User:Tommycrock/proposal/Release Group/Primary Type: Difference between revisions

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(redefine album and single)
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'''''This is just a proposal for now'''''
{{DocumentationHeader|ReleaseGroup|Terminology}}


==Description==
==Description==


The type of a [[Release Group|release group]] describes what ''kind'' of release group it is. It is divided in two: a release group can have a primary (main) type and an unspecified number of extra types.
The type of a [[Release Group|release group]] describes what ''kind'' of release group it is (e.g. single, compilation album). It is divided in two: a release group can have a main (primary) type and an unspecified number of extra (secondary) types.


==Primary types==
==Primary types==
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===Album===
===Album===


An album is perhaps better defined as a "Long Play" (LP) release. Typically albums have more than 25 minutes of play time (often much more), and more than four tracks, though this will not always be the case. If the release group is fairly long and not a single, EP or broadcast, it is probably an album.
An album is perhaps better defined as a "Long Play" (LP) release. Typically albums have more than 25 minutes of play time (often much more), and more than four tracks, though this will not always be the case. If the release group is fairly long and not a single, EP or broadcast, it is probably an album. When used without secondary types, an album is usually an original full-length studio release.


===Single===
===Single===


A single typically has one main song and possibly a handful of additional tracks or remixes of the main track. The single is usually named after its main song. There are also sometimes longer versions of a single (in some cases longer than the release the single comes from!) but as it's all alternate versions of the same 2-3 songs it is still classified as a single.
A single typically has one main song and possibly a handful of additional tracks or alternative versions of the main track. The single is usually named after its main song. There are also sometimes longer versions of a single (in some cases longer than the release the single comes from!) but as it's all alternative versions of the same 2-3 songs it is still classified as a single.


There are other variations of the single, including a "double A-side" single, where two songs are given equal prominence. There is also a "split single" where songs by two different artists are released on the one disc, typically vinyl. In both these cases the single is usually named after the two main songs. The term "B-Side" comes from the era when singles were released on 7 inch (or sometimes 12 inch) vinyl with a song on each side, and so side A is the track that the single is named for, and the other side - side B - would contain a bonus song, or sometimes even the same song.
There are other variations of the single, including a "double A-side" single, where two songs are given equal prominence. There is also a "split single" where songs by two different artists are released on the one disc, typically vinyl. In both these cases the single is usually named after the two main songs. The term "B-Side" comes from the era when singles were released on 7 inch (or sometimes 12 inch) vinyl with a song on each side, and so side A is the track that the single is named for, and the other side - side B - would contain a bonus song, or sometimes even the same song.
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===EP===
===EP===


An EP is a so-called "Extended Play" release and often contains the letters EP in the title. Generally an EP will be shorter than a full length release (an LP or "Long Play") and the tracks are usually exclusive to the EP, in other words the tracks don't come from a previously issued release. EP is fairly difficult to define; usually it should only be assumed that a release is an EP if the artist defines it as such.
An EP is a so-called "Extended Play" release and often contains the letters EP in the title. Generally an EP will be shorter than a full length release (an album or "Long Play") and the tracks are usually exclusive to the EP, in other words the tracks don't come from a previously issued release. EP is fairly difficult to define; usually it should only be assumed that a release is an EP if the artist defines it as such.


===Broadcast===
===Broadcast===
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[[Category:Documentation]] [[Category:Release]] [[Category:WikiDocs Page]]
[[Category:Documentation]] [[Category:Release]]

Latest revision as of 20:32, 26 May 2015

This is just a proposal for now

Description

The type of a release group describes what kind of release group it is (e.g. single, compilation album). It is divided in two: a release group can have a main (primary) type and an unspecified number of extra (secondary) types.

Primary types

Album

An album is perhaps better defined as a "Long Play" (LP) release. Typically albums have more than 25 minutes of play time (often much more), and more than four tracks, though this will not always be the case. If the release group is fairly long and not a single, EP or broadcast, it is probably an album. When used without secondary types, an album is usually an original full-length studio release.

Single

A single typically has one main song and possibly a handful of additional tracks or alternative versions of the main track. The single is usually named after its main song. There are also sometimes longer versions of a single (in some cases longer than the release the single comes from!) but as it's all alternative versions of the same 2-3 songs it is still classified as a single.

There are other variations of the single, including a "double A-side" single, where two songs are given equal prominence. There is also a "split single" where songs by two different artists are released on the one disc, typically vinyl. In both these cases the single is usually named after the two main songs. The term "B-Side" comes from the era when singles were released on 7 inch (or sometimes 12 inch) vinyl with a song on each side, and so side A is the track that the single is named for, and the other side - side B - would contain a bonus song, or sometimes even the same song.

EP

An EP is a so-called "Extended Play" release and often contains the letters EP in the title. Generally an EP will be shorter than a full length release (an album or "Long Play") and the tracks are usually exclusive to the EP, in other words the tracks don't come from a previously issued release. EP is fairly difficult to define; usually it should only be assumed that a release is an EP if the artist defines it as such.

Broadcast

An episodic release that was originally broadcast via radio, television, or the Internet, including podcasts.

Other

Any release that does not fit or can't decisively be placed in any of the categories above.