TuneCore Upload Checklist for Release Day

The fastest way to lose momentum before a release is to leave upload prep until the song already feels finished. On TuneCore, the usual delays are not mysterious. They come from avoidable artwork mistakes, metadata mismatches, contributor confusion, or an audio file that should have been cleaned up before anyone touched the distributor dashboard.

If you are an artist, manager, or studio helping a client get a release out the door, the job is to make the upload pass cleanly the first time, then make sure the release still looks sharp once it hits Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and the rest of the storefront stack.

1. Make sure the cover art passes before you think about style

TuneCore’s current artwork requirements are specific enough that there is no reason to guess. The file can be JPG, PNG, or GIF, it needs to be a perfect square, at least 1600 x 1600 pixels, no larger than 3000 x 3000 pixels, under 10 MB, and exported in RGB. TuneCore also says the artwork can include only the artist name and release title exactly as entered in the release metadata, or no text at all.

That last part matters more than most artists realize. A cover can look good and still become a release headache if the text on the image does not match the title being submitted, or if the design includes extra copy that makes the file look like an ad instead of release artwork.

• Remove URLs, email addresses, social handles, prices, and QR codes.
• Do not mention store names or drop platform logos into the cover.
• Keep the artist name and release title identical to the metadata if you use text at all.
• Check the image at thumbnail size before upload, not just full-screen.

If the art still feels muddy, crowded, or obviously patched together, that is the moment to replace it instead of trying to save the release with one more tiny revision.

2. Confirm the audio file you are uploading is really the final master

TuneCore recommends 24-bit, 192 kHz WAV files and also accepts 16-bit, 44.1 kHz WAV files. In practice, the bigger problem is not the spec sheet. It is version confusion. Teams often export a clean master, a louder ref, an instrumental, and a stem print in the same folder, then upload the wrong file when the release window gets tight.

Before anyone uploads, listen to the exact file that is going into TuneCore. Confirm the song start, fade, loudness, and spacing. Make sure the filename is clean, and make sure the artwork and metadata are being matched to the final master rather than an earlier draft.

3. Treat titles, artist names, and contributor fields like release-critical details

TuneCore’s formatting rules are stricter than artists often expect. Artist names need to stay consistent across releases. Release titles and track titles need to be entered in the platform-approved format. Contributors and featured artists should be credited in the right fields instead of being shoved loosely into the title because it looks easier in the moment.

TuneCore also notes that featured artists should be added as contributors rather than dropped into the song title by habit. That small decision can save a release from looking messy across stores and can reduce the odds of mapping or credit problems later.

• Use the same artist-name formatting you use on every other release.
• Double-check any featured artist, remixer, or producer credit before submission.
• Make sure version language like live, deluxe, or radio edit follows distributor formatting rules.
• Keep the cover text and metadata aligned character for character wherever possible.

4. Check the release like a storefront, not just a form

A clean TuneCore submission is not the same thing as a strong release package. Once the release is approved, the cover still has to sit on small screens, next to other records, under playlist thumbnails, and inside social teasers. That is why a smart upload checklist includes a quick storefront test before submission.

Ask three blunt questions. Does the title still read cleanly at small size? Does the image feel intentional next to current releases in the same lane? If the release went live tonight, would you actually feel confident pushing traffic into it tomorrow morning?

If the honest answer is no, the upload is not ready yet.

5. A studio can turn this checklist into a paid service

This is one of the easiest release-support offers a studio can sell because clients already feel the pressure around it. A clean upload review can cover artwork, metadata, credits, and final export checks in one paid pass. That helps the client move faster and reduces the chance of a sloppy release day.

For the visual side, the strongest version of that offer is not endless file tweaking. It is a faster path to artwork that already looks release-ready. When the current cover still feels like the weak point, Covermatic can help a studio replace it quickly with a cleaner, more usable visual direction.

Official TuneCore sources worth checking

• TuneCore cover art formatting requirements
• TuneCore audio upload guidance
• TuneCore title and artist-name formatting rules
• TuneCore contributor credit guidance