Mistakes and Rules That Get a Cover Rejected

Two different things can go wrong with a cover. One is a quality problem — the artwork is finished and simply does not work. The other is a compliance problem, where the release gets stopped at moderation. Both are worth knowing before you start.

Mistakes that make a cover weak

Trying to save money

Wanting to spend less is reasonable, but not at the cost of basic quality. Work with professionals, or with people you have reason to trust.

No overall concept

Your image as an artist includes an atmosphere that runs across everything, covers included. Without a plan holding it together, individual releases do not accumulate into anything a listener remembers you by.

Ignoring platform standards

Streaming services have real requirements for cover files and what may appear on them. Miss them and the cover is rejected, which puts a line through the work already done.

A weak brief

A vague specification can derail things at any point, complicating the release or stopping it. A clear brief and agreements you both said out loud are what keeps the work on track.

What you cannot put on a cover

The text has to match the release

Wording on the cover must correspond to the release data, and it should carry the artist name and the title. Keep advertising and web addresses off it entirely.

Logos and trademarks are risky

Be careful with any logos or trademarks — there is a real chance the cover fails moderation. In our own experience, brand names appearing on clothing or shoes have never caused a problem, but that is our experience rather than a rule you can rely on.

Do not use other people's images

Photographs, images and drawings made by someone else can put you on the wrong side of a copyright claim. Use original material, or rework existing material heavily enough that it has become something new. If you are doing this yourself, be careful — this is the part where artists most often get caught.