Streaming services have pretty specific requirements for submitting your lyrics:
- Do not include the vocalist’s name
- Do not include extra text (ex: “intro”, “chorus”, social media links, etc.)
- Repeated lines must be written out. Don’t write “Chorus 2x” etc.
- Begin each line with a capital letter
- Do not use punctuation at the end of a line
- Do not include blank lines except between verses or chorus
- Avoid entering excessively long lines. One sentence per line
- Don’t censor explict words unless the words are dropped/bleeped in the audio recording
Example: Don’t enter “F***”, unless the word was dropped or bleeped
The most common reasons that streaming services reject lyrics are:
- No line breaks between sections (verse/chorus/bridge/etc.)
Do not format your lyrics like this:
So I pointed my fingers
And shouted few quotes I knew
As if something that’s written
Should be taken as true
But every path I had taken
And conclusion I drew
Would put truth back under the knifeAnd now the only piece of advice that continues to help
Is anyone that’s making anything new only break something elseWhen my time comes
Oh oh oh oh
When my time comes
Oh oh oh oh
Do format your lyrics like this:
So I pointed my fingers
And shouted few quotes I knew
As if something that’s written
Should be taken as true
But every path I had taken
And conclusion I drew
Would put truth back under the knife And now the only piece of advice that continues to help
Is anyone that’s making anything new only break something else When my time comes
Oh oh oh oh
When my time comes
Oh oh oh oh - Too many line breaks (unnecessary spaces between each line)
Do not format your lyrics like this:
There’s traffic on the bridge
But the skyline shines with a certain light
I know you’re sick of it
Do format your lyrics like this:
There’s traffic on the bridge
But the skyline shines with a certain light
I know you’re sick of it - Too many grammar/spelling/capitalization errors
Do not format your lyrics like this:
2day is gona b the day
That their gonna throw it back to u
By now u shouldve some how
Realized what u gotta do
I dont believe that n e body
Feels the way I do about u now
Do format your lyrics like this:
Today is gonna be the day
That they’re gonna throw it back to you
By now you should’ve somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don’t believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now - Punctuation at the end of lines
Do not format your lyrics like this:
Everything is everything.
What is meant to be, will be.
After winter, must come spring.
Change, it comes eventually.
Do format your lyrics like this:
Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually