Before uploading artwork to TuneCore, inspect the exported file and compare any cover text with your release metadata. A file can meet the technical specifications while still containing a name mismatch, restricted wording or imagery you cannot distribute.

Official guidance checked October 6, 2026. Confirm the current requirements for your release; these checks do not guarantee approval or a delivery date.

Check TuneCore's file requirements

TuneCore's artwork formatting guidance specifies:

• JPG, PNG or GIF format.
• A file smaller than 10 MB.
• A perfect square from 1600 by 1600 through 3000 by 3000 pixels.
• RGB color mode, including for black-and-white images.
• At least 72 dpi; its guidance prefers 300 dpi.
• Only artist-name and release-title text matching the submission, or an image with no text.
• Images you have the rights to distribute.

Inspect the actual file rather than relying on its filename. Check dimensions, format, color mode and size in your image editor or file-inspection tool. Changing a dpi label does not add missing detail or make a small image satisfy the pixel requirement.

Compare names with the release form

Read the artist name and release title on the cover character by character against the submission. Avoid using an album title on artwork being submitted for a differently titled single. Remove extra promotional or contributor text that does not meet the artwork rules.

Keep featured-artist information in the appropriate contributor fields. TuneCore's separate contributor guidance says a featured artist is added as a contributor rather than placed in the song-title field. Do not treat a typography decision as a substitute for completing those fields correctly.

Keep promotion separate from distributed artwork

Read the complete current artwork restrictions before submitting. They address extra text, URLs, contact details, social or store references, pricing and other content. Keep release-announcement graphics separate when their promotional copy does not belong on the distributed cover.

Retain the applicable licenses and creation records for your source material. If you cannot resolve a rights question or a particular upload error, contact TuneCore support rather than assume another export or generation will solve it.

Save the original and inspect the upload copy

1. Keep the original artwork in a separate file.
2. Export a copy for TuneCore and give it a clear version label.
3. Reopen that exact copy and check the file specifications.
4. Compare cover text with the final release form.
5. Inspect the image at full size for defects and at thumbnail size for visual clarity.
6. Record the checks before submitting; after a correction, review the replacement copy again.

Use the release artwork checklist to record the file and text checks. For the visual review, follow the thumbnail review method. Neither readability nor a correct file specification proves higher streams or automatic acceptance.

Exploring another cover direction

If you want to try a different composition, use Covermatic Studio, then review the result and the downloaded file yourself. A generation attempt uses 5 credits; an edit uses another 5. Check the current credit costs before buying.

Covermatic does not guarantee TuneCore acceptance, a particular export specification, adequate rights documentation or faster distribution. A technical upload error may need a file correction rather than a new image.