To maintain our status with the streaming services (DSPs), we restrict the distribution of certain types of content through Labelcaster. These guidelines, detailed below, are adapted from style guides and other materials from DSPs.
Violations of our policies may result in the termination of your distribution, and/or cancelling of your account.
Content & Metadata Restrictions (no-nos 😇)
Products meeting any of the following criteria may be blocked from delivery, removed from DSPs, and could result in the termination of your account:
- Infringing content: All audio, artwork, metadata assets, and metadata must have appropriate rights for all territories and platforms and must not infringe on the copyrights of other rights holders.
- Artificial streaming: Content with a high percentage of streams generated from bots or other automated processes. Do not pay any third-party services that offer increased streams, followers, and playlist placements on DSPs.
- Misleading content: Content intended to mislead users by mimicking popular content, or the use of search terms or additional, inaccurate information.
- Sound-alikes, cover versions, or tribute songs that sound very similar to the original.
- Using a similar name, title, or image of a popular artist in the content title or cover art.
- Cultural sensitivities. Content must be legal and appropriate for the country or region where distributed.
- Nazi propaganda: Content must not depict Nazi symbolism as restricted by the Strafgesetzbuch section 86a if the content is cleared for sale in Germany (DE), Austria (AT), Switzerland (CH), or any other country or region that restricts Nazi propaganda.
- Non-exclusive licenses/leases for Featured Artists or vocal performances
- Snippets and repetitious tracks
- Generic artist names: Generic artist names, such as White Noise, Yoga, Music for Dogs, Lo-Fi, Sped Up, Workout, Meditation, Baby, Christmas, Top Hits, Chorus, Orchestra, Singer, Rock, Pop Music, etc., are not accepted.
- Subliminal content
- Karaoke music videos and ringtones
- Karaoke tracks with lead vocals or vocal versions
- Ringtones delivered as tracks on music albums
- DJ mix albums delivered as a single audio file
- Advertisement tracks
- Live Albums, Alternate Takes, Rare Recordings, Early Recordings, Radio Broadcasts, Interviews, and other albums commonly referred to as “Bootlegs”