Cover Art Rules for Spotify, Apple Music and Other Stores

Your cover art is the first thing a listener sees, often at the size of a thumbnail. It must look good when small, and it must follow store rules. Many delays are caused by artwork, even when the song itself is perfect.

Technical basics

Shape: a perfect square.
Size: most distributors ask for 3000 x 3000 pixels.
Format: usually JPG or PNG in RGB colour.
Quality: sharp and clear, without visible blur or stretched edges.

Enlarging a small image rarely helps. If a phone photo is too small, use a higher-quality original, or have it redesigned.

What stores commonly reject

Website addresses, social handles, QR codes and phone numbers.
Words such as "New Song", "Out Now", "Free" or a price.
Logos of Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube or other brands.
A title or artist name that does not match the release.
Pictures of celebrities or film posters you have no right to use.
Explicit or offensive imagery.

Exact rules vary, so check your distributor's current guide before you finish the design.

Image rights

A picture found on a search engine is not free just because you can download it. You need your own photo, a licensed stock image, or written permission. If a photographer took your portrait, make sure you are allowed to use it commercially. The same applies to illustrations and AI tools: read the terms of the tool you use, and avoid copying a recognisable artist's style or a real person's likeness without permission.

Designing for small screens

Open your artwork on a phone and shrink it until it is the size of a thumbnail. Can you still understand it? If not, simplify it.

Use one main subject.
Keep text short, or leave it out altogether.
Choose strong contrast between text and background.
Avoid placing important details near the very edge.

Create a consistent look

If you release regularly, a consistent font or colour style helps fans recognise your work. It does not have to be identical each time. A small repeated element, such as a similar layout, can make your catalogue look intentional.

Files to keep

Save a master version in high resolution, along with the original design file if you have it. Create separate versions for Instagram posts, stories, YouTube thumbnails and link pages. Do not simply crop the square cover, as your text may be cut off.

A quick pre-upload check

Is it 3000 x 3000 pixels and square?
Does the text match the release title and artist name exactly?
Is there no link, logo or price?
Do you have rights to every image and font used?
Does it look good at thumbnail size?

Do you need a professional designer?

Not always. A clean photo with simple text can look better than an overdone design. However, if your song is important to you, a good designer can be worth the cost. Share your song, the mood, some reference covers and your deadline. Good art does not guarantee streams, but it does help people trust your music enough to press play.

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