We believe every artist has the right to share their voice. Not every recording can go to every store, though. This policy explains what The Artist Music Group can and can't deliver to streaming, download and UGC platforms.

Checking this page before you upload can save you a rejection later.

Two types of service

Type	Examples	What it means
Non-UGC (streaming and downloads)	Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer, Tidal, etc.	Regular streaming or download services. Music here is released for listening or purchase, not for content fingerprinting.
UGC (user-generated content)	YouTube Content ID, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snap	Platforms where users add music to their own videos. These require exclusive ownership and completely unique recordings.

What we don't accept (applies to all platforms)

Copyright and ownership

Anything that uses samples, loops, beats, vocals or stems you don't fully own or can't prove you cleared.
Royalty-free, stock or production music, even if you paid for it, unless you have exclusive rights.
Public domain content, including classical, traditional or archive recordings, even if newly recorded.
AI-generated material where you can't show that you have the right to release it and that it includes meaningful human creative input.
Sound-alikes that closely imitate another song, including karaoke versions where you don't own the original.
Bootlegs, leaks or unauthorized live recordings.
Releases that misuse or impersonate someone else's name, brand or identity.

Using AI tools? That doesn't on its own rule a release out. We review AI-assisted music case by case, as explained in Can I release music made with AI?

Releasing a cover? Covers are welcome on streaming stores when you have the right license. Here's how: Can I distribute a cover through The Artist Platform? UGC platforms have stricter rules, explained below.

Metadata and presentation

Misleading titles, fake artist names or false collaborations.
Metadata designed to manipulate search results (for example, "Drake Type Beat").
Incorrect or duplicate ISRCs, UPCs or credits.
Artwork that contains information that doesn't match the metadata of the release, or includes copyrighted images, logos, QR codes or low-quality designs.

Non-musical or low-quality audio

Podcasts, speeches, sermons, audiobooks, audio plays, other spoken-word-only content, or ambient sound-only recordings.
White noise, nature sounds or meditation tracks without a musical composition.
Broken, distorted or silent audio.
Tracks with long silence at the start or end.

Harmful or offensive content

Hate speech, discrimination or harassment.
Sexually explicit or violent material.
Promotion of self-harm, misinformation or illegal activity.

Compilations and re-releases

We love catalog re-releases, but they need to be transparent and genuine.
If you're compiling previously released material, mark it as a compilation in your metadata.
Don't re-upload old tracks as brand-new unless they've been clearly changed, for example:
- Remastered
- Re-recorded
- Remixed
- Performed live or acoustically
Small tweaks (trimming, EQ changes, re-exporting) don't count as new versions.
The same recording shouldn't appear multiple times across different releases.
For UGC platforms, re-releases or compilations of existing audio are not eligible, as they fail uniqueness checks.

Catalog quality and platform standards

Streaming platforms increasingly evaluate distributors on catalog integrity, compliance and listener engagement. To stay aligned with these standards, The Artist Music Group periodically reviews catalog performance and content quality.

We may review or remove releases that:

Repeatedly fail metadata or feed delivery requirements.
Contain functional, non-musical, or low-engagement/low-streaming content.
Are repeated, derivative or non-unique uploads.
Are linked to artificial streaming or other platform manipulation.

Why we do this: when every release meets platform standards and what listeners expect, your music keeps its place across stores, and we stay in good standing with our partners. It supports genuine artists and labels, and it lowers the risk of rejections, delays or lost visibility on major platforms.

All releases are also subject to each streaming platform's own policies for acceptance and monetization. For example, platforms may de-monetize or remove content that has low listener engagement, regardless of The Artist Music Group's activities. For reference, here are the platforms' own materials (their current policies govern):

Rules for non-UGC platforms

You have more freedom here, but your release must still:

Be original, legal, and owned or controlled by you.
Have accurate metadata and credits.
Use proper artist, label and version fields (no hidden features or tags).
Avoid duplicate or near-identical uploads (sped-up, slowed-down, reversed, etc.) unless they are official artist/label versions, or you have traceable license documentation from the artist or rights holder.

Rules for UGC platforms (YouTube Content ID, Facebook, TikTok, Snap)

UGC platforms use fingerprinting technology to track ownership, so only certain content qualifies.

Your recording is eligible for UGC only if:

You own exclusive rights to 100% of the master.
The audio is unique and original, not derived from any other track.
It is a musical recording, not speech, ambience or SFX.
It passes fingerprint scans with no matches.
It does not include public domain or stock content, even if re-recorded.

When in doubt, leave it out, and just ask us. We can help you find another way to share it. We may remove any recordings that do not meet UGC platforms' standards.

Enforcement and appeals

Every release is reviewed for rights, metadata and audio integrity.
Content that breaks this policy may be blocked or removed.
Repeated or serious violations can lead to account suspension or permanent loss of UGC access.
If you believe your content was flagged in error, email [email protected] with your ownership documentation.

If your content isn't eligible

You can still share it yourself on your own channels, YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. For public domain, sample-based or experimental work that doesn't meet UGC or store rules, that's usually the best route.

Quick summary

Don't upload if...	Because...
You didn't create or fully own it	You can't distribute what isn't yours
It's public domain, stock or royalty-free	It's not exclusive to you
It's a cover or remix without the licenses it needs	You need the right license to release it. Licensed covers are fine on streaming stores, but covers, remixes and reused tracks aren't unique enough for UGC
It's offensive, fake, illegal or misleading	It breaks platform rules
It's already been released elsewhere	It's not new or original
It's not actually music	UGC platforms and stores are for musical works

Content Policy - Distribution