diff --git a/api/src/app/services/book.service.ts b/api/src/app/services/book.service.ts
index 638d302..5fcf34c 100644
--- a/api/src/app/services/book.service.ts
+++ b/api/src/app/services/book.service.ts
@@ -36,10 +36,6 @@ export class BookService {
     if (!validateStringLength(data.notes, MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES)) {
       throw new Error(`Notes must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES} characters or less.`);
     }
-    if (!validateStringLength(data.coverImage, MAX_LENGTHS.URL)) {
-      throw new Error(`Cover image URL must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.URL} characters or less.`);
-    }
-
     // Validate rating
     if (!validateRating(data.rating)) {
       throw new Error("Rating must be an integer between 0 and 10.");
@@ -47,7 +43,11 @@ export class BookService {
 
     if (data.coverImage) {
       if (data.coverImage.startsWith("data:")) {
-        const sizeInBytes = data.coverImage.length * 0.75;
+        const base64Data = data.coverImage.split(",")[1];
+        if (!base64Data) {
+          throw new Error("Invalid image data URL format.");
+        }
+        const sizeInBytes = base64Data.length * 0.75;
         if (sizeInBytes > MAX_LENGTHS.DATA_URL) {
           throw new Error("Cover image must be under 5MB.");
         }
diff --git a/api/src/app/services/manga.service.ts b/api/src/app/services/manga.service.ts
index 1fa19b5..40beb10 100644
--- a/api/src/app/services/manga.service.ts
+++ b/api/src/app/services/manga.service.ts
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ export class MangaService {
     if (!validateStringLength(data.notes, MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES)) {
       throw new Error(`Notes must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES} characters or less.`);
     }
-    if (!validateStringLength(data.coverImage, MAX_LENGTHS.URL)) {
-      throw new Error(`Cover image URL must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.URL} characters or less.`);
-    }
-
     // Validate rating
     if (!validateRating(data.rating)) {
       throw new Error("Rating must be an integer between 0 and 10.");
@@ -45,7 +41,11 @@ export class MangaService {
     // Validate cover image URL
     if (data.coverImage) {
       if (data.coverImage.startsWith("data:")) {
-        const sizeInBytes = data.coverImage.length * 0.75;
+        const base64Data = data.coverImage.split(",")[1];
+        if (!base64Data) {
+          throw new Error("Invalid image data URL format.");
+        }
+        const sizeInBytes = base64Data.length * 0.75;
         if (sizeInBytes > MAX_LENGTHS.DATA_URL) {
           throw new Error("Cover image must be under 5MB.");
         }
diff --git a/api/src/app/services/music.service.ts b/api/src/app/services/music.service.ts
index c0480d8..0652c0b 100644
--- a/api/src/app/services/music.service.ts
+++ b/api/src/app/services/music.service.ts
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ export class MusicService {
     if (!validateStringLength(data.notes, MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES)) {
       throw new Error(`Notes must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES} characters or less.`);
     }
-    if (!validateStringLength(data.coverArt, MAX_LENGTHS.URL)) {
-      throw new Error(`Cover art URL must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.URL} characters or less.`);
-    }
-
     // Validate rating
     if (data.rating !== undefined && !validateRating(data.rating)) {
       throw new Error("Rating must be an integer between 0 and 10.");
@@ -45,7 +41,11 @@ export class MusicService {
     // Validate cover art URL
     if (data.coverArt) {
       if (data.coverArt.startsWith("data:")) {
-        const sizeInBytes = data.coverArt.length * 0.75;
+        const base64Data = data.coverArt.split(",")[1];
+        if (!base64Data) {
+          throw new Error("Invalid image data URL format.");
+        }
+        const sizeInBytes = base64Data.length * 0.75;
         if (sizeInBytes > MAX_LENGTHS.DATA_URL) {
           throw new Error("Cover image must be under 5MB.");
         }
diff --git a/api/src/app/services/show.service.ts b/api/src/app/services/show.service.ts
index cda0ec9..5d5aed9 100644
--- a/api/src/app/services/show.service.ts
+++ b/api/src/app/services/show.service.ts
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@ export class ShowService {
     if (!validateStringLength(data.notes, MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES)) {
       throw new Error(`Notes must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.NOTES} characters or less.`);
     }
-    if (!validateStringLength(data.coverImage, MAX_LENGTHS.URL)) {
-      throw new Error(`Cover image URL must be ${MAX_LENGTHS.URL} characters or less.`);
-    }
-
     // Validate rating
     if (!validateRating(data.rating)) {
       throw new Error("Rating must be an integer between 0 and 10.");
@@ -42,7 +38,11 @@ export class ShowService {
     // Validate cover image URL
     if (data.coverImage) {
       if (data.coverImage.startsWith("data:")) {
-        const sizeInBytes = data.coverImage.length * 0.75;
+        const base64Data = data.coverImage.split(",")[1];
+        if (!base64Data) {
+          throw new Error("Invalid image data URL format.");
+        }
+        const sizeInBytes = base64Data.length * 0.75;
         if (sizeInBytes > MAX_LENGTHS.DATA_URL) {
           throw new Error("Cover image must be under 5MB.");
         }