This article explains Amazon Music’s metadata and content requirements for distributors delivering content via FUGA. It covers accepted content types, genre eligibility, contributor role accuracy, and restrictions such as public domain recordings, bulk delivery limits, and generic artist naming. This guide will help to ensure your deliveries meet Amazon’s editorial standards and avoid rejection or takedown.
The information provided in this article represents our current best practice guidance for complying with Amazon's Content Policy and does not represent legal advice. DSP policies are subject to change.
Amazon Music enforces strict guidelines to maintain metadata accuracy, content integrity, and compliance across its platform. This article outlines the core requirements and known rejection triggers to help FUGA clients avoid delivery issues or content takedowns.
Distributors should regularly consult Amazon Music’s metadata specifications, available via FUGA internal resources or directly through the Amazon Music Operations documentation.
Key Compliance Areas:
The following areas must be adhered to when preparing content for Amazon Music:
1. Metadata Accuracy
- Titles should reflect the actual content and include any featured artists or version indicators in parentheses, not brackets
- ✅ Correct: "Song Title (feat. Artist Name)"
- ❌ Incorrect: "Song Title [HD VERSION]"
- Descriptive phrases like “Exclusive,” “Deluxe,” or “Best Of” must be factually correct and not used for marketing purposes
- Avoid unnecessary tagging or repetition in title, album, or artist fields
2. Artist Attribution
- All contributors must be credited with accurate roles (e.g., Main Artist, Producer, Featured Artist)
- Do not include brand names, label names, or third-party services in the artist fields
- Collaborations should use “&” or “feat.” depending on the nature of the contribution
3. Cover Art Requirements
- Cover art must be high-resolution (minimum 3000x3000 px), square, and free of:
- URLs or contact information
- DSP or streaming service logos
- Marketing phrases such as “New Release,” “Now Available”
- All artwork must reflect the release and not mislead the end-user
4. Prohibited Content
Amazon Music will reject or suppress content that includes:
- Artificial Streaming (AS) or playlist manipulation indicators
- Content where the same or very slightly altered album artwork and/or metadata is being repeated across multiple releases for different artists
- Silent, ambient-only, or noise-based tracks without clear creative authorship
- Generic content or artist naming conventions without brand clarity or musical identity
- ❌ Examples: “Rain Sounds,” “Sleep Baby,” “Meditation Music Collection”
- ✅ Consider: “Rain Dreams by Calmo Waves” (with distinct brand identity)
5. Unofficial Recordings (Bootlegs)
Amazon Music does not permit unofficial recordings such as radio broadcasts, live albums, rare/early/leaked recordings, interviews, or other releases commonly classified as "Bootlegs" unless they are delivered by the same partners who delivered the respective artist’s recognized discography.
6. Public Domain Recordings
Amazon Music does not permit Public Domain ("PD") recordings unless delivered by the same partners who delivered the respective artist’s recognized discography. PD refers to recordings that have fallen out of copyright protection in specific territories.
7. Audio and Technical Quality
- Deliver fully mastered, final versions only
- Avoid uploading clips, demos, or audio containing extended silence
- Ensure ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) and UPC (Universal Product Code) entries are accurate and unique.
Troubleshooting
- Metadata Issues: Verify all capitalisation, roles, and language-specific metadata before redelivery.
-
Generic Content Rejected: Reassess whether the content is appropriately differentiated and branded to meet Amazon Music’s originality standards.
Related Notes
- Amazon Music may apply additional regional filters or restrictions not visible in the standard metadata checks—always ensure compliance with local laws and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
- Metadata must be provided in all applicable languages for localized delivery markets.
- FUGA does not retroactively modify delivered metadata—use the Update Metadata workflow for corrections post-delivery.
- Please refer to the Downtown Music Content Policy, which applies to all content, metadata, and associated assets delivered to any Digital Service Provider (DSP) via the services of Downtown Music.