Most releases that come back to an artist for changes don't have a problem with the song. They have a problem with a square image. A blurry poster, a phone number in the corner, "Coming Soon on Spotify" in gold letters, a photo of a bigger star who isn't on the track. Any one of these can hold a release back, and a few of them can get it pulled later.
Here's what the stores actually ask for, in plain terms, and how to get your cover right the first time.
The size and file part
This is the easy bit, and it still trips people up.
- Make it a perfect square. 3000 x 3000 pixels is the safe size. Spotify accepts anything between 640 and 10,000 pixels on each side as long as it's 1:1 (Spotify's cover art requirements). Apple recommends 3000 x 3000 or larger and won't take less than 1400 x 1400 (Apple's digital packaging guide).
- Use JPG or PNG at full quality. Export in RGB (sRGB), not CMYK. A file a printing shop prepared for flex banners is often CMYK and will look washed out, or fail outright.
- Don't stretch a small image. Spotify says plainly: don't upscale. If your photographer sent you a WhatsApp-compressed picture, ask for the original file. Blowing up a 720-pixel image to 3000 just gives you a big blurry one.
- No borders or black bars. If your design was made for a 16:9 YouTube thumbnail, redo it for a square. Don't just add strips on the sides.
What you're not allowed to put on it
This is where most rejections come from. Apple's Music Style Guide and its cover art guidelines are the strictest, and other stores follow similar rules, so design to Apple's standard and you're covered nearly everywhere.
Keep these off your cover:
- Website addresses, Instagram handles, phone numbers, email IDs and QR codes
- Logos of brands, sponsors or other platforms (no Spotify, JioSaavn or YouTube logos)
- Release dates or years, and words like "Out Now", "New Song 2026" or "Coming Soon"
- Prices and promo text such as "Free" or "Special Offer"
- Words about the format, like "Dolby Atmos", "Lossless" or "Hi-Res"
- References to CDs, vinyl or any shop
- A barcode
- A "Parental Advisory" logo on a release that isn't marked explicit
The text Apple wants on a cover is the artist name and the release title, written exactly as you've typed them in the metadata. If the song is "Mera Balam Thanedar" by Ramesh Yadav, don't print "Balam Thanedar (Official Song)" on the art. Mismatches like that are a common reason a release gets sent back.
The "misleading" rule, and why regional artists get caught
Apple's guidelines say cover art can't prominently show or reference an artist who doesn't perform on the release. This one matters a lot in the Bhojpuri, Haryanvi and Rajasthani scenes, where posters often carry a big photo of a famous singer or actor to attract clicks.
If that person isn't credited on the track, don't put their face on the cover. The same goes for a film still, a cricketer, or a politician's photo. Beyond the store rule, it's someone else's image, and you need permission to use it. Spotify's image guidelines also point out that you can't use a person's likeness without their consent (Spotify artist image guidelines).
Devotional releases have their own version of this. A deity image is fine, but a photo of a deity downloaded from a temple trust's website or a calendar company's catalogue belongs to whoever made it. Use your own photo, commission an illustration, or use an image you have clear rights to.
AI-made covers
You can use AI tools for artwork. Just look at the result closely before you upload it. Apple's style guide now specifically rejects AI processing that leaves distorted text or unnatural anatomy, like six fingers, a melted face or a garbled title. Those things are easy to miss on a phone screen and obvious on a laptop. If the AI image made your title look odd, put the title on top yourself in a normal font.
If you're using RMX's AI poster enhancement in the dashboard, the same check applies. Open the final image at full size and look at hands, eyes and lettering before you submit.
A quick check before you hit upload
Open your cover and ask:
1. Is it square, at least 3000 x 3000, and sharp when I zoom in? 2. Is the only text the artist name and title, matching my metadata exactly? 3. Is there anything on it I'd call "promotion"? A handle, a date, a logo, "out now"? Take it off. 4. Is every person on the cover actually on this song? 5. Do I own, or have permission for, every photo and graphic in it? 6. Will it still read at thumbnail size? Most people see your cover at about the size of a fingernail in a playlist. One strong image and a clear title beat a collage.
If you want the handle and the release date somewhere, put them in your Instagram post, your YouTube description, or a smart link page. Just not on the cover.
Releasing with RMX
When you upload through RMX Music, our team checks the cover along with your audio and metadata before the release goes out to 95+ platforms. You keep 95% of your royalties, and the Label account is a one-time ₹4,500 for life with unlimited releases and artists. More than 3,000 artists and 2,200 labels already distribute with us.
If your next song is ready and the cover passes the checklist above, create your RMX account here and get it live.