This article is the master cross-reference for every quality control rejection category. Every rejection your release can receive maps to a specific rule covered elsewhere in this section.
2.30.1 Cover art rejections
- URLs, emails, social handles, DSP or brand logos, QR codes
- Upscaled or pixelated images; AI watermarks left on; CMYK instead of RGB
- Cover text that does not match submitted title / artist metadata
2.30.2 Metadata and naming rejections
- Featured artist in the Primary Artist field, or “(feat. X)” duplicated in the title
- “Official Video”, “(Prod. by X)”, year, or genre keywords in the title
- Emoji in any metadata field; role/instrument words in the artist name
2.30.3 Audio rejections
- True peak above 0 dBFS (clipping)
- More than 10 seconds of silence at start or end; track shorter than 30 seconds
- Detected audio language does not match the language you declared
- Wrong file type (MP3 / DSF / DFF instead of WAV or FLAC)
2.30.4 Rights and licensing rejections
- Cover song not marked as a cover, or original songwriter not credited
- Probable uncleared sample
- Remix without the original artist as Primary
- AI-assisted music without the required AI usage proof
2.30.5 Apple's broader Editorial Hide categories
Beyond standard metadata rejections, Apple's Style Guide defines separate "editorial hide" reasons that cannot be fixed by simple redelivery: Curated Artist (when Apple has already curated sufficient catalog for an artist), Repeated Submissions (resubmitting the same content with minor metadata changes), Misleading content (mimicking popular content or using deceptive search terms — explicitly includes misleading AI use and trademarked names/imagery resembling existing franchises), Cultural Sensitivities, Nazi symbolism restrictions (Germany/Austria/Switzerland — can trigger catalog-wide suspension in those territories), Repetitious Tracks/Snippets, and a defined list of Other Content Not Permitted (karaoke videos, ringtones delivered as album tracks, DJ mixes delivered as a single file, advertisement tracks, and bootleg-style content such as unauthorized live recordings or interviews).
2.30.6 Spotify's Prohibited Content categories
Spotify frames its content restrictions more narrowly around two categories: Infringing Content (no rightsholder permission — including uncleared samples and trademark infringement) and Illegal Content (violations of OFAC sanctions or German BPjM regulations, which can result in withheld payments for affected content). Spotify explicitly frames itself as an open platform where, by default, all creators and content are welcome — repeated policy violations risk losing platform access entirely.
2.30.7 The re-submission standard
Every rejection in your Madverse dashboard includes the specific reason. Re-submission after a correction carries no penalty. If you believe a rejection was applied incorrectly, use the appeal option from the rejection screen — human review is completed within one business day.
Source: MadDesk article 2.30 (2-30)