Spotify Canvas and lyric videos: what fits where
These are two different things, and people often look for both at once. Here is what each one is for, and what Lyriclip can and cannot do for you.
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What a Canvas is
A Canvas is the short looping visual behind a track in the Spotify app. Spotify's guidelines describe a vertical 9:16 loop of 3 to 8 seconds. They also advise against footage of talking or singing, because a loop that short will not stay in sync with the lyrics. Lyrics on a Canvas are therefore a poor fit, even where they are technically possible.
What a lyric video is
A lyric video runs for the whole song, with the words following the singing. It lives where people watch: YouTube, your website, a screen at a show.
Side by side
- Length: a Canvas is 3 to 8 seconds, and a lyric video is the full song.
- Shape: a Canvas is vertical, and a lyric video is usually widescreen.
- Place: a Canvas plays inside Spotify, and a lyric video goes on YouTube and anywhere else.
- Purpose: a Canvas sets a mood, and a lyric video gets the words across.
What Lyriclip makes
Lyriclip does not make a Canvas. It makes one 16:9 widescreen lyric video in 1080p. For a Canvas, use a short vertical loop made for that purpose, and read Spotify for Artists for the current rules.
Questions
Can I upload a Lyriclip video as a Canvas?
No. It is the wrong shape and much too long. A Canvas has to be a vertical 3 to 8 second loop.
Do I need both?
They do different jobs, so many artists use both. A lyric video is the one that helps listeners learn the words.
Can I put a lyric video on Spotify?
Spotify has its own rules for video and it changes them. Check Spotify for Artists. YouTube is the usual home for a lyric video.
See also: How to make a lyric video | Lyric video sizes and formats | Lyric video for a Spotify release | Lyric videos and short vertical clips | Lyric video for YouTube | Guides | Samples | Pricing | How it works | Lyriclip