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Vevo Video & Thumbnail Specifications

Vevo Video & Thumbnail Specifications | P Tune Studio

To ensure your music videos go live smoothly on Vevo, it’s important to prepare your files exactly to their technical standards. Below is a clear breakdown of the required specifications for both thumbnails and video files, along with Vevo’s best-practice guidelines.
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Thumbnails are subject to YouTube’s specifications and guidelines, more on this can be found here: Video thumbnails – YouTube Help (google.com)

Vevo Thumbnail Requirements

File Naming Rules

Avoid using spaces or special characters before the file extension.
Do not use characters such as:
: ! # , @ $ % ? “ ‘ & *

Thumbnail Specifications

  • File Format: .jpg or .png
  • Minimum Dimensions: 1280 × 720 pixels
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Since Vevo thumbnails display on YouTube as well, make sure they follow YouTube’s general thumbnail guidelines.

Vevo HD Video Specifications

Resolution

  • Required: 1920 × 1080 (Full HD)
  • Preferred Aspect Ratios: 16:9 or 4:3
    Alternative ratios may cause stretching, scaling, or letterboxing.

Frame Rate

  • Minimum: 29.97 fps
  • Recommended: Higher frame rates always preferable

File Format

  • .mov or .mp4

Compression

  • H.264 codec (required)

Advanced Video Recommendations

  • Bitrate:
    • Minimum: 24 Mbps
    • Maximum: 50 Mbps
  • De-interlaced content only (no interlacing)
  • Multi-pass encoding: Recommended
  • Export using: Compressor or QuickTime
  • Avoid any editing artefacts such as edit lists or zero offsets
  • Do NOT send anamorphic videos
  • All pixel and display aspect ratios must match
  • Do not include:
    • Opening/ending slates
    • Bars or tones
    • Title cards
    • Black screens with text

Audio Specifications

  • Format: AAC
  • Channels: Stereo (L/R)
  • Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
  • Bitrate: 320 kbps (CBR)

Vevo Content Best Practices

Vevo aims to maintain a premium, evergreen music video experience. Any content that violates their standards may be rejected or removed without notice.

They may reject content if it:

  • Fails technical requirements
  • Reduces the premium viewer experience
  • Violates Vevo’s guidelines
  • Violates YouTube’s Terms of Service

Scrolling credits are allowed if they are integrated tastefully with visuals and music.
Plain text on a black screen is not accepted.

Vevo Specifications

Promo Material Allowed by Vevo

These items are acceptable ONLY at the end of your video (max 3 seconds total if combined):

  • Hashtags
  • Album or single packshots
  • Cover art
  • Management or label logos (if included within the 3-second limit)

Packshots are acceptable throughout audio-only videos.


Cover art at the end of your video SHOULD NOT contain

Dates of releases or tours. URLs, Twitter Handles, Instagram Handles.Digital/physical retail or DSP callouts/buttons.

Production Company, Label, Artist Management, Charitable Foundation Logos

  • Can display at the end of the video for no more than 3 seconds (if combined with other promo items, the total display time for all promo items should not exceed 3 seconds)

L3s are acceptable for Non-Official content (BTS, webisode, live, studio etc.)

Vevo Restrictions

Promo Materials NOT Accepted by Vevo

Vevo will NOT accept:

Katy Perry Image showing an advertisement style.
  • Opening slates/cards
  • End slates longer than 3 seconds
  • Burned-in logos
  • Any branding that resembles advertising
  • Chyrons or lower thirds
  • Dates, months, years
  • URLs, Instagram, Twitter handles
  • “Buy/Stream Now” DSP buttons
  • End cards designed for YouTube annotations

Examples of disallowed content include ads, product endorsements, or promotional graphics.

Need Help?

If you have any questions about Vevo video or thumbnail requirements, our P Tune Studio support team is always available.
Just open the live chat on our website and we’ll guide you through the process.

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