When distributing music through SoundCloud, your artwork must meet the requirements of digital music stores to ensure your release is accepted everywhere. Please review the following guidelines before submitting your release.
Technical Requirements
Minimum quality: 3000 x 3000 pixels, 300dpi
Aspect ratio: 1:1 (must be a perfect square)
Accepted file types: PNG or JPEG
Metadata & Text on Artwork
The artist name(s) and release title must match the release information exactly (including version titles).
Any contributors (featuring artists, producers, songwriters, etc.) must be credited in the release metadata, not just the artwork.
Do not include:
Side-by-side translations of titles
Text that doesn’t match your release metadata
“Parental Advisory” stickers unless your release is marked explicit
Rights & Ownership
You must own 100% of the rights to all images used in your artwork.
- Copyrighted images, even if you’ve edited or recreated them, are not eligible for distribution unless you can provide valid license documentation.
- Original AI-generated images are allowed, but must also be accompanied by valid license documentation.
Our system may occasionally flag artwork if it detects similarities to existing copyrighted material. This is an automated check and doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done anything wrong. If your artwork is flagged, you can appeal by providing proof of ownership.
Keep in mind: even if a subject is in the public domain (such as a statue or building), the photograph itself may still be copyrighted by the photographer. In these cases, you’ll need to confirm the image’s license (for example, a Creative Commons license).
To provide proof of rights:
- Go to your release in the SoundCloud for Artists distribution flow.
- Within your track details in Step 1, navigate to the license documentation section.
- Upload a statement and proof of ownership.
Accepted proof can include:
- Original design files (PSD, AI, etc.)
- Screenshots of your creation process
- A signed rights declaration
Providing clear documentation will help ensure your release is approved without delays.
Artwork That Will Be Rejected
Your release will not be accepted if the artwork contains any of the following:
Poor quality images: blurry, pixelated, stretched, cut-off text or images, uneven borders, off-center images with excessive white space
Generic artwork: plain black/white or single-color squares, artwork reused across multiple releases, stock images found on other artists’ releases
Packaging or promotional references: barcodes, vinyl/CD references, stickers like “Out Now” or “For Promo Use Only.”
Logos or branding: social media handles, phone numbers, URLs, QR codes, trademarked images, or brand logos (including AI-generated images of trademarked or copyrighted content)
Anything that otherwise violates SoundCloud’s Community Guidelines, including but not limited to: pornography, hate symbols (e.g., Nazi propaganda), or imagery targeting a protected group
Best Practices
Always use clear, high-resolution images
Keep text sharp and legible (never stretched or blurry)
Ensure your artwork matches your metadata exactly
Use unique artwork for each release to avoid rejection
Credit all contributors properly in metadata, not on the artwork