Depending on the task assignment, you may:

• Listen carefully to a song hosted on Audius.

• Transcribe lyrics exactly as heard.

• Review or validate existing lyric submissions.

• Check formatting and transcription accuracy against established standards.
  
  

Your role is to represent the performance faithfully. Do not interpret, rewrite, or improve the lyrics beyond what is present in the audio.

• Use headphones when possible to improve clarity.

• Work in an environment where you can listen without distractions.

• Be prepared to replay difficult sections multiple times.

• Follow all formatting rules carefully, even if they differ from typical lyric websites.

Accuracy Is Essential

Your transcription must match the audio exactly for all lyrical content.

Include:

• All sung lyrics

• Spoken phrases that are part of the performance
  Repeated sections that are clearly audible
  
  

Do not include:

• Instrumental sounds

• Sound effects

• Non-vocal audio elements
  
  

Transcribe Every Lyric Line

Write out every lyric line fully, even when repeated.

Correct:

I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree

Incorrect:

I’ll keep barking up the wrong tree
(Repeat 3x)

Repeated lyrics must always be written exactly as performed.

Formatting and Submission Rules

Consistency in formatting helps validation and improves dataset quality.

Capitalization Rules

• Treat each lyric line like a written sentence.

• Capitalize the first word of each line.

• Capitalize proper nouns, names, locations, and acronyms.

• Do not write entire lines in ALL CAPS.
  
  

Punctuation Guidelines

Use minimal punctuation.

• Do not add periods or commas at the end of lines.

• Question marks, exclamation points, and quotation marks are allowed when clearly expressed in the audio.

• Avoid repeated punctuation for emphasis.

• Punctuation inside a line is allowed when grammatically necessary.
  
  

Non-Word and Background Vocals

Non-word vocals such as “ooh,” “ah,” or “mmm” may be included if they meaningfully contribute to the song.

• Use parentheses for background vocals.

Correct:
(You're a black room boy)

Incorrect:
(door slamming)

Do not include environmental sounds or instrumental noises.

Special Cases and Additional Rules

Sampled or Mixed Content

If a track includes overlapping or sampled vocals containing clear lyrical content, include them in the transcription.

Do not transcribe:

• Purely instrumental samples

• Sound effects
  
  

Censored or Explicit Content

Explicit language should be transcribed exactly as heard.

If audio censors part of a word, replace missing letters with asterisks.

Example:

Audio: “I’m a f(break)r”
Lyrics: I’m a f****r

Do not censor or modify words unless the audio itself is censored.

Validator Expectations

Validators should focus on accuracy and adherence to formatting rules.

Check for:

• Exact matching between audio and transcription

• Missing or added words

• Proper handling of repeated lines

• Correct capitalization and punctuation
  
  

Validation prioritizes faithful transcription over stylistic preference. For a handy "Validator Cheat Sheet," click here.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using shorthand such as “repeat x2” instead of writing lyrics fully.

• Adding labels like “[Verse]” or “[Chorus]”.

• Including musical notation or structural commentary.

• Leaving out lightly sung or spoken words that are clearly audible.

• Guessing lyrics without careful listening.

Why These Rules Matter

Accurate lyric transcription ensures:

• Lyrics reflect the actual performance.

• Validation and review systems operate consistently.

• Data remains reliable for downstream workflows.

• Contributors are rewarded fairly for high-quality submissions.

Careful attention to these guidelines helps maintain consistency and trust across the platform.