Essential Music Industry Glossary

Learn the terms that power today’s music business—from distribution and royalties to marketing, metadata, and more.

Music Distribution & Streaming

Aggregator

This is a company that distributes your music to DSPs like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.

Dashboard

Your central view to track streams, royalties, and analytics found in the platform that distributes your music.

DSP Algorithm

The algorithms used by streaming platforms analyze listener behavior, song metadata, and engagement to personalize music recommendations.

ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)

A track’s unique ID for royalties and tracking.

Metadata

This ensures your music is discoverable, properly attributed, and generates royalties for the right people. Each tag tells streaming platforms, fans, and royalty systems who you are and what you’ve created.

Link To

Why Metadata Matters: Get Paid, Found & Credited

Pre-Save

This is a promotional tool that lets fans save your upcoming release to their streaming library before its available online. When release day arrives, your track automatically appears in their playlists — boosting early engagement and visibility.

Smart Link

A shareable landing page with links to relevant information concerning the artist; be it streaming, merch, touring or press features.

Streamshare

This is the portion of overall streams on a DSP that your track accounts for within a specific time period.

Territory

Geographic area where music is distributed.

Waterfall Release

This is a release strategy where each new single is added to the same playlist or album as it’s released. This approach keeps previous tracks active, helping build momentum, boost cumulative streams, and maintain listener engagement over time.

Link To

What Is a Waterfall Release Strategy and When to Use It?

Watermarking

Invisible audio tags used to detect leaks or fraud.

Marketing & Promotion

Algorithmic Playlist

These are playlists generated by DSPs algorithms (like Spotify’s Discover Weekly or Release Radar), and can be entirely AI generated or partially editorial. Smart independent artists and record labels use both to boost discovery and engagement. Look for the 'Made For' tag on Spotify.

Call to Action (CTA)

A direct prompt that encourages fans to engage, like “Stream now,” “Pre-save today,” or “Join the mailing list.” Effective CTAs turn interest into measurable action.

Content Strategy

A roadmap for planning, creating, and distributing content that supports your music goals and brand story. It helps maintain consistency across social, email, and streaming platforms.

CRM Tool

Customer Relationship Management tool, used for sending communications to fans, be it emails, communications or direct messages via social platforms.

Editorial Playlist

A playlist curated by DSP editors or music teams (like Spotify’s Fresh Finds or Apple Music’s New Music Daily). Getting featured can boost streams, visibility, and discovery — but strong metadata and a compelling story are key.

Email List

A direct communication channel to your most loyal fans. Email helps promote new releases, tour dates, and exclusive offers without relying on social algorithms.

Fan Conversion

The process of turning casual listeners into loyal supporters who stream, share, and buy your music. It’s about nurturing long-term engagement and community.

Hashtag Campaign

A coordinated social media effort using specific hashtags to boost visibility, encourage fan participation, and grow organic reach.

Marketing Drivers

Key elements that amplify exposure — such as press coverage, collaborations, influencer support, or playlist placements — driving momentum around a release.

Playlist Pitch

The process of submitting your song to editorial or independent curators for playlist consideration. Strong metadata, timing, and storytelling increase your chances.

Rollout Plan

The timeline that maps out all marketing and promotional activities before, during, and after a release. A clear rollout builds anticipation and maximizes engagement.

UGC (User-Generated Content)

Fan-created videos, posts, or remixes featuring your music. Encouraging UGC increases organic reach and helps songs trend on social platforms.

Artist Development & Team Roles

A&R (Artists & Repertoire)

The department or person responsible for discovering talent, guiding creative development, and shaping an artist’s sound and strategy.

Artist & Label Services

Support solutions offering marketing, distribution, analytics, and royalty management tools for independent labels or self-releasing artists.

Booking Agent

Arranges live shows, tours, and festival appearances, negotiating performance fees and logistics on behalf of the artist.

Business Manager

Handles budgeting, accounting, taxes, and financial planning to ensure sustainable career growth.

Creative Director

Oversees an artist’s visual identity, including artwork, branding, and creative concepts for videos or campaigns.

Digital Service Provider (DSP)

Streaming platforms where listeners discover your music and you can earn royalties.

Link To

Data Integrations

Lawyer / Attorney

Provides advice and edits to any contracts that an artist may need to sign. Contracts could be record deals, publishing deals, shows or brand opportunities.

Manager

The central figure in an artist’s team who coordinates business deals, strategy, and day-to-day operations to grow the artist’s career. Most managers operate on a commission fee structure.

Publicist

Builds media relationships, secures press coverage, and manages public image across interviews, features, and announcements. Most publicists specialise their medium, so either online or print.

Radio plugger

Builds strategy around presenting new releases to relevant tastemakers at radio stations.

Contracts & Legal

Boilerplate

Standardized legal language found in most contracts that outlines general terms like liability, dispute resolution, and confidentiality. It forms the foundation of most music agreements.

Exclusivity

A clause that prevents an artist from working with other labels, distributors, or partners during the contract period. It ensures the company investing in the artist has exclusive rights to their output.

Option

A contractual right that allows a label or partner to extend the agreement or request additional releases. It gives flexibility to continue the relationship if the first project performs well.

Reversion Clause

A provision that returns ownership or control of rights to the artist after a specific time or condition is met, protecting long-term creative control.

Term

The active duration of a contract, defining how long the agreement remains in effect before renewal or termination.

Work for Hire

A legal arrangement where the person or company commissioning a project owns all rights to the finished work, not the individual creator. Common in production, design, and sync work.

Technical & Industry Codes

IPI Number

A global ID number assigned by PROs to identify songwriters and publishers for royalty distribution.

ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)

A unique identifier assigned to each sound recording, used to track plays and collect royalties worldwide.

ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code)

A unique identifier assigned to a composition (the underlying musical work). The ISWC links all contributors to a song — such as songwriters, composers, and publishers — and is used by PROs and publishing societies worldwide to track ownership and distribute publishing royalties.

SoundExchange

A U.S. organization that collects and distributes digital performance royalties for sound recordings from non-interactive streaming services.

SoundScan

Tracks music and video sales data across retail and digital platforms in the U.S., used for charting and market analysis.

UPC (Universal Product Code)

A barcode and digital ID used to track albums, EPs, and physical music products across stores and streaming platforms.

Fraud & Ethics

Artificial Streaming

Illegitimate plays generated by bots or click farms to inflate stream counts, violating DSP terms and risking takedowns.

Bots

Fake followers usually bought by users in order to make social media accounts appear more popular than they are.

Fraud Detection

Automated systems used by distributors and DSPs to identify suspicious activity and protect creators’ reputations and earnings.

Playlist Payola

The unethical or illegal practice of paying for playlist placements, which is prohibited by major streaming platforms.

Stream Farms

Operations that use fake accounts or devices to artificially boost play counts, leading to potential bans and royalty clawbacks.

Recording & Releases

Album Cycle

The complete process of bringing a project to life — from songwriting and recording to release, promotion, touring, and sometimes reissues. It represents the full marketing and creative lifespan of an album.

Demo

A rough or early recording used to present a song’s concept to labels, collaborators, or producers. Demos capture the essence of an idea before it’s professionally produced.

EP (Extended Play)

A shorter collection of 3–6 tracks that bridges the gap between a single and a full album. EPs are often used to introduce new artists, test creative directions, or maintain engagement between major releases.

Master Recording

The final, polished version of a track or project that’s ready for distribution. It’s the source from which all copies and streams are made — and typically owned by the label or artist, depending on the contract.

Master Use License

Legal permission to use a specific recording (the master) in visual media like film, TV, or advertising. This is separate from a sync license, which covers the underlying composition.

Release

The official launch of a song, EP, or album across digital or physical platforms. It includes the audio, metadata, and promotional assets that make the music accessible for streaming, download, or purchase. Strategic timing and marketing are key to maximizing its reach.

Single

A standalone track released to promote an artist, generate buzz, or build momentum before an album or EP. Singles often receive dedicated marketing, artwork, and playlist support.

Stem

Individual audio elements (like vocals, drums, or bass) exported separately from the full mix. Stems are used for remixes, live performances, or sync projects requiring customized mixes.

Tracklist

The curated order of songs in a release. Sequencing affects how listeners experience the music, shaping flow, storytelling, and emotional impact.

Publishing & Songwriting

Co-Publishing Deal

A partnership where the songwriter and publisher share ownership and income from a composition. It allows the songwriter to retain a larger share of royalties while the publisher manages licensing and administration.

Composition

The underlying musical work, including melody, harmony, and lyrics. It’s distinct from a sound recording and earns its own set of royalties.

Cue Sheet

A detailed log submitted to PROs that lists all songs used in visual media like films, TV, or ads. It ensures that composers and songwriters are properly credited and paid.

IPI Number

A unique identification number assigned to songwriters and publishers by PROs to track ownership and royalty payments worldwide.

Mechanical License

Grants permission to reproduce and distribute a composition, whether on physical formats or digital platforms like streaming and downloads. If you are a publisher, you need to register with the Harry Fox Agency to get paid your mechanical royalties.

PRO (Performing Rights Organization)

Collects and distributes performance royalties when music is played publicly — on radio, TV, live venues, or streaming services. Register with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC to get paid your performance royalties.

Publishing Administration

The management of a songwriter’s catalog, including registration, licensing, royalty collection, and global rights tracking.

Split Sheet

A written agreement that outlines the percentage of ownership each co-writer has in a song, helping prevent disputes over royalties later.

Sync Licensing

The legal permission required to use a song in visual media such as TV, film, ads, or games. It often involves a sync fee and performance royalties.

Work for Hire

A legal arrangement where the person or company commissioning a work owns all rights to it, rather than the individual who created it.

Royalties & Revenue

Advances

An upfront payment given to an artist, label, or rights holder before royalties are earned. It acts like a loan against future revenue — meaning the amount must be paid back (recouped) from future royalties before any additional payments are made.

Backend Royalties

Earnings paid to rights holders after a song is publicly used or performed, such as in TV shows, films, or commercials. These royalties are collected by performance rights organizations (PROs) and distributed to the songwriters, publishers, or artists once the usage is reported.

Link To

Music Royalties Explained for Independent Record Labels

Black Box Royalties

Unclaimed royalties held when ownership data is missing or incomplete. If not claimed in time, the funds are often redistributed to major rights holders or kept by collection societies.

Cross-Collateralization

A contract clause allowing a label or distributor to use revenue from one project to cover the costs or debts of another. This means earnings from a successful release can be applied to recoup losses from a different one before new royalties are paid out.

Mechanical Royalties

Payments earned whenever your music is reproduced, whether through digital downloads, streaming, or physical formats like vinyl and CDs.

Performance Royalties

Payments earned when the music is played or performed publicly like on radio, TV, live venues, or streaming platforms. These royalties are collected by performance rights organizations (PROs) and distributed to songwriters, composers, and publishers, ensuring these creators are compensated whenever their work is publicly broadcast or performed.

Recoupment

This is the process of paying back an advance or other expenses (like marketing, recording, or tour support) using future royalties. Until those costs are fully recovered, the artist doesn’t receive additional royalty payments.

Revenue Streams

All the ways artists make money (streaming, merch, sync, touring)

Royalty-Free

One-time payment, no ongoing royalties.

SoundExchange Royalties

Payments collected by SoundExchange for the digital performance of sound recordings on non-interactive platforms like Pandora, SiriusXM, and internet radio. These royalties are distributed directly to the featured artist, the rights owner, and the backing musicians.

Sync Fee

This is a one-time, upfront payment made when a song is licensed for use in visual media such as TV shows, films, advertisements, or video games. This fee compensates the rights holders for the synchronization of their music to visuals and is separate from backend royalties earned when the production is broadcast or streamed.

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