Classical Music Metadata: Composers, Performers and Work Titles

Updated 2026-10-21 · 3 sources

Short answer

Classical releases follow different rules. Every track needs a composer at track level, and the composer is not a main artist unless they also perform. Soloists, ensembles and conductors are the main artists, with no Featuring or With roles. Album titles start with the composer, a colon and the works. Track titles carry the full work, key, catalog number and movement, formatted consistently.

Artists and composers

Spotify: at least one composer per track (Traditional or Anonymous if unknown); composers aren't main artists unless they performed; soloists, ensembles and conductors are main artists at track level [1].
Spotify calculates the product-level composer itself from composers present on 80% or more of the tracks [1].
Apple: main performers are Primary at album and track level; don't use Featuring or With; composers are never Primary unless they're the soloist, accompanist or conductor [2].
Apple: composer names in full, e.g. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart [2].
Spotify asks classical releases to think about roles such as conductors and orchestras [3].

Titles

Album: composer(s), colon, then the work titles, catalog numbers or type of works [2].
Keys are written like "C-Sharp Major" [2].
Opera tracks start with the opera name, then a colon, then the selection [2].
Arrangements note the instrumentation and credit the arranger at the end of the title [2].

Examples

Instead of	Use	Why
Symphony 3 - Eroica - 2nd mvt	Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica": II. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai	Apple track formatting example.
Main artist: Ludwig van Beethoven	Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven · Main: the orchestra and conductor	Composers aren't performers.

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FAQ

What genre should I use?

Apple asks for the Classical genre for Western classical music; Spotify says classical products must have classical as the genre, with sub-genres like Baroque or Choral allowed.

When is a classical album 'Various Artists'?

Apple's examples include Beethoven symphonies performed by several orchestras and conductors. See the compilation guide.

Related guides

Sources

Platform rules change. Each rule above is attributed to the company or standard that published it, as checked on 2026-10-21. This guide is not legal advice.