Hi,
I have a live release that was delivered with metadata issues and needs correction.
Issues:
– Album title capitalization is incorrect (CamelCase was flattened)
– Release type was delivered as Single instead of EP
This release has prior DSP history with the correct title formatting.
Please advise how to proceed with a metadata update.
Thank you!
Hey @viewfinder,
Best regards,
Hi Carlos,
Thanks for the response. I’d like to clarify both points, as they don’t accurately apply to this release.
Capitalization:
The album title MountainMeadowLakeSky uses intentional CamelCase and has previously been delivered to Apple Music and TIDAL in this exact form via DistroKid. This is the official title of the work, not a stylistic preference, and it has prior DSP history with this casing. Apple Music’s guidelines allow intentional capitalization when it is part of the official title. I’m requesting this be reviewed as a manual metadata correction rather than automated normalization.
Release type:
This release has been delivered as a Single, but that classification is incorrect. The release consists of 5 tracks with a total duration of approximately 25 minutes, which meets EP criteria on Apple Music and TIDAL. This same release has previously been classified as an EP on both of those DSPs. While stores apply their own rules, distributors do control delivery-level release type metadata, and I’m requesting this be corrected accordingly.
I’m asking for a metadata correction based on prior release history and objective criteria, not a creative change. If this cannot be supported for reissues, please let me know, as it affects whether iMusician is suitable for my catalog.
I’d appreciate this being escalated to someone who can confirm whether these corrections can be applied!
Thank you,
Anna
Hello again @viewfinder,
Apple Music’s casing guidelines clearly state that English titles should be in title case format. The corrections made by our Quality Assurance team are already in line with both Apple’s and our own policies, therefore there is no change possible I’m afraid.
I already told you this classification is independent from us, we don’t have control over this.
We can confirm that these modifications cannot be applied
Best regards,
Hi Carlos,
Apple Music (as well as Tidal) both currently host many releases with intentional non standard capitalization (like BiRd-BrAiNs by Tune-Yards, good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar), which confirms that this is not a platform limitation.
If iMusician is not willing to support this request I will be removing my release from your distribution network.
These two examples are artists signed to major labels who generally have special deals with streaming platforms due to their high profitability. This doesn’t apply to independent artists I’m afraid.
Please feel free to have a look at Apple Music’s stylistic guidelines yourself if you want:
I’m sincerely sorry, but the modifications you’re requesting cannot be applied.
Hey Carlos,
I appreciate your time and some of the ways your platform supports independent musicians. That said, I believe independent musicians should have the same rights to unfiltered creative expression as major label artists.
I would fully understand iMusician’s position if this restriction were actually coming from Apple, but Apple’s capitalization guidelines are guidelines, not requirements. “Special deals” do exist, but indie distributors also have the right to put through intentional capitalization. I know this from direct experience- this exact album was previously distributed via DistroKid with zero issues. I wish I didn’t have to go back to them, but looks like I will if iMusician doesn’t have a system for communicating transparently with streaming platforms.
Thanks sincerely for your time.
I agree, but the platforms guidelines are independent from us and we need to align with them if you want your music to be accepted.
I understand this may not be the answer you initially expected, but as I said the modifications you’re requesting cannot be applied.
Thank you for your understanding and have a nice day
