Release Title

Definition of all parts of a release title

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 MusicalGenre. See also the genre-specific variations: ClassicalReleaseTitleStyle for ClassicalMusic, etc.

Definition

MainTitle

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".

VolumeNumber

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.

VolumeTitle

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".

BoxNumber

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.

BoxTitle

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)".

DiscNumber

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.

DiscTitle

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".

FeaturingArtist

FeaturingArtists are added to the ReleaseTitle as follows: example: "Entrance to Exit (feat. Schizophrenia)". ClassicalReleaseTitleStyle has more detailed guidance, because FeaturedArtists are important to distinguishing different recordings of the same MusicalWork, e.g. "(feat. cello: Yo-Yo Ma)".

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:

• MainTitle [SubTitle(s)] [VolumeNumber [VolumeTitle]] [[BoxNumber [BoxTitle]] DiscNumber [DiscTitle]] [FeaturingArtist]

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"