User:Tommycrock/proposal/Release Group/Type/Compilation

Compilation

A compilation, for the purposes of the MusicBrainz database, covers the following types of releases:

• an anthology, which is defined as being a group of songs from various sources (not necessarily released) combined together as a "best of" or retrospective type release. The artist may still be producing material but a compilation is of previously produced (not current) material.
• a various artists song collection, usually based on a general theme ("Songs for Lovers"), a particular year ("Hits of 1998"), or some other kind of grouping ("Songs From the Movies", the "Café del Mar" series, etc).

The MusicBrainz project does not generally consider the following to be compilations:

• a reissue of an album, even if it includes bonus tracks.
• a tribute release containing covers of another artists work.
• a classical release containing new recordings of a classical artists work.
• a release containing two albums and/or EPs (these should be tagged as either an 'album' or an 'EP' depending on the circumstances).

Note that there is a certain amount of crossover within the definition of compilation and the other types of release, for example a various artists soundtrack could also be considered a compilation. In general, compilation should be superseded by other release attributes when required.