For a complete list of acceptable genres, see the iTunes Package Music Specification Addendum: Music, Music Video, and Ringtone Genre Codes.
Not every genre has a genre page in iTunes and the list may change at any time. You must only select genres from this list, regardless of what language your content may be in (for example, a French hip hop track should be submitted as Hip Hop/Rap). Genre names are automatically translated for each Apple Music or iTunes territory.
4.1. Accuracy. The first genre listed will be the primary genre and must be the best description for the content. A second genre is not required, but it should be used when applicable. Primary and secondary genres must not be egregiously misclassified (for example, Hip Hop/Rap in place of Children’s Music).
Note: Content will only chart in the first primary genre. Albums with Latin genres or the K-Pop genre will chart in both the primary and secondary genres.
4.2. Genre Specificity. Use the most specific primary genre that applies to your music, such as Pop in Spanish or Salsa y Tropical, instead of more generic genres such as Latin or Pop.
Soundtracks, or ringtones from a soundtrack, must use Soundtrack as the primary genre.
Music from Anime must use Anime as the primary genre.
Karaoke content must use Karaoke as the primary genre. This includes backing tracks, performance tracks, or any other type of content that could be identified as Karaoke.
Fitness remixes and fitness cover versions of tracks must use the Fitness & Workout genre.
4.3. Indian Genres. Indian music must have at least one Indian genre or Indian subgenre for the album (Primary or Secondary, as applicable). The language-specific genre must be Primary for Indian soundtrack albums.
Apart from Hindi, all other Indian Regional languages have their respective genres that you must list as the Primary genre:
Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Haryanvi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. Any regional language not found in the aforementioned list can be classified as Primary Genre Regional Indian.
The music-specific genre should be Primary for Indian pop, Indian folk, Indian classical, Devotional and Spiritual, Sufi, and Ghazals albums.
Some languages have respective primary genres that must be credited for their respective content. If a secondary genre is required, it is included in the examples below:
Hindi Movie Albums
Primary Genre | Bollywood |
Secondary Genre | Soundtrack |
Regional Indian Movie Albums (Tamil, Telugu, Bhojpuri, and so on)
Primary Genre | Tamil |
Secondary Genre | Soundtrack |
Devotional and Spiritual Albums
Primary Genre | Devotional & Spiritual |
Indian Pop Albums
Primary Genre | Indian Pop |
Secondary Genre | Tamil |
Indian Folk Albums
Primary Genre | Indian Folk |
Sufi Albums
Primary Genre | Sufi |
Ghazal Albums
Primary Genre | Ghazals |
Indian Vocal Classical Albums (Hindustani and Carnatic Classical)
Primary Genre | Carnatic Classical |
Secondary Genre | Tamil |
Instrumental Classical Albums
Primary Genre | Indian Classical |
Secondary Genre | Instrumental |
4.4. Classical Genres. Use the Classical genre for all albums that feature Western classical music. This broadly includes music composed between approx. A.D. 800 and today within the Western art music tradition.
For classical albums, use Classical for the primary genre and include additional classical subgenres as secondary genres to provide specificity.
Example: Bach - Cello Suites Album
Primary Genre | Classical |
Secondary Genre | Classical > Cello |
Classical > Baroque Era | |
Classical > Solo Instrumental |
Use the genre Classical Crossover for the following types of music:
Popular music performed in a classical style.
Music from the standard classical repertoire performed in a popular style.
Music that isn’t part of the standard classical repertoire but is performed by an artist that primarily works in, is best known for, or whose main genre(s) is classical music.
Music that broadly follows classical aesthetics but is composed and/or performed by an artist that primarily works in, or is best known for, or whose main genre(s) is nonclassical music.
Music that broadly follows classical aesthetics but is marketed toward a nonclassical audience.
Music that cannot be ascribed to, and/or does not position itself within the history of Western classical music and its compositional tropes.
Compilations featuring both nonclassical songs as well as standard classical works which are marketed toward a nonclassical audience.
Classical and Classical Crossover genres must not be used for albums that fall outside of the Western art music tradition, including new age, soundtracks, folk, meditation, and so on.