Format song information correctly (metadata) / So that titles & covers are displayed correctly

Clean metadata is crucial to ensure that song titles, artists and covers are displayed correctly in players, apps and on websites. The most common mistake: radios or systems attach their own additional texts, which leads to broken covers, incorrect titles or unusable song information.

Note: The song title is a linked title. If no background information can be found for a song, the link will still remain (no additional song details will be displayed).

Recommended metadata format

Ideally, metadata is structured in this clear standard format:

ARTIST - TITLE

This format is compatible with most systems and ensures a clean assignment of artist, title and cover.

Why additional texts cause problems

We know that some radios want to add their own information (e.g. slogans, moderation notes, promotions, times). However, these additions can interfere with recognition and thus damage covers, titles and content.

Typical effects

  • Cover is not found or displayed incorrectly
  • Song title/artist is incorrectly recognized
  • Link to the song leads nowhere because the metadata is no longer unique

Solution: Separate additional information with “|” (pipe format)

If you absolutely want to attach additional information, please use this format.

ARTIST - TITLE | TEXT

Important: Everything that comes after | is automatically cut off. This means that the title and cover are no longer affected.

Examples

  • Daft Punk - One More Time | Radio Edit
  • Adele - Hello | Jetzt neu bei uns
  • Coldplay - Viva La Vida | Gewinnspiel

Result: The system only processes ARTIST - TITLE internally. The additional text remains optional without destroying the metadata recognition.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Which metadata format is optimal?

Best: ARTIST - TITLE. This is the cleanest standard and minimizes errors in title and cover recognition.

I want to send additional information. How do I do this correctly?

Use the pipe format: ARTIST - TITLE | TEXT. Everything after | is automatically removed and no longer interferes.

What happens to text after the “|”?

It is automatically cut off. This keeps the song title and cover clean and clear.

Why is my cover sometimes not displayed?

This is often due to “dirty” metadata (e.g. additional texts without clear separation). As a result, the song cannot be clearly recognized and the cover is not correctly assigned.

The song title is linked. What if no song information is found?

The title remains a link. If no background information is available, no additional details are displayed.

Which signs should I avoid?

Avoid unnecessary additions directly in the title, e.g. advertising texts, emojis, long orgy of brackets or alternating separators. If additional information is required: always separate via |.

Short summary

  • Standard: ARTIST - TITLE
  • With additional information: ARTIST - TITLE | TEXT
  • Everything after | is automatically removed. (No more problems with title & cover)
  • Linked title remains, even if no background information is found