Before you start uploading your lyrics, please make sure to follow standard formatting guidelines used by platforms such as Apple Music. Lyrics that don’t meet these standards may be rejected.

Make sure your lyrics match the audio exactly, are easy to read, and maintain a clean, consistent format throughout the track.

Initially, lyrics will be available on Apple Music, with support for additional music services to follow.

Not so fast! Before adding lyrics to your release, make sure:

Lyrics should reflect exactly what is heard in the track.

✔ I know you said you'd call me back

    But you never did

✘ I know you said you would call me back

   But you didn’t

Even small wording changes can cause mismatches if they do not match the recording.

Lyrics should be written line by line, like a poem, with each sung line on its own line.

Use a single line break between lyric lines and one blank line to separate sections such as verses, choruses, or bridges. Do not write lyrics as a paragraph or add extra empty lines between each line.

Use standard sentence-style capitalization throughout your lyrics.

Start each lyric line with a capital letter, and always capitalize proper nouns such as names, places, brands, and acronyms. Avoid writing lyrics entirely in uppercase or lowercase, and do not use capitalization for emphasis.

Keep punctuation minimal in your lyrics.

In most cases, do not use periods or commas at the end of lyric lines. Question marks and exclamation marks may be used when genuinely needed, but should not be repeated for emphasis. Punctuation within lines is allowed when it improves readability.

Some punctuation is still allowed within lyrics when it serves a clear purpose, such as apostrophes in contractions or slang (e.g. I don't wanna leave), hyphens in spelled-out words (e.g. L-Y-R-I-C-S), and parentheses for background vocals (e.g. (Falling behind me)).

Use “…” only when the lyrics actually fade out at the end.

Lyrics should match the version of the track being delivered, including any explicit or censored audio.

If the audio is explicit, write the word exactly as it is heard:

Audio: I'm the motherfucking man

Lyrics: I'm the motherfucking man

If the audio is partially censored, include the audible letters and replace missing letters with asterisks:

Audio: I'm a f[edited]r

Lyrics: I'm a f****r

If the audio is fully censored (e.g., silence or a beep), replace the word with four asterisks:

Audio: I'm the [silence] man

Lyrics: I'm the **** man

Do not censor lyrics if the explicit word is clearly audible in the audio.

Don’t include labels like “Verse”, “Chorus”, or “Bridge” unless they are actually sung.

Include spoken words if they are part of the lyrics. Skip casual speech or background chatter.

Include background vocals only when they are clearly audible and add meaningful lyrical value. Write them in parentheses.

Use parentheses for background vocal content such as echoed words, hushed or secondary phrases, or supporting lyrics behind the main line. Do not use parentheses for main lead vocals or featured artist lines that function as primary lyrics.

Non-word vocal sounds should be included only when they are clearly part of the song.

These may include:

Skip random filler or unclear vocalizations that function more as instrumental texture with no lyrical role.

Include sampled vocals when they clearly function as part of the song’s lyrics. Exclude them when they serve only as background or atmospheric sound.

Include:

Do not include:

For live recordings, include spoken content only when it is clearly part of the performance and relevant to the song.

This can include:

Do not include long crowd noise descriptions or unrelated stage talk.

If lyrics are sung in more than one language, write them in the language they are performed in. Do not rewrite them phonetically into another language.

Write lyrics clearly, accurately, and in a readable format. Slang is acceptable when it matches the audio and intended artistic style.

Do not include spelling, grammar, or capitalization errors unless they are clearly intentional in the song.