Top Reasons Your Cover Art Gets Rejected

Your cover art is the first thing listeners notice before they press play. But if the artwork doesn’t follow DSP rules, platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and JioSaavn will reject your release. Here are the most common reasons artwork gets rejected and how to avoid it.

1. Wrong Size or Low Resolution

DSP-approved artwork must be: 1600 × 1600 px to 3000 × 3000 px (recommended) Artwork is rejected if it is:

• Not square

• Blurry or pixelated

• Too small or stretched

• Poor quality

2. Watermarks or Copyrighted Images

Rejected when artwork has:

• Copyrighted images

• AI watermarks

• Logos or graphics you don’t own

Artwork must be fully original or licensed.

3. Social Media Handles Not Allowed

DSPs reject artwork containing:

• @usernames

• Phone numbers

• Website links

• QR codes

• Emails

Only artist name + song title allowed.

4. Unauthorized Logos

Forbidden on artwork:

• Record label logos (unless approved)

• Distributor logos

• Brand logos

• App icons

• Streaming platform logos

5. Excessive Borders or Empty Space

Rejected if:

• Thick borders

• Cropped edges

• Too much blank space

• Misaligned images

Artwork should fill the entire square frame.

6. Text Mismatch With Metadata

Artwork is rejected when:

• Artist name doesn’t match metadata

• Song title is different

• Spelling errors

• Extra text not allowed

Text must match exactly.

7. Offensive or Sensitive Content

Not allowed:

• Nudity

• Violence

• Hate symbols

• Drugs

• Explicit imagery

• Disturbing graphics

DSPs have strict content rules.

8. Poor Design Quality

Rejected for:

• Low-quality edits

• Hard-to-read fonts

• Over-saturated colors

• Distorted elements

DSPs want clean, professional artwork.

9. Wrong File Format

DSPs only accept: JPG or PNG

Final Tips to Avoid Artwork Rejection

• Use 1600×1600 to 3000×3000 px

• Use only artist name + song title

• No watermarks

• No social handles

• No logos

• Use original or licensed images

• Keep design clean and crisp

Tools like Vizrix AI can generate stunning, DSP-ready cover art instantly.