cover Art Sites
This page outlines websites that MusicBrainz can use to retrieve cover art besides Amazon.
Amazon is the preferred and most common way of retrieving cover art via Amazon relationships.
However there are a number of times that cover art isn't available on Amazon, either due to customer-submitted images or to an absence of a release. Also Amazon does not stock a lot of indie music that other smaller retailers on the net sell.
In order for MusicBrainz to deep link (link directly to a JPEG file on someone else's site) for the purpose of displaying cover art MusicBrainz needs permission from the provider. Each provider should be contacted to ask for permission to deep link to their site, MusicBrainz should NOT link to a retailer if no permission has been granted.
For direction on adding cover art see how to add cover art.
Supported Web Sites
- Specific permissions for individual releases is tracked on the Permission For Artwork page.
Site | Example release | Cover URL | Contacted | Permission URL | Support in MB Server[1] |
AlbumArtExchange | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Alpinechic | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Apparement.fr (Georges Brassens discography) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission (via archive.org) | Yes (via archive.org) |
cake.ography (CAKE discography) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission (via archive.org) | Yes (via archive.org) |
CD Baby | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | Yes |
Ekleipsi | Example | Cover | Yes | permission (via archive.org) | Yes (via archive.org) |
Encyclopaedia Metallum | Example | Cover | Yes | permission (via archive.org) | Yes (via archive.org) |
Encyclopédisque (French 7") | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | Yes |
FiXT | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Internet Archive | Example | Cover | Yes | Granted (per meeting on 2009-12-08) | Yes |
Jamendo | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | Yes |
Lokpest (LOK discography) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission (via archive.org) | Yes (via archive.org) |
Magnatune | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | Yes |
Manj'Disc (French site focused on animated cartoons & series) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Modern Sky (摩登天空) (MB entry) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission (via archive.org) | Yes (via archive.org) |
Ozon.ru (large russian e-store) | Example | Cover | Yes | Affiliate, support included in 10/14/2007 release | Yes |
Painful Convictions (Nine Inch Nails fan site) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission (via archive.org) | Yes (via archive.org) |
Phantasma13.com | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Primordial Music | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Thåström (Joakim Thåström site) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | Yes |
Universal Poplab (Universal Poplab site) | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | Yes |
X-Line | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Zorch Factory Records | Example | Cover | Yes | permission | No |
Ruoak has said that links to art on an artist's own website may be linked to, but only if written permission to do so is requested and received from the artist or their representative. In such a case, that written permission must be published here in the wiki. -- BrianFreud [2007-05-10:4:33EST]
Using Archive.org's Wayback Machine
Linking to images in the Wayback machine is OK. You may link any type of album cover in the wayback machine, including bootlegs. However, if we receive a request to remove a link to a Wayback machine image from a copyright owner, we will comply and remove that link. If you believe that MusicBrainz violates your copyright by linking to a Wayback machine image, please see Copyright Violation Notice for details on how to report a copyright violation to MusicBrainz.
Proposed Web Sites
When adding a site, please include an example release and a direct link to its cover. Please also keep the list in alphabetical order.
Contact
This section should contain form letters that volunteers could use to ask for permission. Please volunteer to write such a letter!
References
Discussion on MB-Users: http://www.nabble.com/Proposal%3A-URL-based-cover-art-tf2817425s2885.html#a7863760