations
Amazon MusicDisplays based on marketplace region

Fallback Logic

If a platform doesn’t support your preferred language:

  1. Preferred language is shown if available
  2. English is used as fallback
  3. First available translation is used as last resort

This ensures your content always displays properly, never showing blank titles.

Best Practices

Do

  • Add English as one of your languages for maximum compatibility
  • Use native speakers for translations when possible
  • Include phonetic spellings for all non-Latin scripts when available
  • Keep translations consistent across all tracks in a release
  • Match the original meaning rather than literal word-for-word translation

Don’t

  • Don’t use machine translation for official releases without review
  • Don’t mix languages in a single title field
  • Don’t skip phonetic spelling for Japanese content
  • Don’t add languages you don’t fully support - partial translations can look unprofessional

Example: International Release

Here’s an example of a fully localized release:

Release: “Midnight Dreams”

LanguageAlbum TitlePhoneticMix Version
EnglishMidnight Dreams—Deluxe Edition
Japanese真夜中の夢Mayonaka no Yumeデラックス・エディション
SpanishSueños de Medianoche—Edición Deluxe
Korean한밤중의 꿈—디럭스 에디션

Preferred Language: English

This release will display in English by default, but users in Japan, Spanish-speaking countries, and Korea will see localized titles on platforms that support regional display.

Need Help?

If you have questions about translations or international distribution, contact our support team.