What is Apple Music Motion?
Motion artwork is an Apple Music feature that can help your releases come alive and provide a richer experience for your audience by helping to set a mood or accentuate the concept of an album.
Who can use Motion Artwork?
Any artist with Identity Music can make the most of this new feature.
*Important notes*:
Motion Art videos that do not meet Apple's guidelines will be rejected.
You must provide both 1:1 & 3:4 Motion Art files in order for us to deliver them to Apple Music.
Once delivered to Apple Music, Motion Art files can no longer be deleted
This is not an opportunity available for single/s. You can only add motion art to an EP, Album, or Artist Page.
What Motion's are now available on Apple Music?
Artist Page Motion
A graphic is used on the profile page of the artist. These are intended to be engaging and extend the mood and story of the artist.
Album Motion
Graphics used on an album as an alternative, more interesting artwork to the pack shot. Similar to Spotify Canvas in that way.
What type of content should I make for Motions?
Artist Page Motion
Artist Page Motion should be Video / filmed content.
E.g. content sourced from music videos, b-roll footage, behind-the-scenes, filmed especially for the artist page or a combination of these.
Artist Page Motion should NOT be motion graphics/animation.
Footage can’t contain any performance, singing, mouth movement or playing of instruments.
Album Motion
Album Motion should be Animation/Motion Graphics (not video content).
The animation start frame must match the album cover and seamlessly loop.
What are the Motion Artwork Specifications?
Artist Page Motion Specification
Apple's Motion Art is made up of 2 video files (without sound) in 2 different aspect ratios:
1:1 - displayed on the Album Page on Mac, iPad, and smart TVs.
These templates appear on iPads, Macs, and smart TVs. The entire canvas of the Album Page Motion 1x1 is safe-to-place artwork. There are no UI elements that need to be considered. Download the template.3:4 - displayed on the Album Page on iPhone
This template appears only on iPhones. Keep essential elements within the safe area so they don’t intersect with the iPhone notch, UI text, buttons, and gradient. Download the template.
You will need to provide Identity Music with both the 1:1 and 3:4 Motion Art files in order for the delivery to Apple Music.
File Format Specification Requirements:
File format: MOV with .mov extension
Video codec: Apple ProRes 4444, 422, 422 (HQ), or 422 (LT)
Resolution: 2048x2732 pixels (3x4) or 3840x3840 pixels (1x1) (square pixels 1:1)
Frame rate: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, or 30 fps
Colour space: Rec 709 or sRGB
Length (duration): between 15 and 35 seconds
For complete details about Motion Art formatting and guidelines, please review the following documentation from Apple Music:
Deliverables Checklist
Each deliverable requires a Motion and Static asset. Static art is used as a “loading image” in slow-connection user scenarios. This can be the first frame of an animation or a PNG of your album cover.
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Want to distribute your music with us? Submit your application here or contact us by clicking on the support chat button on the website. (Video below to show how).