✔ Accuracy

• Do lyrics match the audio exactly?

• Are all sung or spoken lyrical parts included?

• Are repeated sections written fully each time?
  
  

Reject if:

• Words are added or missing.

• Lyrics are rewritten or interpreted.

• Repetitions are replaced with shorthand like “repeat x2”.
  
  

✔ Formatting

Check that:

• The first word of each line is capitalized.

• Proper nouns are capitalized correctly.

• Lines are not written in ALL CAPS.

• No unnecessary formatting or annotations are added.
  
  

Reject if:

• Labels such as “[Verse]”, “[Chorus]”, or structural notes are included.

• Musical notation or commentary is added.
  
  

✔ Punctuation

Rules:

• Minimal punctuation preferred.

• No periods or commas at the end of lines.

• Question marks or exclamation points are allowed only when clearly expressed in audio.

• Avoid excessive punctuation.
  
  

Reject if:

• Punctuation is added unnecessarily or inconsistently.

✔ Repetition Rules

Every repeated lyric must be written out fully.

Correct:

Line A
Line A
Line A

Incorrect:

Line A (repeat 3x)

✔ Background and Non-Word Vocals

Allowed:

• Meaningful background vocals in parentheses.

• Non-word vocals like “ooh” or “ah” if part of the performance.

Not allowed:

• Instrument sounds.

• Environmental noises.

✔ Explicit or Censored Content

• Explicit words should be transcribed exactly as heard.

• If audio censors part of a word, use asterisks to represent missing letters.

Example:

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

Common Rejection Reasons

• Missing repeated lines.

• Added structural labels or commentary.

• Guessing unclear lyrics instead of verifying.

• Over-formatting or inconsistent punctuation.

• Transcribing non-vocal audio elements.

Pro Validator Tips

• Listen to difficult sections twice before rejecting.

• Compare formatting across multiple lines for consistency.

• Prioritize faithful transcription over stylistic preference.

Use these examples to quickly compare correct and incorrect submissions. When validating, look for patterns rather than isolated mistakes.

Example 1: Repeated Lyrics

✔ 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

Why this works:

• Each repeated lyric is written fully.

• Matches the audio exactly.

• No shorthand or interpretation added.
  
  

❌ Incorrect

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

Why this fails:

• Uses shorthand instead of full transcription.

• Does not represent the audio verbatim.

Example 2: Formatting and Capitalization

✔ Correct

I remember walking through the city
You said you'd never leave me

Why this works:

• First word of each line capitalized.

• Natural sentence-style formatting.
  
  

❌ Incorrect

i remember walking through the city
YOU SAID YOU'D NEVER LEAVE ME

Why this fails:

• The first line is missing capitalization.

• The second line is written in ALL CAPS unnecessarily.
  
  

Example 3: Punctuation Usage

✔ Correct

Are you coming back
Or are you leaving now?

Why this works:

• Minimal punctuation.

• A question mark is used only where clearly expressed.

❌ Incorrect

Are you coming back...
Or are you leaving now!!!!

Why this fails:

• Excessive punctuation was added for emphasis.

• Not faithful to audio formatting.
  
  

Example 4: Background Vocals

✔ Correct

I walk alone tonight
(You're a black room boy)

Why this works:

• Background vocals included using parentheses.

• Represents meaningful vocal content.
  
  

❌ Incorrect

I walk alone tonight
(door slamming)

Why this fails:

• Includes non-vocal environmental sound.

Example 5: Explicit or Censored Content

✔ Correct

I’m a f****r

Why this works:

• Reflects censored audio accurately.

• Uses asterisks to represent missing letters.
  
  

❌ Incorrect

I’m a freaker

Why this fails:

• Alters the original audio content.

• Not a faithful transcription.
  
  

Validator Mindset

When reviewing submissions, ask:

• Does this match the audio exactly?

• Is formatting consistent with the guide?

• Are repeated lyrics written fully?

• Is punctuation minimal and accurate?

Focus on fidelity to the performance rather than stylistic preference.

Use this quick decision flow when reviewing submissions. The goal is to help you determine approval or rejection quickly while maintaining consistency across reviews.

Step 1: Does the transcription match the audio?

Ask:

• Are all sung or spoken lyrics included?

• Are words missing, added, or changed?
  
  

👉 If YES, continue.
👉 If NO, reject.

Step 2: Are repeated lyrics written fully?

Check:

• Are repeated lines transcribed individually?

• Is shorthand like “repeat x2” used?
  
  

👉 Fully written repetitions = continue.
👉 Shorthand repetition = reject.

Step 3: Does formatting follow the rules?

Look for:

• First word of each line capitalized.

• No ALL CAPS lines unless clearly required.

• No structural labels like “[Verse]” or “[Chorus].”
  
  

👉 Formatting matches guidelines = continue.
👉 Formatting deviations = reject.

Step 4: Is punctuation minimal and accurate?

Confirm:

• No unnecessary punctuation was added.

• Question marks or exclamation points only when clearly heard.

• No repeated punctuation for emphasis.
  
  

👉 Correct punctuation = continue.
👉 Excessive or incorrect punctuation = reject.

Step 5: Are background vocals handled correctly?

Check:

• Meaningful background vocals included in parentheses.

• No environmental sounds or instrumental descriptions were added.
  
  

👉 Correct handling = continue.
👉 Non-vocal elements included = reject.

Step 6: Final Decision

If all checks pass:

✅ Approve submission.

If one or more critical rules fail:

❌ Reject submission.

Validator Tip

When unsure, prioritize fidelity to the audio over stylistic preferences. The goal is accurate transcription, not interpretation.