Titles and Versions Best Practices
Titles and Versions must follow standard editorial conventions to ensure correct display and smooth ingestion across DSPs. Reprtoir separates the Title and Subtitle fields so that version descriptors and additional qualifiers are formatted consistently as "Title (Subtitle)" when delivered to DSPs. This structure prevents editorial issues and ensures predictable rendering across all platforms. This page explains how to format Titles, how to use Subtitles, and how to describe versions and reinterpretations of a work in a compliant and professional manner.
Title Field
The Title field contains the core artistic title of the Track or Album. It must be neutral, descriptive, and written according to the language's casing rules defined in the Language-Specific Casing Guidelines.
Titles must not include promotional wording, version descriptors, artist names, featured artist names, remixers, or production details. The Title represents only the name of the artistic work in its purest form.
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night
- Les nuits sans sommeil
- Caminos nuevos de Lisboa
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night Live
- Les nuits sans sommeil Feat. Anna
- Caminos nuevos de Lisboa Remix
Subtitle Field
The Subtitle field contains all qualifiers describing the nature of the version being delivered. DSPs expect version descriptors to appear as "Title (Version Descriptor)". Reprtoir ensures this formatting automatically when the Subtitle field is used correctly.
The Subtitle must not repeat information already present in the Title or stored elsewhere in metadata fields such as Featured Artists or Contributor roles.
Common version descriptors include:
- Live
- Acoustic
- Instrumental
- Radio Edit
- Extended Mix
- Remastered 2024
- Remastered
- Demo
- Re Recording
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night (Live)
- Sunrise in Tokyo (Instrumental)
- Les nuits sans sommeil (Version acoustique)
- Caminando juntos (Radio Edit)
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night Live Version
- Les nuits sans sommeil Version Acoustique
- Caminando juntos Radio Edit
- Sunrise in Tokyo Remastered 2024
Featuring Artists
Featuring artists must always be placed in the Featured Artist field. They must never appear in the Title or Subtitle unless they are officially part of the artistic title.
Correct formatting in Reprtoir:
- Title: In the Still of the Night
- Subtitle: Acoustic
- Main Artists: John Rivera
- Featured Artists: Anna Thompson
Incorrect formatting:
- Title: In the Still of the Night feat. Anna Thompson
- Subtitle: Acoustic feat. Anna Thompson
DSPs automatically surface featured artists based on contributor metadata, which is why the Title and Subtitle fields must remain clean.
Remixes
A remix must be indicated using both the Subtitle field and the Contributor role assigned to the remixer.
Correct formatting:
- Title: In the Still of the Night
- Subtitle: John Rivera Remix
- Contributor Role: Remixer
Incorrect formatting:
- Title: In the Still of the Night John Rivera Remix
- Title: In the Still of the Night Remix
- Subtitle: Remix by John Rivera
The correct format is always "Title (Remixer Name Remix)".
Covers
Covers of songs originally performed by another artist must not reference the original artist in the Title or Subtitle. DSPs prohibit mentioning the original performer in any public-facing metadata.
Correct formatting:
- Title: In the Still of the Night
- Subtitle: Acoustic Version
- Composers and Authors: credited correctly
Incorrect formatting:
- Title: In the Still of the Night (Originally Performed by The Smiths)
- Subtitle: The Smiths Cover
Covers do not require the word "Cover" unless the artistic intention specifically requires it and the DSP does not prohibit the term.
Re Recordings
Re recordings must be declared transparently in the Subtitle field to avoid confusion with the original master.
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night (Re Recording)
- Dans les rues de Paris (Re Recording 2024)
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night New Version
- Dans les rues de Paris 2024 Version
DSPs require clarity so that users understand that the recording is not the original master.
Live Versions
Live recordings must always be labeled in the Subtitle field using the word "Live". Locations or venues may be added.
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night (Live)
- In the Still of the Night (Live at Madison Square Garden)
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night Live at Madison Square Garden
- In the Still of the Night Live Version
Acoustic and Unplugged Versions
Acoustic versions must be indicated using the Subtitle field.
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night (Acoustic)
- Les nuits sans sommeil (Version acoustique)
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night Acoustic
- Les nuits sans sommeil Acoustique
Instrumental Versions
Instrumental versions must be labeled clearly and always appear in the Subtitle field.
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night (Instrumental)
- Dans les rues de Paris (Instrumental)
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night Instrumental
- Dans les rues de Paris Version Instrumentale
Radio Edits and Extended Mixes
Radio edits and extended mixes must be labeled exclusively in the Subtitle field. These descriptors must remain simple and descriptive.
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night (Radio Edit)
- Sunrise in Tokyo (Extended Mix)
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night Radio Edit
- Sunrise in Tokyo Extended
Remasters
Remasters may include a year when relevant. DSPs accept both "Remastered" and "Remastered 2024".
Correct examples:
- In the Still of the Night (Remastered)
- In the Still of the Night (Remastered 2024)
Incorrect examples:
- In the Still of the Night 2024 Remastered
- In the Still of the Night New Master
Demo Versions
Demo versions must be labeled as "Demo" in the Subtitle field.
Correct example:
- In the Still of the Night (Demo)
Incorrect example:
- In the Still of the Night Demo Version
Clean and Explicit Versions
Explicit and clean indicators must never appear in Titles or Subtitles. They must be set using the dedicated Explicit Content field in Reprtoir.
Correct:
- Title: In the Still of the Night
- Subtitle: Acoustic
- Explicit: Yes or No
Incorrect:
- In the Still of the Night Explicit
- In the Still of the Night Clean Version
Summary
Reprtoir separates Titles and Subtitles to ensure that version descriptors and additional qualifiers display correctly across DSPs. A clean Title, a properly formatted Subtitle, and correct use of contributor metadata guarantee consistent ingestion, compliance with editorial guidelines, and predictable rendering across platforms.
Updated about 4 hours ago