It is required to deliver complete and accurate artist names and credits for your music, audio, or music videos upon delivery, across each credit category: specific performer, production and engineering, and composition and lyricist credits. For example, rather than simply applying the role of Performer to a primary artist, you must specify the instrument that the performer is playing, or the type of ensemble that the performer is part of on the specific media piece.
To ensure consistency, refer to Recommended Contributor Roles in the Apple Music Specification. If an instrument or role is not listed, you can still deliver it.
For standard credits consult the Library of Congress Medium of Performance Thesaurus for Music PDF Files and the American Library Association RDA Toolkit.
2.1. Accuracy. Full, standard name spellings must be used for all artists and other credits on all content. The spelling of names must be correct and remain consistent across the entire recording and all content for that artist. Artist and other names must not include any additional information, such as role, date, instrument, former band, website, and so on.
Artist name format: First name, Last name. For example, Fred Smith.
Examples:
Correct | Incorrect | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Joe Satriani | Joe Satriani (Guitarist) | Includes artist’s instrument |
Slash | Slash (Of Guns N’ Roses) | Includes band name |
Johann Sebastian Bach | Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) | Includes birth and death dates |
Joey Boy | Joey Boy โจอี้ บอย | Includes translation |
Mickey Mouse | Mickey Mouse Bret Iwa | Includes voice actor’s name |
2.2. Generic Genres and Names. Generic names, such as White Noise, Yoga, Music for Dogs, Lo-Fi, Sped Up, Workout, Meditation, Baby, Christmas, Top Hits, Chorus, Orchestra, or Singer are not accepted. Additionally, generic genre names, such as Rock, Hip Hop, or Smooth Jazz for example, will not be accepted.
Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
Smooth Jazz All-Stars | Smooth Jazz |
White Noise Therapy Group | White Noise |
Baby Lullaby Academy | Lullabies |
Pet Care Therapy Players | Music for Dogs |
Into the Unknown | Unknown |
Lo-Fi Beats | |
Speed Music |
2.3. Compound Artist. Each artist field must only contain one artist name.
Track Title | Correct Artist Name | Incorrect Artist Name |
|---|---|---|
Ebony and Ivory | Paul McCartney (Primary) Stevie Wonder (Primary) | Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (Primary) |
Bang Bang | Jessie J (Primary) Ariana Grande (Primary) Nicki Minaj (Primary) | Jessie J & Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj (Primary) |
2.4. Reverse Compound Artist. Artists who are generally listed together as a band are not considered compound artists and must be listed together.
Examples:
Simon & Garfunkel
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Brooks & Dunn
Katrina & The Waves
Dizzy Gillespie & His Fab Five
2.5. Studio Musicians. Production house, label name, or studio can be used as the artist name for content, such as video game soundtracks, or contracted musician-style content, such as generic holiday or elevator music.
Correct Examples:
MGM Studio Orchestra
Hollywood Studio Symphony
EA Games Studio Orchestra
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Incorrect Examples:
MGM Studios
Hollywood Studios