Best Image Format for Spotify and Apple Music Artwork
JPG is the best format for Spotify and Apple Music cover artwork, though both platforms also accept PNG. For the photographic and illustrated artwork typical of album covers, JPG at quality 95+ delivers excellent visual quality within the platforms' file size constraints. PNG is preferred only when artwork contains sharp text, geometric elements, or requires pixel-perfect precision.
Streaming platform artwork appears at wildly different sizes depending on context. Spotify displays album art from 64x64 pixels in the queue sidebar to 640x640 in the Now Playing view on desktop. Apple Music ranges from small thumbnails to full-screen artwork on iPad and Apple TV. Both platforms require high-resolution source images to look sharp across all these display contexts.
Here is how to prepare artwork that looks professional across every streaming platform and device.
Spotify Artwork Requirements
Spotify has specific technical requirements for cover artwork that apply to albums, singles, EPs, podcasts, and playlists.
- Dimensions: 3000x3000 pixels minimum, must be square (1:1 aspect ratio).
- Format: JPG or PNG.
- Color space: sRGB. CMYK images will display with incorrect colors.
- File size: depends on distributor, but generally under 10MB.
- No blurry, pixelated, or stretched images. Spotify may reject low-quality uploads.
- No text listing featured artists, track listings, or promotional language on the artwork.
- No explicit content imagery that violates Spotify's guidelines.
Apple Music Artwork Requirements
Apple Music has similarly strict requirements, with additional emphasis on quality since artwork displays at full-screen resolution on Apple TV and iPad.
- Dimensions: 3000x3000 pixels (minimum 1400x1400, but 3000x3000 is strongly recommended).
- Format: JPG or PNG.
- Color space: sRGB or Display P3 (Apple devices support wide color gamut).
- Resolution: 72 DPI at 3000x3000 pixels.
- No pricing, release dates, or promotional text in the artwork.
- Apple may reject artwork that appears generated or excessively low quality.
JPG vs PNG for Album Art
At 3000x3000 pixels, the format choice has a significant impact on file size. A photographic album cover at 3000x3000 can be 2-4MB as JPG at quality 95, or 15-30MB as PNG. Both platforms resize and recompress your artwork for different display contexts, so the lossless advantage of PNG is largely irrelevant.
Use JPG for photographic artwork, painted or illustrated covers, and anything with gradients or complex color. Use PNG for typography-focused covers, geometric minimalist designs, and artwork where pixel-precise edges are critical to the design.
Distributor Considerations
You typically do not upload artwork directly to Spotify or Apple Music. Instead, you submit through a distributor like DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, or a record label. Each distributor has its own artwork requirements that may differ slightly from the streaming platform requirements.
Always export your artwork at 3000x3000 pixels in sRGB color space as JPG quality 95+ or lossless PNG. This meets the requirements of every major distributor and streaming platform. Check your specific distributor's documentation for file size limits.
Common Artwork Mistakes
Distributors and streaming platforms reject artwork for several common issues that are easy to avoid.
- Non-square images. Artwork must be exactly 1:1 aspect ratio.
- Dimensions below 3000x3000. While some platforms accept smaller, 3000x3000 is the safe universal standard.
- CMYK color space. Always export in sRGB (or Display P3 for Apple-optimized artwork).
- Upscaling a small image to 3000x3000. This creates visible pixelation. Start with a high-resolution source.
- Including streaming platform logos on the artwork. This violates most platform guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should Spotify album art be?
Spotify requires square artwork at a minimum of 3000x3000 pixels in either JPG or PNG format. The image must be in sRGB color space. While 1400x1400 may technically upload, 3000x3000 ensures the artwork looks sharp across all devices including large displays.
Should I use JPG or PNG for streaming platform artwork?
Use JPG at quality 95+ for photographic or illustrated album covers. Use PNG for typography-heavy or geometric designs where edge sharpness is critical. Both platforms accept both formats and will reprocess the image for different display sizes.
Can I use the same artwork for Spotify and Apple Music?
Yes. A 3000x3000 pixel square image in sRGB color space at JPG quality 95+ or lossless PNG meets the requirements of both platforms and virtually all distributors. Prepare one high-quality file and use it everywhere.
Why does my album art look different on different platforms?
Each platform reprocesses and compresses artwork for different display contexts. Color differences can also occur if your source artwork uses a CMYK or non-sRGB color profile. Always export in sRGB to minimize color shifts across platforms.
Convert PNG to JPG for uploads