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Why Were my Lyrics Rejected?

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:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
Updated on 6 September, 2021

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