The Artwork Checklist Every Independent Artist Needs Before Releasing Music
One of the easiest ways to delay a release is submitting artwork that doesn't meet your distributor's specifications. Fortunately, it's also one of the easiest problems to avoid.
Here's a simple checklist we use at DistroDad before submitting a release.
Album (or Single) Cover Artwork
This is the artwork that appears on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and most other streaming platforms.
Recommended Specifications:
Minimum Size: 3000 × 3000 pixels
Aspect Ratio: Square (1:1)
File Type: JPG or PNG
Color Mode: RGB
Resolution: 72 dpi or higher
Artwork should be clear and high quality — no blurry or pixelated images
Avoid web addresses, social media handles, pricing or promo text, excessive logos, and copyrighted material you don't own.
Remember: your album cover is often the very first impression listeners have of your music.
Artist Profile Image
Once your music is live, you'll want to claim your artist profiles on streaming platforms. Most platforms allow you to upload an artist photo that appears alongside your biography and releases.
Recommended Specifications:
Minimum Size: 3000 × 3000 pixels
Aspect Ratio: Square
File Type: JPG or PNG
Professional, well-lit photo
Consistent with your branding
This doesn't have to be an expensive professional photo. A clean, high-quality image with good lighting is often all you need.
Artist Banner Images
Many digital streaming platforms also allow banner or header images.
While requirements vary by platform, it's a good idea to create a wide-format version of your branding that can be reused.
Recommended Starting Point:
2048 × 1152 pixels (16:9)
JPG or PNG
Under 6 MB
This size works well for YouTube and can often be adapted for other platforms.
Keep Your Branding Consistent
Your artwork should feel like it belongs together. Try to use the same fonts, a similar color palette, consistent logos, and a similar photographic style across all of your releases.
Consistency helps listeners recognize your music wherever they find it.
Before You Submit Your Release
Here's the checklist we recommend:
Having these assets prepared before you upload your music will make distribution smoother and save time when it's time to claim your artist profiles.
Coming Next
In a future guide we'll walk through how to claim your Spotify for Artists profile, how to claim Apple Music for Artists, how to claim your Official Artist Channel on YouTube, and when and how to merge your personal YouTube channel with your YouTube Music artist profile.
Taking a little extra time to prepare your artwork before release can make your music look every bit as professional as it sounds.
Want help making sure your release is ready to go? Tell us about your project and we'll walk you through it.