History:Release Title Style

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In MusicBrainzTerminology, the release title is the entire text string representing the name of a Release. It is stored in the release title field.

This page deals with (a) the definition of different parts of ReleaseTitles and (b) the ordering of these parts.

These instructions stretch to apply to any genre of music, but please also see the classical-specific variation: ClassicalReleaseTitleStyle for ClassicalMusic.

Definition

Main Title
This is the major part of an ReleaseTitle, and is the main reference when talking about a work or a person. For example, in the title "100% Hits: The Best of 1998 (disc 1)", the bold part is the MainTitle.
Subtitle
This is a secondary part of an ReleaseTitle, usually containing extra information relevant to an release, or sometimes a second name or an extension of the MainTitle. Using the previous example, "100% Hits: The Best of 1998 (disc 1)" (the bold part is the SubTitle). Another example would be "Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix".
Volume Number
This is a special part of the title that defines where this release fits into a series of releases. Usually it takes the form "Volume x", but there may be other distinguishers used. For example "Greatest Hits of 1993, Volume 3" or New Wave, Number 1.
Volume Title
Sometimes a volume of a series has a title itself. A VolumeTitle is only allowed when the ReleaseTitle includes a VolumeNumber. An example is "Cornology, Volume 1: The Intro" by "The Bonzo Dog Band".
Box Number
This defines where this disc fits in a multi-box BoxSet. Releases with a BoxNumber also have a DiscNumber (see below). The form for this is "(box w, disc x)" or, for discs with a DiscTitle, "(box w, disc x: Disc Name)". See also BoxSetNameStyle and MultiDiscRelease.
Box Title
This defines titles that are applicable to one box of a multi-box BoxSet only, for example "Box_Set_Title (box 2: Box_Title, disc 1)" and "Box_Set_Title (box 1: Box_Title, disc 3: Album_Title)".
Disc Number
This defines where this disc fits in a MultiDiscRelease or BoxSet. The form for this is "(disc x)", or, for discs with a DiscTitle, "(disc x: Disc Name)". If a disc is a BonusDisc, use "(bonus disc)". See also BoxSetNameStyle and MultiDiscRelease.
Disc Title
This defines titles that are applicable to one disc of a MultiDiscRelease only, for example "To Venus and Back (disc 1: Orbiting)" and "To Venus and Back (disc 2: Live, Still Orbiting)" by "Tori Amos".
Featuring Artist
Featuring artists are added to the release title as follows: "Entrance to Exit (feat. Schizophrenia)". Classical release title style has more detailed guidance. Featured artists are important to distinguish different recordings of the same work, e.g. "(feat. cello: Yo-Yo Ma)" vs. "(feat. cello: Mstislav Rostropovich)".
Extra Title Information
Additional information on a Release that is not part of its Main Title, but required to make it distinguishable from different releases with the same Main Title, must be entered in parentheses after the Main Title. Reference Extra Title Information Style for more details.
Other information
All information not captured by the parts described above must be added to the ReleaseAnnotation. For example, if the title on purpose does not follow the CapitalizationStandard or if it is a remaster, add this to the annotation. Also, the old way of indicating a mix artist for an release by appending (Mixed by Artist Name) to the ReleaseTitle is not correct any more. This now must be done by adding a MixDJRelationshipType.

Ordering

The order of the parts of an ReleaseTitle is:

Parts between '[' and ']' indicate not all ReleaseTitles have them, but if they do, they must be added.

Note that for multiple releases on one disc MultipleTitleStyle applies.

Examples

  • "Abbey Road"
  • "Greatest Hits, Volume 2 (disc 2: The Sober Years)"
  • "Boom Boom (bonus disc)"
  • "Live at the Gorge 05/06 (box 2: 2006-07-22, disc 2)"
  • MultipleTitleStyle example: "Surfer Rosa / Come On Pilgrim"