Backstage Creatives

The following article covers the following Frequently Asked Questions on Backstage Creatives

• FAQ
  • Where can I find my releases?  
  • I don’t like the automatically created assets, how can I change the design?  
  • How do I create a new asset?  
  • What is a Spotify Canvas, and why is it important to use?
  • What are the different elements in the left panel of the Creatives editor?  
  • How can I use my audio? 
  • How do I edit and download my creative using the Creatives editor? 
  • What is the “safe area” in the Creatives editor? 
  • How do I change the background of my creative in the Creatives editor?  
  • How do I upload and edit a video?  
  • How do I use a stock video in my media?
  • What are the rules for using Pexels videos?
  • How can I find the best stock videos for my music?
  • How do I change the length of my video in the editor? 
  • My creative download failed, what can I do?  

• Useful Documents
  • Video
  • Userguide
  • Tutorials

Take a closer look at how to use Backstage Creatives with Artist Resources.

FAQ

Where can I find my releases?  

The Promotion section is a reflection of your Backstage releases, filtered on digital releases, with a valid release date. If you don’t see a release, try to use the search bar on the top right of the page. 

I don’t like the automatically created assets, how can I change the design?  

Click on the creative you want to update; the Creatives editor opens up. Here you can choose another template or edit any element.

How do I create a new asset?  

Select a release from the hot release listing and check the automatically created assets. Click on the (+) icon from the Link space to create a new link, or from the Creatives space to create a new creative. Select “out soon” to create a teasing asset, or “out now” to create post-launch assets. Your selection will impact proposed elements on your creative.   

What is a Spotify Canvas and why is it important to use?

Spotify Canvas is a feature available on the Spotify music streaming platform. It allows artists to enhance their music with short looping videos or visuals that play alongside their songs on the Spotify mobile app. It's essentially a way to visually bring your music to life and create a more immersive listening experience for your audience.

Spotify Canvas videos are typically 3 to 8 seconds in length and play on a loop. They are displayed as a moving background behind the cover art of a song. The videos can be original content (e.g. an extract from your music video) or can be created using third-party content like our Stock videos (from Pexels).

The purpose of Spotify Canvas is to provide a visual element that complements the music, captures attention, and adds an extra layer of engagement. It can help artists connect with their audience on a deeper level and make their music stand out in the crowded streaming environment.

To upload a Spotify Canvas, you need to be part of the Spotify for Artists program and have access to the Canvas feature.

See :

• Spotify Canvas on the official website.
• Step-by-step guide to uploading your canvas.

What are the different elements in the left panel of the Creatives editor?   

Use the left panel to add and edit elements.  

• Design: to view and select a design template  
• Media: to upload images & videos to use on your creative. For labels, enter elements to the artist or label to find them across all releases of said artist or label 
• Text: add and edit texts  

How can I use my audio? 

Audio can be managed at the top right corner. Click on “Add audio” to view your track(s) and select the track you want to use.

It can take up to a few minutes to collect your audio the first time. If you don’t want to wait here, know you can leave and come back later. If it’s still not working after a few minutes, contact the customer support for help.

How do I edit and download my creative using the Creatives editor? 

To edit any existing element on the creative, simply click on it. When an element is selected, the left panel will change to the editing options available for this element.   

Use back and forth arrow to undo and redo the last actions.  

When you’re done, click on “Download” to export and download your creative. This can take a little while for videos, you can either wait here, or leave and download your creative later. Once the download is ready, an email with a direct download link will be sent to your contact email (manageable in Backstage’s default settings).

Note that once it has been generated, the next download will be much faster.  

What is the “safe area” in the Creatives editor? 

Activate the “safe area” display on the bottom left, to show where it’s safe to place elements. For example, Instagram displays elements on the top and bottom of stories, so avoid placing elements or they won’t be readable.  

How do I change the background of my creative in the Creatives editor?  

Click on the background to change it: select a background color or choose an image or a video.   

How do I upload and edit a video?  

To upload and edit a video, click on the creative itself to open the “Background” editor. Select “Image or Video” and click on “Select a media”. Select the video from the list of media you imported. When you select the video, you can choose the scale.   

How do I use a stock video in my media?

To use a stock video, click on the creative itself to open the “Background” editor. Select “Image or Video” and click on “Select a media”. The second tab “Stock library” will display stock videos from our partner Pexels. Search for any keyword, and click on the video to use it.

What are the rules for using Pexels videos?

By using Pexels videos, you accept their Terms & Conditions.

All videos can be downloaded and used for free. Here are some basic rules to follow when using Pexels content:

• Identifiable people may not appear in a bad light or in a way that is offensive. This includes, for example, portraying people pictured engaging in criminal activities, suffering from a medical ailment, or in a pornographic context.
• Don't sell unaltered copies of a photo, e.g. don't sell it as a stock photo, poster, print, or on a physical product without adding any value.
• Don't imply endorsement of your product by people or brands on the image.
• Don't redistribute or sell the photos on other stock photo or wallpaper platforms.
• Find more detailed information about using Pexels content here:

Pexels License: https://www.pexels.com/license/

Pexels Terms of Service: https://www.pexels.com/terms-of-service/

How can I find the best stock videos for my music?

To find stock videos that will feel personal, try the following keywords when searching:

1. Music: This keyword will help you find videos incorporating visual elements synchronizing with music, creating an immersive and engaging experience. Try searching keywords that talk about your music, like the instruments used, or what your lyrics are about to make it more personal.
2. Abstract art / Abstract shapes: This keyword can lead you to videos featuring geometric shapes, fluid animations, or artistic visuals, which can complement your cover art, especially when using templates with cover.
3. Colorful patterns: Look for videos featuring vibrant and eye-catching patterns that can add a visually striking element to your promotional assets. Try searching for your cover’s dominant colors to stay close to your artistic direction or try “black and white” or “analog sepia” for a vintage effect.
4. Neon lights: This keyword can help you discover videos with neon or vibrant lighting effects, creating a visually appealing atmosphere that complements your music.
5. Nature landscapes: If your music has a natural or organic feel, searching for videos with this keyword can lead you to footage of beautiful landscapes, forests, oceans, and other scenic environments.
6. Urban cityscape: For music with an urban or city-inspired theme, using this keyword can help you find videos showcasing city skylines, streets, and nightlife.

Don’t hesitate to combine several keywords to find videos that will feel close to your release.

How do I change the length of my video in the editor? 

If you are creating a video, manage the duration by clicking on the background. Play your video at any time by clicking on the play button.   

 

My creative download failed, what can I do?  

It can happen that our system fails and cannot render a creative.   

If this happens, you can try to:  

• Edit it on the editor and launch a new download   
• Wait a little while and try to launch a new download  
• If your creative is more than a minute long, try to shorten the duration and launch a new download  
• If you have many images and/or video on your creative, try removing some of them to launch a lighter download   

If none of this works, you can create a new creative. If this happens again, please contact your usual Believe contact so we can fix the issue.   

Useful documents

• Video

For an introduction to the Promotion section, you can watch the following video:  

• Userguide

Where you can find all the information you need:

• Tutorials