Troubleshooting audiobook alerts in Spotify for Authors

If there's a problem with your audiobook, or we have information about how it was processed, you'll see an alert in Catalog. Alerts explain what happened and whether you need to take action.

Some alerts need action before your audiobook can be processed or made available.

Checking your alerts

When an audiobook has an alert, you'll see an alert indicator in Catalog and the number of affected titles.

Select the alert indicator or Alerts tab to review your alerts.

You can filter alerts by type or select Download alerts CSV to download a full list.

Select an alert to find:

• The affected file, if applicable
• When the alert was detected
• A description of what happened
• A suggested action
• View guidance for more help

You can also open an affected audiobook from Catalog to review its alerts.

Understanding alert types

There are 4 types of alerts. Each tells you what happened when we processed your audiobook.

Processing failed

The file wasn't processed and no audiobook data was created or updated.

Review the alert and follow the suggested action before submitting your changes again.

Availability issue

Key metadata is missing or invalid, which may affect your audiobook's availability or how it appears to listeners.

Review the alert and follow the suggested action to update the affected information.

Presentation issue

Non-key metadata is missing or invalid.

Your audiobook is still available, but reviewing these alerts may improve how it appears to listeners.

Additional information

This gives you additional details about how your audiobook was processed.

You may not need to take any action. Check the alert for more information.

Fixing audio file alerts

Audio file alerts can happen when a file is missing, corrupted, unsupported, or doesn't meet our requirements.

If you need to replace an audio file, open the audiobook in Catalog, select Edit, then go to Audio.

File is too small

The audio file may be corrupted, incomplete, or empty.

To fix it:

• Re-export the audio from your audio editing software
• Check that the file plays correctly before uploading it
• Replace the affected file in Spotify for Authors

File type doesn't match

The file extension doesn't match the actual audio format.

This can happen if you rename a file instead of converting it. For example, changing a WAV file extension to .mp3 doesn't convert it to an MP3.

To fix it:

• Export or convert the file using audio editing software
• Don't change the file extension manually
• Replace the affected file in Spotify for Authors

We accept MP3, WAV, and FLAC files.

File exceeds the maximum size

A single chapter file can't be longer than 2 hours.

To fix it:

• Split longer chapters into separate files, such as "Chapter 8" and "Chapter 8, continued"
• Upload the new chapter files

If you're using WAV files, converting them to MP3 or FLAC can also reduce the file size.

Missing audio file

An expected audio file is missing from your audiobook.

Check that:

• Every chapter has a separate audio file
• Opening credits and other front matter are included
• Closing credits and other back matter are included

Upload any missing files before submitting the audiobook again.

Unsupported audio format

The audio file isn't in a supported format or doesn't meet our audio requirements.

We accept:

• MP3 at 192 kbps or higher
• WAV at 44.1 kHz and 16-bit
• FLAC

Use the same mono or stereo configuration across all audio files.

Re-export the affected files in a supported format and replace them in Spotify for Authors.

Fixing metadata alerts

Metadata is information about your audiobook, such as its title, author, narrator, language, ISBN, pricing, and territories.

Metadata couldn't be processed

Some of your audiobook information couldn't be processed.

If you upload directly in Spotify for Authors, check that all required fields are complete and correctly formatted, including:

• Title
• Author
• Narrator
• Language
• ISBN
• BISAC category
• Territories
• Pricing

Update the affected fields and submit your changes again.

If you deliver through an ONIX feed or distributor, validate your metadata before redelivering it.

Metadata didn't pass validation

Your metadata was received but didn't meet one or more requirements.

Common causes include:

• Title and subtitle are too long
• Author, narrator, or publisher is missing
• ISBN is invalid
• BISAC category is invalid
• Required pricing is missing
• Pricing isn't in USD
• Description contains prohibited content

Check the alert for the affected fields, update them, and submit your changes again.

Invalid ISBN

The ISBN doesn't meet our requirements.

An audiobook ISBN must:

• Have 13 digits
• Start with 978 or 979
• Be unique to the audiobook edition

You can't reuse the ISBN from a print or ebook edition.

Note: You can't change an ISBN after submitting an audiobook. Contact Author Support if you need to change it.

Missing required field

Required audiobook information is missing.

Open the audiobook in Catalog, select Edit, and complete the missing fields.

If your audiobook doesn't have a credited author or narrator, use the publisher name instead.

Fixing pricing and territory alerts

Pricing and territory alerts can affect where your audiobook is available.

Missing publisher list price

A retail price is missing for one or more countries or regions.

Open the audiobook in Catalog, select Edit, and update the price in Metadata.

Prices must be entered in USD.

Territory mismatch

Your territory information is incomplete or contains conflicting information.

Review your territories when editing the audiobook.

Select WORLD if you have worldwide rights. If your rights are restricted, provide the countries or regions where you have the rights to distribute the audiobook.

Fixing release date alerts

Release date alerts can affect when your audiobook becomes available.

Missing publication or embargo date

Your audiobook doesn't have the required release date information.

If you upload directly in Spotify for Authors, open the audiobook in Catalog and select Edit. Check the Original release date and Strict onsale date, then submit your changes.

If you deliver through an ONIX feed or distributor, make sure your metadata includes the required publication or embargo date before redelivering it.

Fixing ONIX alerts

For: Publishers delivering audiobooks through an ONIX feed or distributor

Some alerts need to be addressed in your ONIX metadata rather than directly in Spotify for Authors. Learn more about Spotify Audiobook ONIX specification.

Missing product

We couldn't find a valid product record for the audiobook.

Check that your ONIX delivery includes complete product information and the correct audiobook ISBN, then redeliver it.

Unsupported notification type

We don't support ONIX partial updates.

Update your ONIX delivery to send a full product notification, then redeliver it.

Business model couldn't be determined

We couldn't determine how the audiobook should be sold from the sales rights in your ONIX metadata.

Review your sales rights and territory information, then redeliver the updated metadata.

Missing sale start date

Your ONIX metadata doesn't include a sale start date.

Add the required sale start date to your metadata, then redeliver it.

If you still need help

If you've followed the suggested action but still need help:

• Make sure you submitted the updated files or metadata
• Allow time for us to process your updated audiobook
• Check Alerts for the latest information
• Review the suggested action or select View guidance for more help

If you deliver through an ONIX feed or distributor, make sure you've redelivered any updated metadata.