Feature
A guest appearance by another artist on a track, credited as "featuring" in the song title.
Definition
A feature is a guest appearance by another artist on a song, typically credited as "featuring" or "ft." in the title. Features can include vocals, rap verses, instrumental performances, or production contributions.
Features serve both creative and promotional purposes, bringing different audiences together and adding fresh perspectives to songs.
Why It Matters
Strategic features can expose artists to new audiences and add credibility through association. A feature from an established artist can boost an emerging artist's profile, while collaborations between popular artists often become hits.
Understanding feature dynamics—including splits, credits, and promotional expectations—is essential for navigating collaborative releases.
Examples in Practice
An emerging rapper lands a feature from a platinum-selling artist, introducing their music to millions of new listeners.
Two artists from different genres collaborate on a feature that crosses over to both pop and hip-hop charts.
A producer's instrumental track features three different vocalists, each bringing their own fanbase to the release.