Gracenote
Market: Worldwide
Overview
Gracenote is the global leader in music metadata, audio recognition, and content identification technology. Its database powers search and discovery for some of the world’s biggest streaming services, media platforms, and automotive systems. By providing rich metadata — including song titles, artist information, cover art, and genre classifications — Gracenote enables automatic music identification and a more engaging listening experience.
Market / Platform Focus
Gracenote’s services are integrated into music platforms, radio stations, in-car infotainment systems, and voice assistants worldwide. The platform is not a consumer-facing streaming service but a backend technology provider, making it essential for accurate music recognition and metadata consistency across devices and applications.
Yes — LabelGrid delivers your release metadata to Gracenote. Metadata delivery is included on every distribution plan, for record labels, distributors, and independent artists alike.
GRACENOTE AT A GLANCE
- What it is: a music-metadata and recognition service (a Nielsen company) whose database powers music players, connected cars, and apps — not a consumer store.
- What we deliver: your release metadata — ISRC per track, 12-digit UPC, contributor credits, and cover artwork.
- Typical go-live: processing time is not fixed — verify current Gracenote support for timing on your release.
- Territory: worldwide.
- What it does for you: accurate track identification across the products and apps that integrate Gracenote data.
- Royalties: tracked in LabelGrid’s royalty accounting with automated splits.
LABELGRID
LabelGrid Integration
Through LabelGrid, your music’s metadata is delivered directly to Gracenote, ensuring that your releases are recognized correctly across the systems that use its database. This includes proper track identification, artwork display, and searchable information across connected platforms.
Getting Started
To add your music to Gracenote via LabelGrid, ensure that your metadata is complete and accurate, including artist name, track title, album name, genre, and high-resolution artwork. Select Gracenote as a distribution partner when scheduling your release, and our system will handle the ingestion and formatting process.
LabelGrid provides the tools you need beyond distribution: catalog management for your metadata and releases, royalty accounting with automated artist statements, and promotion tools including smart links and pre-saves.
Gracenote delivery specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it does | A music-metadata and recognition database (a Nielsen company) that powers music players, connected cars, and apps — not a consumer streaming store |
| Metadata delivered | ISRC per track, 12-digit UPC, contributor credits, and cover artwork |
| Artwork requirements | Original cover art, no pixelation or misleading imagery — verify current Gracenote support for exact dimensions |
| Territory / availability | Worldwide |
| Use | Accurate track identification across the products and apps that integrate Gracenote data |
| Royalties | Tracked in LabelGrid accounting with automated splits |
| Typical go-live after submission | Processing time is not fixed — verify current Gracenote support for timing |
| Delivery method | DDEX feed delivery by LabelGrid |
Requirements can change — confirm current details with Gracenote.
How long until my release metadata is live on Gracenote?
Gracenote processing time is not fixed — verify current Gracenote support for timing on your release. LabelGrid processes and reviews your release, then delivers the DDEX feed carrying your metadata — ISRC, UPC, credits, and artwork — to Gracenote, where it feeds the recognition database that identifies your tracks across integrated players, cars, and apps. Planning a specific release date? Submit ahead of time and confirm current timing with Gracenote.
Related: music distribution · royalty accounting · automated royalty splits · pricing · compare distributors · LabelGrid for labels · Gracenote help article
WHY GRACENOTE
Artist Benefits
Accurate metadata is key to discoverability. Distributing to Gracenote ensures that your songs can be properly identified by media services, voice search, and music recognition tools. This improves user experience and helps your catalog appear consistently across multiple platforms.
Key Features
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Industry-leading music metadata and recognition technology
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Powers search, discovery, and identification for global media platforms
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Supports in-car systems, streaming apps, and voice assistants
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Ensures accurate track titles, artist names, and cover art
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Improves discoverability and user experience across connected devices
DEEP DIVE
What You Should Know About Gracenote
Universal Music Recognition
Gracenote (owned by Nielsen) powers music recognition and metadata display across car infotainment systems, smart TVs, streaming services, and connected devices worldwide. When your song plays in a car and the dashboard shows your artist name and album art, that's often Gracenote at work.
Why Metadata Matters
Proper Gracenote registration ensures your artist name, song title, album art, and genre tags display correctly across millions of devices. Incorrect or missing Gracenote data means listeners see "Unknown Artist" or wrong information in their cars and on their TVs.
Tips for Success
- LabelGrid ensures your metadata is properly formatted for Gracenote as part of distribution
- Accurate metadata means your music looks professional on every device
- Gracenote's genre and mood tagging helps with algorithmic recommendations on connected devices
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
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