Audio and artwork requirements
Exact audio formats, file size limits, and cover art dimensions SpaceMedia accepts, plus what gets a release rejected at review.
Getting these two files right is what separates a release that goes live on schedule from one that comes back with changes needed.
Audio at a glance
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Accepted formats | WAV, FLAC, MP3, M4A, AAC, OGG, Opus, AIF, AIFF |
| Best format to send | WAV or FLAC, stereo, final master |
| Maximum file size | 250 MB per track |
| Daily upload limit | 1 GB per account, per day |
Upload the master you would send to a mastering engineer, not a bounce from a streaming rip. A lossy file upscaled to WAV is still lossy, and quality control can hear it.
Check before you upload
- Play the whole file, including the first and last second.
- Remove count-ins, studio chatter, unintended silence, and clipping.
- Confirm the file matches the track title and version you entered.
- Make sure the mix is the one you actually want released.
An upload is not finished when the progress bar completes. The file has to finish processing before the track counts as ready, and a correct filename proves nothing about what is inside.
Artwork at a glance
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Accepted formats | JPG, JPEG, PNG, WebP |
| Shape | Square |
| Recommended size | 3000 x 3000 pixels |
| Smallest side accepted | 500 pixels |
| Maximum file size | 36 MB |
| Maximum total pixels | 36 million, so 6000 x 6000 is the practical ceiling |
500 pixels is the point at which the upload is rejected, not the point at which it looks good. Stores display covers large, and SpaceMedia builds its delivery master at 3000 x 3000, so anything smaller gets stretched. Start at 3000 x 3000.
What gets artwork rejected
- URLs, email addresses, phone numbers, prices, barcodes, or social handles.
- Store or platform logos, including Spotify and Apple Music marks.
- A track list, or format words like "Single", "EP", or "Album".
- Blurry, stretched, or pixelated images.
- Hateful, pornographic, or rights-infringing material.
- Text that contradicts your metadata, such as a featured artist on the cover who is not credited in the release.
Keep the layered source file. You will need it when a store asks for a change, and you must hold the rights to every element in it, including fonts and stock photography.
Common questions
Does a higher bitrate MP3 count as a master? No. MP3 is accepted so you are not blocked, but stores receive a lossy file that cannot be improved later. Send WAV or FLAC when you have it.
My cover is 1400 x 1400. Will it be rejected? It will be accepted, because it is above the 500 pixel floor. It will also be upscaled to 3000 x 3000 for delivery and will look soft next to other releases. Re-export at 3000 x 3000.
Can the artwork be a rectangle? No. Covers must be square. Crop before uploading rather than letting an automatic crop decide what to lose.
Why was my file rejected when it plays fine on my computer?
Usually the extension does not match the actual contents, for example a file renamed from .m4a to .wav. Re-export from your audio software instead of renaming.