Genres and subgenres
What the primary and secondary genre are, how the list is organized, and why the genre you pick changes which platforms are available.
In the first step of the release you choose its primary genre and, if you want, a secondary genre. Genre isn't just a label: it affects how your music is classified and which platforms you can distribute it to.
Primary genre and secondary genre
- Primary genre — required. Choose the one that best describes the release.
- Secondary genre (optional) — a second genre from the same list. It must be different from the primary.
In UXEM, the "secondary" isn't a subcategory of the primary: it's a second choice from the same list, to add nuance to the style.
What the genre list is like
It's a single list where each entry can be:
- a broad genre: Pop, Rock, Electronic, Hip-Hop…
- or a specific style, written as Genre / Style: Electronic / Deep House, Alternative / Indie Pop, Classical / Piano.
Choose the most precise entry that genuinely describes your music. If you're torn between broad and specific, broad is safer.
Genre affects which platforms are available
When you choose the genre, the wizard automatically adjusts the platform selection: it keeps only the ones that support that genre.
- If you add a secondary genre, a platform must support both to stay available.
- A very niche style as the secondary can shrink your platform list considerably.
That's why it's best to set the genre before reviewing the platforms.
Choosing the genre well
- Use the genre a listener would assign to the song, not the one you'd like it to have.
- Put the most representative one as the primary; keep the secondary for a real nuance, not to "cover more ground".
- Don't force a genre just to appear on more platforms.
- For an EP or album with varied styles, choose the genre that dominates the whole.
The artist's genre is separate
The artist profile has its own primary genre. It's independent of each release's genre and doesn't have to match.
Changing it later
The genre is set in the first step and can be edited while the release is in Draft or Requires changes.
Keep in mind that changing the genre re-filters the compatible platforms, so review the platform selection after touching it. On a release that's already distributed, the change goes through a new review.
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