Frequently Asked Question

Validation of capitalization rules in titles for iTunes

Rules of the validation

In order to be able to distribute a release to iTunes, end-users will need to ensure that titles match the following conditions:

• The first and last words in a title should be capitalized.
• The first and last words in parentheses should be capitalized.
• Words before and after a dash (–), slash (/), or colon (:) should be capitalized, and include correct spacing.
• A space should be added after a comma or semi-colon.
• The following words in English should be always lowercase: a, an, and, as, but, for, from, nor, of, or, so, the, to, yet, at, by, for, from, in, into, of, off, on, onto, out, over, to, up, with., except when applicable in previous conditions.
• The following words in Spanish should be always lowercase: a, e, las, por, al, el, los, un, de, en, o, una, del, la, para, y, except when applicable in previous conditions.
• The following words in Portuguese should be always lowercase: a, das, nas, pela, à, de, no, pelas, ao, do, nos, pelo, aos, dos, o, pelos, as, e, os, por, pra, pro, às, em, ou, um, da, na, para, uma, except when applicable in previous conditions.

Error message

In case the rules above are not met, end-users will get a validation error message including the value added to the field, and the suggested title capitalization.

The goal of this validation is to comply with the DSP requirements about title capitalization. If the end-user wants to distribute to iTunes, and in case the rules above are not met, they will get a validation error message including the title added to the field and the suggested title capitalization:

• The user clicks the button Distribute this release (located in tabs 4. Preview and Distribute & 6. Distribution), if the release contains general validation errors, under section “Warning. You cannot distribute this release in some channels.”
• The user clicks the button Distribute this release (located in tabs 4. Preview and Distribute & 6. Distribution), if the release does not contain general validation errors, hover over the iTunes warning icon.
  
• The user navigates to tab 6. Distribution, in iTunes Actions, under “Channel specific errors” in the tooltip.
  

Validation of "remix or version" field

Rules of the validation

This new validator checks the following fields:

• If Remix or Version (tab Track info) contains the value Remix.
• If artist role Remixer (tab Track info) is added to the track.

In order to be able to distribute a release with a track that has the value Remix in the Remix or Version field, end-users should add a Remixer artist. Moreover, at the track level, end-users should not add the exact same track title into the Remix or Version field, and should not add any of the following terms:

Official, Unofficial, Exclusive, Limited, Original, Cover, BSO, OST, Video, Videoclip, Stereo, Mono, Slowed and reverb, Slowed, Reverb, Reverbed, Beat Type, Mastered, Tributo, Tribute, Homenaje, Hommage, Continuous, Primary artist, Artista primario, Artiste Primaire, Artista primari, Performer, Ejecutante, Interprète, Executant, Executante, Esecutore, Producer, Productor, Producteur, Produtor, Produttore, Remixer, Composer, Compositor, Compositeur, Compositore, Lyricist, Letrista, Lletrista, Parolier, Lírico, Autore testo, Publisher, Editorial, Éditorial, Editoriale, Featuring, With, Con, Avec, Amb, Com, Conductor, Conducteur, Conduttore, Director, Diretor, Arranger, Arreglador, Orchestra, Orquesta, Actor., Single, EP, Album, Version, Edit, Mix.

Error message

In case the condition above is not met, end-users will get a validation error message in tab 4. Preview and Distribute and tab 6. Distribution.