Artist’s Name Formatting and Spelling

This article is a part of Believe's Audio Content Guidelines.

The standard, full artist’s name and proper spelling should be used in the artist’s name field. Artist’s name spelling must remain consistent throughout the track list and the database. When a single artist is present on all tracks of a release, list that artist on the album level as well.

Use only the name indicated on the official artist’s page in social media and/or official Internet ressources (i.e. Wikipedia, Discogs, etc.).

List artist’s name only in artist’s field, don’t list it in album or track titles followed by dash (i.e. track title “Guns n’ Roses – Sweet Child o’ Mine” is not accepted).

There are three types of artist names:

• Personal Names. Artists using personal names, instead of stage names or pseudonyms, should always be listed in the native name order. Native name order is defined by grammar rules of a language (i.e. artist’s name in English should be listed as “First_Name Last_Name”, when artist’s name in Chinese should be listed as “Last_Name First_Name”).
• Stage Names / Pseudonyms. There are no restrictions on artists’ stage names, they must be listed in the fashion dictated by the artist (on condition they comply to the present rules) . Note that if a stage name or pseudonym is explicit the album must be tagged as explicit as well.
• Bands / Collectives. List only the name of band / collective in the artist’s field. Do not list individual members of the band in the main artist field. In cases when a main artist performs with an accompanying band, list only the main artist.