At MusicHub, we adhere to the strictest metadata standards, which are directly based on the iTunes Style Guide. You can find the full guide here:
This means that all titles and metadata must follow these guidelines. To help you understand the most important rules, we’ve outlined them in our internal style guide, which you can access here:
When we deliver metadata to streaming platforms, it must be formatted correctly. If we don’t comply with these rules, the platforms won’t accept the release. By ensuring the metadata is clean and correct, we gain distribution advantages that benefit everyone involved.
But My Release Was Previously Online in All Capitals/Lowercase With Another Distributor, and It Was Fine. Why Is It Different Now?
Each distributor has its own agreements and relationships with streaming platforms. Some distributors might not be as strict about metadata formatting and can submit releases however they choose. At MusicHub, we prefer to follow the style guide precisely to ensure that all our releases are fully compliant.
But I’m Re-Releasing My Music, and Your Article Says the Metadata Should Be Exact—Why Is This Important?
When re-releasing music, it’s essential that the metadata matches the current guidelines. While things were much more relaxed 20 years ago, metadata rules are now regularly updated, and streaming platforms have become increasingly precise about their requirements. If you’re re-releasing a track, some adjustments might be necessary to ensure it’s accepted by the platforms now.
We completely understand that this situation might not be ideal, and we can see how frustrating it can be to not have your titles formatted exactly the way you want. Unfortunately, MusicHub isn't responsible for setting these rules, so we're unable to make exceptions or send different formats to different streaming platforms. We just ask that you understand our position and follow our style guide when formatting your releases.