Distributing Music on UGC Platforms: Rules and Tips to Avoid Rejections

Is your music not available on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok? This might be due to recent changes in their rules to ensure original content and prevent duplicates. Below, we explain what UGC is and why some songs may not be accepted.

What are "UGC" platforms?

User Generated Content (UGC) platforms allow users to upload and share their own content. These include YouTube, SoundCloud, TikTok, and META platforms (Instagram and Facebook). To maintain a 100% original catalog, these platforms have tightened their policies to prevent repeated or non-exclusive content.

Types of content that will be rejected on UGC platforms:

Your music is likely to be rejected if it falls under any of the following categories:

• Public Domain Works:
  Recordings, samples, or manipulations of classical or public domain works are not accepted.

• Generic Sounds:
  White noise, songs with a duration of less than a minute, environmental sounds (such as animal noises), phone tones, laughter, movie snippets, or spoken words without music are not allowed.

• Use of Commercial Loops or Samples:
  Beats or sounds from commercial sample packs are not accepted. You can only use loops or samples if they are 100% original.

• DJ Mixes, Full Albums, or Compilations:
  Files containing multiple tracks within a single file, such as DJ mixes, compilations, or full albums, are not permitted.

• Non-Exclusive Licensed Content:
  If you purchased music from soundtrack libraries or production catalogs but do not hold an exclusive license (i.e., you are not the sole distributor), it cannot be distributed.

• Soundalike Versions, Covers, or Karaoke/Instrumentals:
  Imitations of existing songs, cover versions, and karaoke or instrumental versions are not allowed.

• Live Versions Too Similar to the Original:
  If your live version is nearly identical to the studio recording, it may be considered a duplicate and rejected.

• Remixes of Songs by Other Artists:
  You can only distribute remixes if you have the necessary rights or licenses.

• Re-recorded, Remastered, or Remixed Versions:
  You cannot distribute these versions unless you own the original master recording.

How to avoid your music being rejected?

To ensure your content is accepted on these platforms, follow these recommendations:

✅ Create 100% original content: Avoid using commercial samples or loops unless you have exclusive rights.
✅ Register your music: Make sure you have the distribution rights to your songs.

If your music has been rejected by any of these platforms, don’t worry! It will still be available on other major platforms like Spotify.

Follow these guidelines and maximize your music distribution! 🎶