We can now deliver either Static or Time-Synched Lyrics song lyrics for your tracks to Apple Music. Please ensure you read and adhere to the below Lyrics Guidelines before submitting your lyrics via the form at the bottom of this guide.
GENERAL FORMATTING
The structure of a song should dictate a lyric’s format and structure. When transcribing lyrics, it is important to separate the lyrical sections and changes within a song with line and section breaks. All lyric lines should be single-spaced and a double space should separate each stanza.
If unsure when to input a line or section break, some common identifiers are:
- A defined chorus, verse, intro, bridge, or hook
- Changes in the song tempo
- Changes in how the artist delivers the lyrics (from singing to rapping)
CAPITALIZATION
Capitalization in your lyrics should follow traditional grammar rules. Proper nouns must be capitalized. Additionally, all lyric lines must begin with a capital letter.
Here are examples of words that must be capitalized:
- Divinity and religious intricacies (“God,” “You,” “Him,” “Your” in religious songs)
- Acronyms (NASA, FBI)
- Geographical location (East Coast, Southside, etc.)
- Title casing
- The first letter of the first word contained in parentheses
- Brand names
PUNCTUATION
There should be no periods or commas at the end of any lyric line. Exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks should be the only end-line punctuation and should be included as needed.
Within the line, it is most important to follow traditional grammar rules.
Additional examples of acceptable punctuation:
- Hyphens dropped words, spelt out words, and acronyms (L-Y-R-I-C-S)
- Parentheses background vocals should be wrapped in parentheses at the end of a line, with the first letter capitalized
- Apostrophe for certain slang and contractual modifications (‘Rari for Ferrari)
REPEATED LINES
The lyrics should match the audio. If a line is repeated, it should be written out.
Correct:
- Until you respect me and my dogs
- I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
- I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
- I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
- I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
Incorrect:
- Until you respect me and my dogs
- I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
- (Repeat x3)
SPOKEN WORD
Currently, spoken word/conversational content within a song should not be transcribed.
NON-WORD VOCAL SOUNDS
Non-word vocals should be transcribed sparingly and only if they add to the content of the song, either narratively or stylistically.
Improvised scatting is considered instrumental content and should not be transcribed.
Non-lyrical, or “harmonious non-word vocal sounds,” should be transcribed.
For example: “ooh,” “ah,” “whoa,” as well as onomatopoeia such as “burr” or “skrrt.”
Do not include computer-generated sound effects in lyrics (door slamming, car horn, phone ringing, etc.)
CLEAN & EXPLICIT LYRICS
The term “clean” should only be used if there is an available corresponding explicit version of the track. In clean lyrics, dropped and edited content should be represented with asterisks.
If the track is explicit, all explicit language must be transcribed as it is heard in the audio.
- Audio: “I'm the motherfucking man”
- Lyrics: I'm the motherfucking man
Partially or fully censored words should be completely starred out with asterisks.
- Audio: “I'm the mother(bleeped out) man”
- Lyrics: I'm the **** man
- Audio: “I'm the (bleeped out) man”
- Lyrics: I'm the **** man
TIME SYNC
Time sync should be applied to the exact audio version you are providing to Apple Music. Different versions of the same songs will have different time sync. TTML file must be included for time-synched lyrics. You can find TTML generators online where you can create your time-synched lyric files.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR SONG LYRICS TO APPLE MUSIC
You can submit your Song Lyrics here and our team will deliver those to Apple for you:
APPLE - SONG LYRICS SUBMISSION