Accepted & Restricted Content/Genres for Distribution

Many Digital Service Providers (DSPs) and distributors have their own content guidelines for delivering content to their platforms. To review Symphonic's content guidelines, click here. 

These guidelines are designed to maintain a catalog of authentic, musical works and prevent the misuse of stores for non-musical, deceptive, or "search-driven" content.

While most traditional music genres are fully supported, certain types of audio content may be scrutinized or rejected depending on their purpose, presentation, and overall quality.

Accepted Genres

DSPs accept a wide variety of genuine musical genres, including but not limited to:

• Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Blues, Classical
• Electronic, House, Techno, Drum & Bass, Trance, Dubstep
• Country, Folk, Americana, Reggae, World Music
• Gospel, Christian, Latin, Afrobeat, K-Pop, and similar styles

These genres represent authentic musical creation, meaning they include original composition, performance, and production elements.

Genres That May Face Scrutiny

Some types of releases are reviewed more carefully by Symphonic and DSPs to ensure they meet content guidelines. See our SEO policy here. These include:

• Meditation, Ambient, or Relaxation Music
• Content consisting only of static tones, drones, or minimal variation
• Nature Sounds or Field Recordings: Simple soundscapes (e.g., “Rain Sounds for Sleep,” “Ocean Waves 10 Hours”)
• Sound Effects or Utility Audio: Alarm tones, or general sound effects, are considered non-musical and are not eligible for distribution
• AI-Generated Music: AI-assisted works can be accepted if they show clear creative input and originality. Fully automated, mass-produced, or misleading AI content may be rejected or unable to be delivered to certain DSPs.

Content is accepted when it demonstrates genuine musical creativity, featuring structure, melody, or harmony, and shows clear human artistic input. Purely ambient, non-musical, or fully automated AI-generated material may be rejected.

Not Accepted or Restricted Content 

DSPs and Symphonic do not permit certain content that is considered non-musical, misleading, or created primarily for SEO or algorithmic gain. See our SEO policy here. Examples include:

• Search-driven or keyword-based audio (e.g., “Study Focus 2025,” “Sleep Rain Compilation”)
• Pseudoscientific or frequency-based content (e.g., “432Hz Healing Energy,” “Manifestation Vibration”)
• Affirmations, spoken word, or text-to-speech content presented as music
• AI keyword spam or bulk-uploaded “background” content
• Non-musical loops, test tones, or meditation frequencies

Such content is often flagged by DSPs as non-musical or deceptive, and may lead to rejection or removal from platforms.

Best Practices for Distribution

To ensure your release is accepted across DSPs:

✅ Submit original, artistic, and musically structured works.

✅ Use accurate metadata that describes your music authentically.

🚫 Avoid using trending search terms or “SEO” phrases in your title or metadata.

🚫 Do not label non-musical content (e.g., tones, frequencies, spoken word) as songs or albums.