User:Jacobbrett/Release Event Style: Difference between revisions

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{{Template:proposal
{{Status|This is a [[Proposed Style Guideline]] that should supersede [[Release Country Style]].}}
|proposal=43
|discussion=
|champion=Jacobbrett
|rfc=http://lists.musicbrainz.org/pipermail/musicbrainz-style/2010-March/009022.html
|rfv=
|status=RFC
|ar=
|style=true
|trac=2145
}}


A [[Release]] is a package/object you could buy in a store. A release contains one or more [[mediums|Medium]], which hold the audio data of the release. For example, a release may encompass a digital download (medium: "Digital Media 1") with liner note files, or a CD jewel case containing two CDs (mediums: "CD 1" and "CD 2") and a booklet.
A [[Release Event]] is the event when a [[Release]] is first sold on a market.
A Release Event consists of a [[Release Date|Date]], [[Release Country|Country]], [[Label]], [[Release Catalog Number|Catalog #]], [[Barcode]], and [[Release Format|Format]] field. Each of these fields are optional, though the more complete a release event is, the better. Please note that some independent/unsigned releases may not have a barcode, catalogue number or label.
A release in the MusicBrainz database also holds the following attributes: [[Release Date|Date]], [[Release Country|Country]], [[Label]], [[Catalog Number|Catalog #]], [[Barcode]], [[Next Generation Schema/Release Packaging|Packaging]], [[Release Type|Type]], [[Release Status|Status]], [[Release Language|Language]] and [[Release Script|Script]] field. Each attribute is optional, though the more complete a Release entry is, the better.


See also: '''[[User:Jacobbrett/How to Identify Release Details|How to Identify Release Details]]'''
A standard release event looks like the following:


==Identifying a Release in MusicBrainz==
[http://musicbrainz.org/release-group/ccca11eb-25ec-3063-9e26-1fcfbb5c4a0c.html Frances the Mute] by The Mars Volta
{|
! Release !! Format !! Tracks !! Date !! Country !! Label !! Catalog# !! Barcode
|-
| [http://musicbrainz.org/release/82d66789-3ca5-34bc-b9f3-0a08881f7ef4.html Frances the Mute] || CD || 12 || 2005-02-28 || Australia || '''[http://musicbrainz.org/label/590538e9-b183-4163-ab5a-171fb021ed12.html Universal Records]''' || 2103977 || 075021039773
|}


A release looks like the following:


[[Image:Ngs-release-page-frances-the-mute.png]]
==Release Date==
The '''[[Release Date]]''' describes the '''day on which the release was first sold in stores'''. This is ''not necessarily the production year'' (that one which you find on the sleeve as ''(p) 1979''). It can consist of a year only (1980), a month and a year (1980-03), or a specific day (1980-03-20).


==Release Country==
==Styling Release Attributes==
===Date===
The '''[[Release Country]]''' describes the '''country where the release hit the stores''' on that specific [[Release Date]]. It is ''not the country where the release was produced''. The country is optional (you can set it to "unknown country").
The '''[[Release Date|Date]]''' is formatted using the [[wikipedia:ISO_860|ISO 860]] standard ''YYYY-MM-DD''. It may consist of ''year'' only ("1980"), ''year'' and ''month'' ("1980-03"), or a specific day as ''year-month-day'' ("1980-03-20").


==Label==
===Country===
The '''[[Release Country|Country]]''' is the country in which a [[Release]] was sold from a certain [[Date]] onwards. The country list is based upon the [http://www.iso.org/iso/english_country_names_and_code_elements ISO 3166] standard "Country Names and Code Elements", and also the [[wikipedia:ISO 3166-3#Current codes|ISO 3166-3]] list of historical countries. In addition, the Country may be set to "[Unknown Country]", "[Worldwide]" or "Europe" (used when the specific European country is unknown).
The '''[[Label]]''' is either the firm who distributes the release in a certain region, or the rights holder.


{{Caution|indent=1|rindent=1|note=Note:|The [[Release Country|Country]] of an album is not necessarily the country in which it was produced. The label itself will typically be more relevant. eg, a release on "Foo Records UK" that has "Made in Austria" printed on it will likely be a UK release.}}
==Release Catalog Number==
The '''[[Release Catalog Number]]''' is the label's identification number of a certain release event.


==Barcode==
===Label===
The '''[[Label]]''' is usually an imprint found on the spine of a release (if more than one imprint is found, it may be appropriate to add them as separate labels(?)). A [[Label Code]] may also be used to identify the Release's Label. Several [[Special Purpose Label|Special Purpose Labels]] also exist, although '[http://musicbrainz.org/label/157afde4-4bf5-4039-8ad2-5a15acc85176.html <nowiki>[no label]</nowiki>]' is the only one which should be used. It is selectable from a [http://musicbrainz.org/browse/label list] that exists in MusicBrainz' database.
The '''[[Barcode]]''' is a machine-readable ID system used by retailers to easily identify and keep stock of items. '''It is usually an [[wikipedia:European Article Number|EAN]] or [[wikipedia:Universal Product Code|UPC]] number found on the back of a CD'''.


{{Caution|indent=1|rindent=1|note=Note:|If you are sure a label does not exist (sometimes under a similar name), enter a new [[Label Name]].}}
==Release Format==
The '''[[Release Format]]''' is a descriptor of the release's medium. Common examples include "CD", and "Vinyl" (currently used for all vinyl sizes).


===Catalog Number===
==Identifying Release Details==
The '''[[Release Catalog Number|Catalog Number]]''' is a usually alphanumeric code found on the back/spine of a physical release. It should be entered as close as possible to what is printed (this includes, for example, spaces " " hyphens "-", and dots "."). Multiple catalog numbers may be entered.
===Via CD liner===
Most CDs released by commercial labels will have some identifiable information on various parts of the cover and liner notes.
* The barcode is usually found on the back cover.
* The catalogue number is usually found on the back cover and spine of the case.
* Identifying the release country may be confirmed by copyright remarks such as "Marketed in '''Australia''' by '''Universal Music Australia''' under exclusive licence." The two previous bolded instances are likely give-aways of the release country.
* The label is usually identifiable on the back cover and spine. If there are two or more labels present, use the label that corresponds to the catalogue number (for example ''CDCBS 66012'' is obviously a catalogue number of CBS Records). This may be tricky if it is simply a string of numbers, it may help to lookup the release on both label websites for further clue.


===Barcode===
===Via label or discography websites===
The '''[[Barcode]]''' is usually an [[wikipedia:European Article Number|EAN]] or [[wikipedia:Universal Product Code|UPC]] number found on the back of a physical release. It should be entered as a number with no spaces.
* Official label websites may contain varying amounts of release event data depending on the website, and are considered a reliable source.
* Discography websites, such as [http://www.discogs.com/ Discogs], or even fan-sites that attempt to list details on every release by an artist are useful in checking data consistency.


{{Caution|indent=1|rindent=1|note=Note:|Some independent/unsigned releases may not have a Barcode, Catalog Number or Label, in which case, leave the respective field blank, though enter '[no label]' if there is no Label.}}
===Via barcode===
The release details may additionally be identified by looking up the release's EAN/UPC barcode via a search engine, finding a release of matching EAN on an Amazon domain, or using Luks' [[wikipedia:European Article Number|EAN]]/[[wikipedia:Universal Product Code|UPC]] [http://users.musicbrainz.org/~luks/ean.html barcode checker] (this last method is not always accurate, eg Frances the Mute uses the same barcode for the Australian, Canadian and European release, which comes up as "U.S. and Canada" in the barcode checker).
* This is usually an effective method of finding the release date for a particular release.


===Medium/Format===
==Details of the Release Country==
A Release may consist of one or more '''[[Next Generation Schema#Medium|Mediums]]'''. For each medium added, the '''[[Release Format|Format]]''' is selectable from a list. For example, a Release may consist of a single cassette, as a two-CD set, or in rarer cases as two CDs, plus a vinyl disc.


===Packaging===
The list of countries you can choose from is taken from [http://www.iso.org/iso/english_country_names_and_code_elements ISO 3166], which is a widely-used standard list of countries. Please do '''not''' use the release country to describe the country in which the release was produced, or from which the artist originates. For each country in which the release was issued, add a new release date, alongside the name of the country.
'''[[Next Generation Schema/Release Packaging|Packaging]]''' refers to the type of container a physical release was available in. The Packaging option selected should closely match the actual release, otherwise, select 'Other'. Or, if the release is digital, select nothing. It is selectable from a list.


===Composite Release Areas===
===Status===
A '''[[Release Status]]''' should be chosen, based upon it's status with the recording artist/label/other involved party. A Release Status may be 'Official', 'Promotion', 'Bootleg' or 'Pseudo-Release'. Descriptions of these Status' are available [[Release Status#List of possible Release Status|here]]. It is selectable from a list.
Not all record distributors stick to national boundaries when they define the regions in which they issue a release. Releases are often issued in more than one country at the same time. For example, some releases state that they are distributed in "Australasia" (presumably Australia and New Zealand) or the "Benelux" (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). In these cases it is OK to add one release, and simply choose one of the countries to represent the entire release area:
* Choose the Artist's country of origin. Shihad is a New Zealand band; if they release a release in Australasia, define the [[Release Country|ReleaseCountry]] as New Zealand.
* Where this information is unknown or ambiguous, choose the country with the largest sales.


===Fuzzy Release Areas===
===Language===
The '''[[Release Language|Language]]''' of a release describes the language that the [[Release Title|title]] and track list are entered in. The Language is selectable from a reduced [[wikipedia:ISO_639|ISO 639]] list of 20 languages.
[[MusicBrainz]] also has some fuzzy release areas:
<dl><dt>Unknown Country
<dd>To be used when you do not know the release country, but can add other information about the release event.
<dt>Worldwide
<dd>"Worldwide" is generally used for a release that has been released online on a certain date, available to the worldwide online population.
* It should not be used for releases through services such as iTunes and Napster, as they usually have multiple release dates on their online store which are country-dependant (usually corresponding with retail release dates).
* It should also be used where a global distributor does release in most of the world on the same date (which is extremely rare).
<dt>Europe
<dd>Trade within the European Union is so open that it can be really difficult to figure out in which European country a release was released.
* If a release cannot be pin-pointed to a particular country, use "Europe".
* "Europe" may be used if a release is released in a large proportion of the EU countries on the same date.
* Note that an album might, for example, have one release in the UK, followed by a second wider release that covers the whole of the EU, including the UK.
''Do not use this simply because it says "Produced in the EU" on your CD!''</dl>


{{Caution|indent=1|rindent=1|note=Note:|If several languages are used in the titles, choose the most common language. For releases where there's an equal mix of two or more languages and hence no obvious answer, '[Multiple languages]' may be the best choice. Though, keep in mind that it is quite common for languages to borrow words and phrases. For example, "Je ne sais quoi" in an English title does not make something multiple languages, nor do a few English words in a foreign language title.}}
===Historical Countries===
Historical countries (countries that may exist on the back of a release, but do not exist anymore) such as "Yugoslavia (historical, 1918-2003)" are also contained within the '''Release Country''' list.


===Script===
[[Category:Proposed Style]]
The '''[[Release Script|Script]]''' refers to the character set used (e.g. 'Latin') for the [Release Title|title]] and track list. It is selectable from a reduced list of 12 scripts. If either Language or Script are unknown, select 'I don't know' for each field respectively. The '''Show full lists''' button can be pressed to populate the Language and Script lists with more options.

{{Caution|indent=1|rindent=1|note=Note:|You may enter a Release a a Language/Script differing from what's printed on the Packaging/Medium(s) (this is known as [[Translation Transliteration Relationship Type|Transl*tion]]), though you should set the release status to [[Release Status#List of possible Release Status|Pseudo-Release]].}}

==Notes==
To be titled "Release Style"(?)
This proposal, when passed, should replace [[Release_Country_Style|Release Country Style]].

Latest revision as of 07:04, 21 October 2010


Status: This page describes an active style guideline proposal and is not official.



Proposal number: RFC-43
Champion: Jacobbrett
Current status: RFC

RFC

Trac ticket # 2145

A Release is a package/object you could buy in a store. A release contains one or more Medium, which hold the audio data of the release. For example, a release may encompass a digital download (medium: "Digital Media 1") with liner note files, or a CD jewel case containing two CDs (mediums: "CD 1" and "CD 2") and a booklet. A release in the MusicBrainz database also holds the following attributes: Date, Country, Label, Catalog #, Barcode, Packaging, Type, Status, Language and Script field. Each attribute is optional, though the more complete a Release entry is, the better.

See also: How to Identify Release Details

Identifying a Release in MusicBrainz

A release looks like the following:

Ngs-release-page-frances-the-mute.png

Styling Release Attributes

Date

The Date is formatted using the ISO 860 standard YYYY-MM-DD. It may consist of year only ("1980"), year and month ("1980-03"), or a specific day as year-month-day ("1980-03-20").

Country

The Country is the country in which a Release was sold from a certain Date onwards. The country list is based upon the ISO 3166 standard "Country Names and Code Elements", and also the ISO 3166-3 list of historical countries. In addition, the Country may be set to "[Unknown Country]", "[Worldwide]" or "Europe" (used when the specific European country is unknown).

Caution
Note:
The Country of an album is not necessarily the country in which it was produced. The label itself will typically be more relevant. eg, a release on "Foo Records UK" that has "Made in Austria" printed on it will likely be a UK release.

Label

The Label is usually an imprint found on the spine of a release (if more than one imprint is found, it may be appropriate to add them as separate labels(?)). A Label Code may also be used to identify the Release's Label. Several Special Purpose Labels also exist, although '[no label]' is the only one which should be used. It is selectable from a list that exists in MusicBrainz' database.

Caution
Note:
If you are sure a label does not exist (sometimes under a similar name), enter a new Label Name.

Catalog Number

The Catalog Number is a usually alphanumeric code found on the back/spine of a physical release. It should be entered as close as possible to what is printed (this includes, for example, spaces " " hyphens "-", and dots "."). Multiple catalog numbers may be entered.

Barcode

The Barcode is usually an EAN or UPC number found on the back of a physical release. It should be entered as a number with no spaces.

Caution
Note:
Some independent/unsigned releases may not have a Barcode, Catalog Number or Label, in which case, leave the respective field blank, though enter '[no label]' if there is no Label.

Medium/Format

A Release may consist of one or more Mediums. For each medium added, the Format is selectable from a list. For example, a Release may consist of a single cassette, as a two-CD set, or in rarer cases as two CDs, plus a vinyl disc.

Packaging

Packaging refers to the type of container a physical release was available in. The Packaging option selected should closely match the actual release, otherwise, select 'Other'. Or, if the release is digital, select nothing. It is selectable from a list.

Status

A Release Status should be chosen, based upon it's status with the recording artist/label/other involved party. A Release Status may be 'Official', 'Promotion', 'Bootleg' or 'Pseudo-Release'. Descriptions of these Status' are available here. It is selectable from a list.

Language

The Language of a release describes the language that the title and track list are entered in. The Language is selectable from a reduced ISO 639 list of 20 languages.

Caution
Note:
If several languages are used in the titles, choose the most common language. For releases where there's an equal mix of two or more languages and hence no obvious answer, '[Multiple languages]' may be the best choice. Though, keep in mind that it is quite common for languages to borrow words and phrases. For example, "Je ne sais quoi" in an English title does not make something multiple languages, nor do a few English words in a foreign language title.

Script

The Script refers to the character set used (e.g. 'Latin') for the [Release Title|title]] and track list. It is selectable from a reduced list of 12 scripts. If either Language or Script are unknown, select 'I don't know' for each field respectively. The Show full lists button can be pressed to populate the Language and Script lists with more options.

Caution
Note:
You may enter a Release a a Language/Script differing from what's printed on the Packaging/Medium(s) (this is known as Transl*tion), though you should set the release status to Pseudo-Release.

Notes

To be titled "Release Style"(?) This proposal, when passed, should replace Release Country Style.