Motion Artwork: Bringing Your Music to Life Across Platforms
Creating album motion artwork just got simpler. Apple has updated its Album Motion Guidelines to make the creation process easier and more accessible. Whether you’re building motion art for a special release or producing it at scale for a full catalog, these updated standards ensure your visuals look great across all Apple Music devices.
Motion artwork, including Apple Motion Artwork and Spotify Canvas, is a powerful tool to visually enhance your release and engage fans across platforms. It transforms static cover art into a dynamic experience that strengthens your brand identity and encourages listeners to stay connected with your music.
🛠 Apple Music Motion Artwork – Technical Deliverables
You’ll need to submit two video files without sound:
3:4 aspect ratio (2048×2732 px) – for iPhone/Android album pages
1:1 aspect ratio (3840×3840 px) – for Mac, iPad, and smart TVs
Length: 15–35 seconds
Format: H.264 codec (.mp4 container) — now preferred for delivery
Bitrate: Set to minimum of 45 Mbps and maximum 100 Mbps.
Frame Rates: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, or 30 fps
Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square (1:1)
Color Profile: Rec. 709 or sRGB
Audio: No audio track (disable audio on export)
💡 Do not crop a 1:1 video into a 3:4 safe area. Always submit true 3:4 motion artwork — not a repurposed square.
🎨 Creative & Design Guidelines
Start Strong: The first frame must match your static album cover for seamless loading.
Keep It Consistent: Motion should enhance your existing cover art — don’t cut to unrelated images.
Motion Matters: Use slow, subtle movements. Avoid rapid edits or flashing effects.
Loop Cleanly: Match first and last frames, or use a ping-pong effect — avoid fades or visual interruptions.
📱 Safe Zones & Legibility
3:4 Format: Adhere to Apple’s safe area to avoid UI obstruction. Use provided templates for placement.
1:1 Format: The entire canvas is safe for placement.
Text & Logos: Keep inside the safe area for legibility.
No Parental Advisory Logos: Apple flags explicit content via metadata, not visuals.
✅ Quality & Submission Guidelines
Submit high-resolution source files — no upscaling from low-res artwork.
No black borders, drop frames, or hold frames.
Use Apple’s After Effects/Premiere presets when exporting ProRes or H.264 files.
Submit via Apple Transporter or an approved delivery provider.
🧭 Uploading Motion Artwork in RND
To upload motion artwork directly from your dashboard:
Open the release you want to update
Click Edit
Scroll to the bottom of the page
You’ll see the option to upload both versions of the Apple Motion artwork
Submit changes for redelivery to Apple Music.
🎥 Spotify Canvas
Spotify Canvas brings motion artwork to your music on Spotify, looping short visuals behind your track on mobile devices. These 3–8 second vertical videos enhance listener engagement, boost replay rates, and help your music stand out visually in playlists and social shares.
Spotify Canvas Requirements
MP4 or JPEG file
Vertical 9:16 ratio (minimum 720px height)
3–8 seconds in length
No audio, flashing images, or heavy text
How to Upload Canvas
Log in to your Spotify for Artists account.
Go to Music → Releases and select your track.
Click “Add Canvas” and upload your video.
Preview the loop, then click Save — it’ll appear within hours on Spotify mobile.
To get started, see our Help Center article on claiming your DSP profiles to access Spotify for Artists and begin uploading your Canvas visuals.
📚 Learn More
For updates on Apple’s policies, see the “What’s New in This Version” section of the Apple Music Style Guide.
Explore Apple’s list of recommended production partners if you need support creating motion artwork.
For Spotify Canvas and DSP setup, visit our Help Center article on claiming DSP profiles for step-by-step instructions.