Music Ad Creative Requirements

Music ad creative requirements define the specifications that advertising materials must meet to run on various platforms. Understanding these requirements before creating assets prevents rejected ads and ensures promotional content displays correctly.

What Are Creative Requirements

Creative requirements are the technical and content specifications that advertising platforms enforce for submitted materials. These include image dimensions and file sizes, video lengths and formats, text limits for headlines and descriptions, and content policies prohibiting certain material. Each platform establishes its own requirements based on where and how ads appear.

Requirements exist because ads must function across diverse placements. A single campaign might show ads on mobile apps, desktop browsers, connected TVs, and various screen sizes. Creative that meets specifications displays correctly everywhere, while non-compliant creative may appear cropped, distorted, or rejected entirely.

For musicians preparing advertising campaigns, understanding requirements early prevents last-minute scrambling. Creating assets at correct specifications from the start proves more efficient than reformatting existing materials to fit platform constraints.

How Creative Requirements Work

Image requirements typically specify dimensions in pixels, aspect ratios, file formats, and maximum file sizes. Common formats include JPG and PNG files under 30MB. Standard dimensions include 1080x1080 pixels for square placements, 1200x628 for landscape, and 1080x1920 for vertical stories formats. Each platform provides detailed specifications for their placements.

Video requirements add duration limits, resolution minimums, frame rate specifications, and audio standards. Most platforms accept videos between 6 and 60 seconds, with 15-30 seconds representing common sweet spots for advertising. Resolution requirements typically start at 720p with 1080p preferred. Audio should be clear and properly leveled.

Text requirements limit character counts for headlines, primary text, and descriptions. Facebook allows 40 characters for headlines and 125 for primary text before truncation. Other platforms have different limits. Writing concise, impactful copy that communicates within limits requires practice.

Display advertising on music websites generally accommodates standard IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) sizes. Common formats include 300x250 (medium rectangle), 728x90 (leaderboard), and 160x600 (wide skyscraper). Preparing creative in these standard dimensions enables placement across multiple music website networks.

Key Considerations

• Requirements differ between platforms and between placement types within platforms
• Creating multiple asset sizes enables broader placement availability
• Platform spec guides should be consulted before beginning creative production
• Requirements can change, so checking current specs before each campaign is wise

Common Questions

What happens if creative does not meet requirements?

Non-compliant creative typically gets rejected during platform review, preventing the campaign from launching until corrected materials are submitted. Some platforms attempt automatic reformatting, which may crop images awkwardly or compress video quality. Rejection adds delays and frustration, making upfront compliance more efficient than fixing problems after submission.

Should musicians create assets in multiple sizes?

Creating multiple sizes enables campaigns to appear in more placements, increasing potential reach. At minimum, artists should prepare square (1:1), landscape (1.91:1), and vertical (9:16) versions for social media platforms. For display advertising, the medium rectangle (300x250) reaches most placements, with leaderboard (728x90) adding desktop coverage. Starting with core sizes and expanding based on campaign needs balances effort against flexibility.

Summary

Music ad creative requirements define technical specifications for images, videos, and text across advertising platforms. Meeting requirements ensures ads display correctly and pass platform review. Creating assets in multiple standard sizes enables broader placement options. Consulting current platform specifications before production prevents rejection-related delays.