Tribute and karaoke releases must follow additional requirements for artist names, release titles, track titles, and cover art. These requirements help distinguish your recording from the original artist's recording and ensure that listeners can accurately identify the content.

What are the requirements for tribute releases?

A tribute release is a recording that pays tribute to another artist or group.

Artist names

Your performing artist name cannot include the name of the original artist. For example, "The Beatles Tribute Band" is not permitted as a performing artist name.

Release titles

For tribute albums, the release title cannot begin with the original artist's name. For example:

• Not permitted: The Beatles: A Metal Tribute
• Permitted: Help: A Metal Tribute to the Beatles

These examples apply to tribute albums. Different restrictions may apply to singles.

Track titles

Tribute track titles cannot include references to the original artist or phrases suggesting an association with the original recording. Prohibited phrases include:

• As Made Famous By
• Originally Performed By
• In the Style of

What are the requirements for karaoke releases?

Karaoke releases must clearly identify themselves as karaoke recordings.

Cover art

If the original artist's name appears on your karaoke cover art, the word "Karaoke" must be displayed in text that is at least as large as the original artist's name.

Artist names

You cannot use "Karaoke" by itself as your performing artist name. However, it may be included as part of a distinctive artist name, such as "The Karaoke Superstars."

Track titles

Karaoke track titles must clearly indicate that the recording does not contain lead vocals. Include the appropriate version information in parentheses after the track title. For example:

• Song Title (Karaoke Version)
• Song Title (Instrumental Version)

Do tribute and karaoke releases have to meet the standard cover art requirements?

Yes. In addition to these specialized requirements, all tribute and karaoke releases must meet CD Baby's standard artwork guidelines. See What are the cover art requirements for my release?.

There are special guidelines that apply to artwork for tribute and karaoke albums specifically. Read below to make sure your tribute or karaoke album art follows these rules:

Tribute Albums:

• The performing artist name cannot include the original artist name (e.g., The Beatles Tribute Band, etc).
• The release title should not start with the original artist name (e.g., The Beatles: A Metal Tribute, etc). The original artist name can appear later on in the release title (e.g., Help: A Metal Tribute to the Beatles, etc), however this does not apply to singles (see below).
• The track titles cannot include references to the original artist name or others such as: "As Made Famous By…," "Originally Performed By…," "In the Style of…," etc.

Karaoke

• The word "karaoke" must appear as large as, or larger than, the original artist name.
• The word "karaoke" must not be used as the artist name on its own, but can be incorporated into an artist name (e.g., The Karaoke Superstars, etc.)
• The title of karaoke tracks must indicate that there are no leading vocals on the track. For example, "Karaoke Version," "Instrumental Version" - this should appear after the track title in parenthesis. For example, "Track Title (Karaoke Version)."