Glossary of Terms

Getting you up to speed on the essential music industry terms you need to know!

Music Industry Glossary | Equalizer Consulting

Music terminology can be a language of its own, and can sometimes seem overwhelming when navigating the industry. Use this resource to help you break down some of the terminology you might encounter when looking at music data and rights.

360 Deal
A recording contract in which the record label takes a percentage of revenue from all of an artist's income streams - including touring, merchandise, endorsements, and publishing - in addition to recorded music. Named for the full circle of an artist's revenue.
A&R (Artists and Repertoire)
The division of a record label or music publisher responsible for talent scouting, artist development, and overseeing the creative process of recording.
Advance
A sum of money paid to an artist or songwriter by a label or publisher before any royalties are earned. Advances are generally recoupable - meaning the label or publisher recoups the advance from the artist's future royalties before the artist begins receiving payments. See also: Recoupment
Algorithmic Playlist
A playlist generated by a streaming platform's recommendation engine based on listener behavior, preferences, and usage patterns. See also: Editorial Playlist
Audience Demographics
Characteristics that identify a group of people, generally used to define those who consume a product or engage with content. These characteristics can include age, gender, location, genre, occupation, etc.
Black Box Royalties
Royalties collected by Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) or rights societies that cannot be distributed because the rightful owner has not been identified or located. These funds are held in a "black box" for a set period before being redistributed to other rights holders, usually based on market share. Incomplete or inaccurate metadata is one of the leading causes of black box royalties.
Blanket License
Grants a user, such as a streaming service or business, access to a rightsowner's entire catalog.
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
The measure of a song's tempo, expressed as the number of beats occurring in one minute.
Catalog Number
A unique identifier created internally by record labels, distributors, or independent artists to organize and sort the music in a catalog of work.
CMO (Collective Management Organization)
An entity that manages the rights of creators and rights owners by negotiating and granting licenses, monitoring usage, collecting royalties, and distributing payments to the appropriate rights owners.
Composition
An original piece of music that combines melody, harmony, and rhythm, which may include vocals and instrumentation. Can also describe the process of writing and creating a song and its underlying instrumentation. See also: Musical Work
Compulsory License
A statutory license that allows anyone to record and release a cover version of a previously published musical work without negotiating directly with the copyright owner, provided they pay the legally established mechanical royalty rate. Compulsory licenses are governed by Section 115 of the U.S. Copyright Act.
Content ID
YouTube's automated system for identifying copyrighted music in user-uploaded videos. Rights holders submit their recordings to YouTube's Content ID database; when a match is detected in a user's video, the rights holder can choose to monetize, track, or block the content.
Copyright
A form of legal protection given to the creator of an original work, allowing them the exclusive right to use, reproduce, distribute, display, perform, and adapt the work.
Cover
A new recording or performance of a musical work originally written and performed by someone else.
Cue Sheet
A document that outlines all of the music used in an audiovisual program (TV, film, advertisement). It is a log of the music usage including song metadata, timing, and type of use (i.e. background music, theme song, vocal, etc.) Cue sheets are used by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), rights holders, and production companies to track music usage and ensure accurate collection and distribution of royalties.
CWR (Common Works Registration)
A standardized file format used to register musical works with Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) and Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) around the world. CWR files contain detailed information about a composition, including writer and publisher splits, IPI numbers, and ISWC codes.
Data Hygiene
The practice of maintaining accurate, complete, and consistent data across a music catalog. In music, data hygiene refers specifically to the quality of metadata - ensuring that song titles, writer credits, ownership splits, and identifiers (ISRC, ISWC, IPI, etc.) are correct and consistent across all platforms and systems. Poor data hygiene is one of the leading causes of misdirected or uncollected royalties.
DDEX (Digital Data Exchange)
A global standards-setting organization and the set of standards it produces for communicating music data between companies. DDEX standards govern how digital service providers (DSPs), distributors, labels, and rights societies exchange information about music releases, sales, and usage. DDEX is the backbone of digital music supply chain communication.
Digital Download
Electronic sound recording files that are purchased online and downloaded onto the buyer's device.
Distributor
A company that facilitates the delivery of sound recordings to consumers. Working with artists or record labels, a distributor will handle the logistics around delivery of music into the marketplace. This includes both physical releases (such as CDs and vinyl) to be sold in store, and digital releases to be downloaded or streamed on platforms (such as Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube).
DPD (Digital Phonorecord Delivery)
The digital transmission of a sound recording to a consumer, such as through a download or interactive stream.
DSP (Digital Service Provider)
A platform that streams or sells digital music, such as Spotify or Apple Music.
Editorial Playlist
A playlist curated by a human editorial team at a streaming platform. See also: Algorithmic Playlist
Engagement
The ways in which an artist connects with their fan base to foster a community and devoted following. Engagement is encouraged through live performances, social media, merchandising, partnerships, and more.
Featured Performer
A vocalist or instrumentalist who receives prominent billing on a sound recording - typically the lead artist or a named collaborator. Featured performers are credited on the release and are generally entitled to a share of master royalties. Their name usually appears on the track listing (e.g., "Song Title feat. Artist Name"). See also: Non-Featured Performer, Session Musician
Genre
Categories used to classify music based on characteristics such as style, form, subject, and culture. As songs of the same genre feature a similar or familiar sound, genres can be used as a tool for marketing, discovery, and organization.
HFA (Harry Fox Agency)
A U.S.-based organization that handles mechanical licensing and royalty administration for music publishers.
Intellectual Property
A category of intangible creative assets protected by law. In music, intellectual property encompasses compositions and sound recordings protected by copyright, as well as associated trademarks such as artist names and logos.
Interpolation
Taking part of an existing musical work (e.g. the melody) and incorporating it into a new musical work. The original sound recording is not used and new audio is created. Permission from the copyright owner of the original musical work is required. See also: Sample
IPI (Interested Party Information)
A 9-11 character code that identifies songwriters, composers, and publishers in royalty systems. An IPI is automatically generated when a songwriter or publisher registers with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO).
IPN (International Performer Number)
8-digit code issued by Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) that identifies performers (artists and musicians) on a sound recording.
ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier)
A unique code used to identify all public identities of creators (e.g., musicians, writers). ISNIs are issued by appointed registration agencies.
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)
A 12-character code that identifies unique sound recordings. ISRCs are issued through digital distributors during song submission, or directly from national ISRC agencies.
ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code)
An 11-character code that identifies musical works. ISWCs are assigned once the work has been registered with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) or a publisher.
Label Copy
Information about a musical work, such as the artist name(s), album/EP, writer, publisher, ISRC, and other necessary metadata.
Mashup
The combination of elements from two or more preexisting works into a new song, typically by layering audio from different recordings simultaneously. Because mashups incorporate existing sound recordings, creators generally need to secure master use licenses from all original rights holders, as well as licenses for the underlying musical works.
Mastering
The final stage of audio post-production before a recording is distributed. A mastering engineer optimizes the overall sound of a mix for consistency across playback systems, adjusting levels, equalization, stereo width, and dynamic range. Mastering also prepares the final audio files to meet the technical specifications required by distributors and streaming platforms.
Master Rights
The ownership of a specific sound recording of a musical work. Master rights are typically held by an artist's label, or by the artist themselves if they are independent.
Master Use License
Grants the licensee permission to use a sound recording in a new audio or visual project. It is typically obtained from the owner of the sound recording (e.g. label or artist).
Mechanical Rights
The right to reproduce and distribute a musical composition via CD/vinyl, digital download, and streaming. Mechanical rights are typically held by the writers and publishers.
Mechanical Royalty
A payment made to the songwriter and publisher each time a musical composition is reproduced - whether via physical format (CD, vinyl), digital download, or interactive stream.
Medley
A musical piece that incorporates segments from multiple songs performed sequentially within a continuous work. Each sound recording and musical work featured in a medley requires its own license.
Metadata
Data that describes and provides information about a piece of music. Music metadata includes details such as song title, artist name, songwriter credits, publisher information, ISRC, ISWC, genre, release date, and more. Accurate and complete metadata is essential for proper royalty collection, music discovery, and distribution across platforms.
Micro-Sync
The licensing of music for short-form video content, such as TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts.
MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective)
Administers blanket licenses to music streaming and downloading platforms in the U.S. Collects and distributes digital audio mechanical royalties to songwriters and publishers.
Music Fingerprinting / Audio Fingerprinting
A technology that identifies a piece of music by analyzing its unique acoustic characteristics, much like a fingerprint identifies a person. Platforms like Shazam, YouTube (via Content ID), and various streaming services use audio fingerprinting to match recordings against a database of known works, enabling rights identification and royalty tracking at scale.
Music Publisher
A music publisher is a company or individual that manages and monetizes the rights to musical compositions on behalf of songwriters and composers. Music publishing encompasses the administration, licensing, and promotion of a catalog of musical works.
Music Supervisor
A professional responsible for selecting, licensing, and placing music in film, television, advertising, video games, and other audiovisual media. Music supervisors work closely with directors and producers to find music that serves the creative vision of a project, also managing the licensing process for both sound recordings and musical works.
Musical Work
The melody, lyrics, chords, and structure of a song. The musical work is owned by the songwriters and their publishers. See also: Composition
Non-Featured Performer
A vocalist or instrumentalist who contributes to a sound recording but does not receive primary artist credit on the release. Background singers and session musicians are common examples. Non-featured performers may be entitled to neighboring rights royalties. See also: Featured Performer, Session Musician
Neighboring Rights
The right to publicly perform or broadcast a sound recording. Neighboring rights royalties are paid out to the master rights owners.
Performance Rights
The right to publicly perform or broadcast a musical composition, held by the writers and publishers.
Performance Royalty
A payment made to the songwriter and publisher when a musical composition is publicly performed or broadcast - whether on radio, television, in a live venue, or via a streaming service. Performance royalties are collected and distributed by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs).
Performer
A vocalist or instrumentalist who contributes to a sound recording.
Pre-Save
A marketing tool that allows fans to save or add an unreleased album or single to their music library on a streaming platform before the official release date. Pre-saves notify the listener when the music becomes available.
Producer
The creative and technical lead responsible for shaping the sound of a recording. A producer may contribute to songwriting, arrangement, instrumentation, and vocal direction, and oversees the recording and mixing process.
Producer Points
A percentage of a sound recording's revenue paid to the producer as part of their compensation. Producer points are negotiated before or during the recording process and are typically calculated on the same royalty base as the artist's rate. For example, a producer earning 3 points on an artist deal paying 15% of revenue would receive 3 of those 15 percentage points. See also: Producer, Royalty Rate
PRO (Performing Rights Organization)
Collects and distributes performance royalties to songwriters and publishers. U.S. PROs include ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
Public Domain
Works in the public domain are no longer protected by copyright and can be used freely by anyone without obtaining a license or paying royalties. Works enter the public domain when copyright protection expires, is forfeited, or was never established.
Publishing Administration
A publishing agreement in which a publisher handles the administrative and collection functions of a songwriter's catalog (registering works, licensing, and collecting royalties) without taking an ownership stake in the compositions. Publishing administration deals are popular among independent and established songwriters who want professional publishing services while retaining full ownership of their work.
Recoupment
The process by which a record label or publisher recovers an advance paid to an artist or songwriter from that party's earned royalties before any net payments are made. See also: Advance
Remix
A new version of a recorded song created by altering, rearranging, or building upon an existing recording - often by changing the tempo, adding new instrumentation, or incorporating additional artists. Creating and releasing a remix typically requires permission from owners of both the sound recording and musical work.
Riders
A list of requests and demands made by an artist and their team to be fulfilled by the hosts/venue in the live industry. Technical riders identify sound, lighting, and staging needs, while hospitality riders encompass catering, green room requirements, and other amenities.
Rights Owner
An individual or entity that holds legal ownership over a musical work, sound recording, or both. Rights owners may include songwriters, composers, music publishers, recording artists, and record labels. Rights owners are entitled to royalties when their work is used, reproduced, distributed, or performed, and must grant licenses for any approved third-party use.
Royalty
A payment made to a rights owner in exchange for the use of their intellectual property. In music, royalties are generated by the reproduction, distribution, public performance, and synchronization of musical works and sound recordings. Royalties flow to multiple parties - including songwriters, publishers, recording artists, and labels - depending on the type of use and the rights involved.
Royalty Audit
A formal examination of a licensee's financial records conducted by or on behalf of a rights owner to verify that royalties have been accurately calculated and paid.
Royalty Rate
The percentage or per-unit fee paid to a rights holder for a specific type of use of their music. Royalty rates vary by use type (mechanical, performance, sync, neighboring rights), format (streaming, download, physical), and territory. Some rates are set by statute, while others are negotiated directly between parties.
Royalty Statement
A periodic financial document issued by a label, publisher, or distributor to a rights holder, detailing the usage and earnings generated by their music over a given period.
Sample
The reuse of a portion of a sound recording in a new work. Requires the user to get a master use license from the original sound recording's rights owner, as well a license from the owner(s) of the musical work.
Session Musician
A professional musician hired to perform on a recording without becoming a permanent member of the artist's band or project. Session musicians are typically paid a flat fee for their performance and do not retain ownership rights to the recordings they contribute to, unless otherwise negotiated. They may be entitled to neighboring rights royalties in territories where such rights apply to non-featured performers.
Set List
A list of songs to be played by a musical artist in a live performance. Set lists are used to provide a roadmap and order of operations for everyone involved in a live production. They must be submitted to Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) for the writers and publishers to receive their performance royalties.
Sound Recording
A specific recording or performance of a composition. Each time the song (musical work) is re-recorded or remixed, a new sound recording is created. The sound recording is typically owned by the label or by the artist if they are independent. See also: Master Rights
Split Sheet
A written agreement that details the writers of a composition and their percentage ownership. Split sheets are crucial in preventing ownership disputes and ensuring writers receive their rightful share of royalties.
Streaming
The real-time delivery of audio content over the internet, allowing listeners to access music without downloading it to their device.
Synchronization
The process of pairing music with visual media (i.e. TV, film, advertisements, video games).
Sync License
Grants the licensee permission to pair a song with visual media - such as movies, TV shows, commercials, video games, or other videos.
Sync Royalty
A payment made to both the composition rights holder and the master rights holder in exchange for the use of music in an audiovisual work. Sync royalties are negotiated on a case-by-case basis and can vary widely depending on the prominence of the placement, the scope of distribution, and the stature of the artist.
UGC (User Generated Content)
Texts, images, videos, photos, reviews, and more created by users or consumers of a brand - usually social media posts or product testimonials.
UPC (Universal Product Code)
A 12-character code that identifies a music release: an album or single. Used to track sales data as a product, not as individual tracks.
Work for Hire
A legal arrangement in which a creator produces a work as part of their employment or under a specific agreement, resulting in the hiring party (rather than the creator) owning the copyright. In music, work-for-hire agreements are common in film scoring, jingle production, and session recording contexts.