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Common Directory Rejections
When submitting to any directory there is always the possibility that your podcast will be rejected! Don't worry though, most of the time the errors can be located, fixed and your podcast can be resubmitted! Below are some common reasons your podcast might be rejected by directories.
Apple Podcasts
Artwork
The most common reason Apple may reject your podcast is that your artwork does not meet Apple's required image specifications. Apple requires that your artwork be a "minimum size of 1400 x 1400 pixels and a maximum size of 3000 x 3000 pixels, in JPEG or PNG format, 72 dpi, with appropriate file extensions (.jpg, .png), and in the RGB colorspace." If your podcast artwork doesn't meet these parameters, then you will need to adjust it according to Apple's guidelines.
We have also found that even if the dimensions of your file be correct, the file size itself can be an issue. We recommend having your artwork file be 300 KB or less to be accepted in Apple. You can use www.tinypng.com to easily compress your artwork! For a deep dive into Podcast Artwork check out our article How to Design Podcast Cover Art. It will give you all the info you need to create great artwork that Apple will accept!
Categories
Apple recently changed its preference for categories. Since then, we have seen an uptick in category-related rejections. Your podcast may be rejected for having no category listed OR for having too many categories listed. We have found that the best way to fix this is to select just one category and one subcategory on your Podcast Settings page in Buzzsprout. Once you change that, give Apple a couple of hours and they should see the change on their end.
Categories
Missing Website URL
Another common rejection for Apple Podcasts is a missing website URL. This one is very easy to fix! Apple requires a URL in your RSS Feed, so you will want to make sure you include that. Just head to your Podcast Settings page in Buzzsprout, and add your website URL to the Your Website Address field. This URL can be your Buzzsprout website URL, or a personal website URL, whatever you want to include on your Apple listing.
Website Address
The most common reason Apple may reject your podcast is that your artwork does not meet Apple's required image specifications. Apple requires that your artwork be a "minimum size of 1400 x 1400 pixels and a maximum size of 3000 x 3000 pixels, in JPEG or PNG format, 72 dpi, with appropriate file extensions (.jpg, .png), and in the RGB colorspace." If your podcast artwork doesn't meet these parameters, then you will need to adjust it according to Apple's guidelines.
We have also found that even if the dimensions of your file be correct, the file size itself can be an issue. We recommend having your artwork file be 300 KB or less to be accepted in Apple. You can use www.tinypng.com to easily compress your artwork! For a deep dive into Podcast Artwork check out our article How to Design Podcast Cover Art. It will give you all the info you need to create great artwork that Apple will accept!
Categories
Apple recently changed its preference for categories. Since then, we have seen an uptick in category-related rejections. Your podcast may be rejected for having no category listed OR for having too many categories listed. We have found that the best way to fix this is to select just one category and one subcategory on your Podcast Settings page in Buzzsprout. Once you change that, give Apple a couple of hours and they should see the change on their end.
Another common rejection for Apple Podcasts is a missing website URL. This one is very easy to fix! Apple requires a URL in your RSS Feed, so you will want to make sure you include that. Just head to your Podcast Settings page in Buzzsprout, and add your website URL to the Your Website Address field. This URL can be your Buzzsprout website URL, or a personal website URL, whatever you want to include on your Apple listing.
Spotify
Missing Information
Spotify is very quick to accept new podcasts, so they tend to catch errors after the fact. When that happens they might unpublish your listing until the fix is made in Buzzsprout. The most common issues with Spotify are a missing Artist name or a missing Website Address (shown above).
Both pieces of information can be added on the Podcast Settings page in your Buzzsprout account. Just head there and add your Artist info to the Artist field and add the Website URL to the Your Website Address field. Then hit Save and give Spotify an hour or so. They should see the new info on their own and publish your listing!
Spotify is very quick to accept new podcasts, so they tend to catch errors after the fact. When that happens they might unpublish your listing until the fix is made in Buzzsprout. The most common issues with Spotify are a missing Artist name or a missing Website Address (shown above).
Both pieces of information can be added on the Podcast Settings page in your Buzzsprout account. Just head there and add your Artist info to the Artist field and add the Website URL to the Your Website Address field. Then hit Save and give Spotify an hour or so. They should see the new info on their own and publish your listing!
Music Podcasts
If you have a podcast that is mostly made up of music, then you will likely not be able to get listed on Spotify as a podcast. Spotify is very specific about any music being published through their Artist Portal, not the Podcast Portal. So they will remove (and sometimes delete) music podcasts that are submitted as a podcast. If you run into this, we recommend that you reach out to Spotify directly to have them help you get submitted correctly: podcasters-support@spotify.com
These are the most common issues we see on our end, but if you continue to get rejected by any directory, shoot our support team (support@buzzsprout.com) an email and they will troubleshoot the errors and help you get accepted!
If you have a podcast that is mostly made up of music, then you will likely not be able to get listed on Spotify as a podcast. Spotify is very specific about any music being published through their Artist Portal, not the Podcast Portal. So they will remove (and sometimes delete) music podcasts that are submitted as a podcast. If you run into this, we recommend that you reach out to Spotify directly to have them help you get submitted correctly: podcasters-support@spotify.com
These are the most common issues we see on our end, but if you continue to get rejected by any directory, shoot our support team (support@buzzsprout.com) an email and they will troubleshoot the errors and help you get accepted!