Common reasons your audio may be flagged

• Your release may be flagged during inspection if:
  • You’ve used full or partial audio that you do not own or have not licensed.
  • Your audio has previously been distributed with different metadata, such as a different artist name, track title, or missing featured artist credit—even if the earlier release was cancelled.
  • Your track includes content that isn’t exclusively yours, such as royalty-free beats, sound-alike instrumentals, stock sounds, drum loops, samples, GarageBand loops, leased or purchased beats, ambient sounds, or public domain content.

What happens if your audio is flagged

• If your audio is flagged:
  • CD Baby may request documentation proving you have the rights to use the audio, especially in cases involving remixes or reused material.
  • If your audio matches original content from another artist, your release may be denied from distribution.
  • If you’re re-releasing a track under a new artist name, some digital platforms may hide or reject the updated version. 

Things to note

• Always ensure you have full rights to use any audio you submit.
• Avoid reusing previously distributed recordings with altered metadata.
• If you’re using third-party content, make sure you have proper licensing and documentation.