A compilation aggregates tracks from multiple artists or multiple previously released projects. Both platforms apply specific rules for how these are classified and credited.
2.28.1 Definition (Apple)
A collection of tracks, previously released or unreleased, from one artist or multiple artists, classified as a Compilation. Spotify's classification logic is functionally the same: releases consisting of tracks from various artists, or mainly from previously released products, are specified as Compilation.
2.28.2 Various Artists threshold
Apple's rule: if 5 or more Primary artists appear on a release, the release-level Primary artist must be "Various Artists" — and Various Artists must never be used as a track-level artist; all main artists are still listed individually at track level. Spotify's threshold is set at 4 or more Main Artists and Remixers individually identified on the release.
2.28.3 No abbreviations of "Various Artists"
Apple explicitly bans variations like "V/A", "V.A.", "Various", or "Varios" — translated versions are acceptable if consistent with the content's language.
2.28.4 Spotify's track-linking mechanism
Per Spotify's own compilations documentation: even if the releasing label doesn't hold streaming rights for every song on a compilation, those tracks may still appear via "track-linking" — Spotify substitutes an identical version that does carry valid streaming rights. The compilation plays normally for the listener, but royalties route to the actual rights holder of the linked version, not to the compilation's releasing label.
2.28.5 Appears On
Compilations meeting the Various Artists threshold display in the "Appears On" section of each contributing artist's Spotify profile.
Source: MadDesk article 2.28 (2-28)