Digital Service Providers (DSP's) have strict rules about the types of content they will allow. Here are some guidelines.

Copyright Notice

Does LabelGrid allow nature sounds, spoken word, loops, sound effects, audio books, etc?

In short: Yes, but please read. Yes, you may upload this type of content to LabelGrid, but before you deliver you must make sure all your content is suitable to be delivered to your selected DSP's. For example: YouTube, Facebook/Instagram, TikTok and other UGC services do not allow the following types of audio: background noise, nature sounds with no music, spoken word, sound effects, audio books, etc. What is User Generated Content (UGC)? User-created content found on services such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Meta/ Facebook, YouTube. This may include some services that rely on audio finger-printing to identify content across the entire platform.

Does LabelGrid allow cover songs?

LabelGrid caters to cover bands, management, and anyone who is distributing cover songs; however please make sure you follow these guidelines to ensure you do not have issues with your distribution of content, or collection of royalties resulting from cover songs. All cover songs must be original recordings and cannot contain samples from the original work unless you have a license to use those samples. If you use samples. a request for license to cover your sample usage may be required at some point before distributing your cover song. If you would like to legally license samples, there are services such as TrackLib which may help you. Also keep in mind that the Music Modernization Act (MMA) says that you do not need a license for a cover song, but only if you are distributing these songs to streaming providers, and although the MMA gives you clearance to distribute to streaming services without a license, if you want to submit your cover songs to a download store such as ITunes Download Store, Amazon, etc. you will need to acquire a license before doing so.

** Be sure to check out Allowed Content and Exceptions at the bottom of this page.

UGC Prohibited Content

The following applies ONLY to User Generated Content (UGC) DSP's. Please note, other DSP's may impose these restrictions ad-hoc, without warning.

User Generated Content has rules that are enforced by Youtube Content ID, Soundcloud, TikTok, Facebook (META), and other fingerprint-based services.

We cannot upload the following content-types to UGC / fingerprint-based services:

• files containing watermarks

• remixes

• creative commons

• samples

• any 3rd party content

• nature sounds

• sound effects

• sound-alikes

• karaoke recordings

• audiobooks

• drum loops

• film scores

• meditation, yoga, or sleep music

• dj set or continuous mixes

• production loops / soundbeds

• soundscapes

• podcasts

• spoken word

• any beats that are licensed and unlicensed (all beats must be originally composed)

• tracks produced for other artists (you must own the master and/or publishing)

• classical music recordings of compositions in the public domain

Additional UGC restricted content which is unlikely to be music content include, but are not limited to:

• spoken word recordings

• comedy recordings

• film recordings (that are not the musical score to a film)

• speeches

• prayer recordings

• audiobooks

• podcasts

• nature or wildlife recordings

• ambient sound recordings

• recordings or descriptions of sexual acts

Additionally, proof of original composition, ownership or master recording, or publishing rights may be required for all music or beats.

Allowed Content and Exceptions

Remixes

Remixes are generally allowed for all platforms which do not rely on fingerprint services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Beatport, YouTube Music.

However, if you attempt to deliver a remix to an unsupported DSP, the delivery may be skipped automatically.

Spoken Word

Spoken word is accepted on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

However, spoken word is not accepted on UGC or fingerprinting type services such as YouTube Content ID, Facebook/Instagram Library, TikTok, etc.

Non-music content

Non-music content is accepted and encouraged on LabelGrid, and is also deliverable to Spotify, Apple Music, etc; however some DSP's do not accept this type of content.

We may automatically skip or block deliveries of non-music content to the services that do not support it.