Genre Support

Scoring adapts to your genre.

HEARD supports 16 primary genre categories. Scoring criteria change based on the type of music submitted — instrumental, electronic, spoken word, and experimental tracks are not forced into vocal and lyric scoring models designed for song-based pop and hip-hop.

Audio is required for music reviews. Some interview types do not require audio at all.

16

Primary Genres

8

Scoring Rubrics

84+

Subgenres

6

Audio-Optional Interview Types

How Genre-Aware Scoring Works

Standard (Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, etc.)

ProductionVocalsLyricsStructureReplay ValueGenre Fit

Instrumental

ProductionArrangementSound DesignStructureEmotional ImpactReplay Value

Electronic / Dance

ProductionEnergySound DesignArrangementMovement / Drop ImpactReplay Value

Spoken Word

WritingDeliveryClarityThemePerformanceImpact

Jazz / Funk

MusicianshipGrooveArrangementImprovisation / ExpressionProductionReplay Value

Lo-fi / Experimental

TextureMoodSound DesignArrangementOriginalityReplay Value

What HEARD does not do

  • Does not invent lyrics, ISRCs, producer names, or artist facts when they are not submitted.
  • Does not penalize instrumental or electronic tracks for missing vocals or lyrics.
  • Does not claim all genres are perfectly supported — edge cases within genres may still have limitations.
  • Does not run batch or catalog-wide analysis automatically.
  • Missing information stays marked as missing, not filled in.

Interview Studio

Some interview types do not require audio.

Interview workflows focused on story, identity, visuals, press, and background can proceed without an uploaded track. Audio is required for song-specific interviews.

Artist Introduction — audio optional
Artist Background — audio optional
Visual Identity / Style — audio optional
Press Profile — audio optional
Project Overview — audio optional
Brand Story — audio optional
Start an Interview

All Supported Genres

(16 primary categories)

Subgenres are optional and can be entered as free text. Custom entries are accepted.

Hip-Hop / Rap

Trap, Boom Bap, Drill, Cloud Rap…

Standard rubric

R&B / Soul

Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B, Classic Soul, Alternative R&B…

Standard rubric

Pop

Indie Pop, Synth-Pop, Art Pop, Dream Pop…

Standard rubric

Rock / Alternative

Indie Rock, Post-Punk, Shoegaze, Grunge…

Rock / Alternative rubric

Electronic / Dance

House, Techno, Drum & Bass, Dubstep…

Electronic / Dance rubric
Lyric scoring optional

Afrobeat / Afropop

Afrobeats, Highlife, Amapiano, Fuji…

Standard rubric

Reggae / Dancehall

Roots Reggae, Dancehall, Dub, Lovers Rock

Electronic / Dance rubric
Lyric scoring optional

Latin / Reggaeton

Reggaeton, Cumbia, Salsa, Bachata…

Standard rubric

Country

Americana, Country Pop, Outlaw Country, Alt-Country…

Standard rubric

Gospel / Christian

Contemporary Gospel, Traditional Gospel, CCM, Worship…

Gospel / Christian rubric

Jazz / Funk

Contemporary Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Nu Jazz, Funk…

Jazz / Funk rubric
Lyric scoring optional

Lo-fi

Lo-fi Hip-Hop, Lo-fi Pop, Chillhop, Lo-fi Ambient

Lo-fi / Experimental rubric
Lyric scoring optionalVocal scoring optional

Instrumental

Classical Crossover, Cinematic, Guitar Instrumental, Piano Instrumental

Instrumental rubric
Lyric scoring optionalVocal scoring optional

Spoken Word

Slam Poetry, Spoken Word Hip-Hop, Narrative Poetry, Storytelling

Spoken Word rubric

Experimental

Noise, Avant-Garde, Sound Art, Glitch…

Lo-fi / Experimental rubric
Lyric scoring optionalVocal scoring optional

Other

Standard rubric