Entertainment Glossary
Music production, film production, distribution, artist management, and entertainment industry terminology
3
A
A&R (Artists and Repertoire)
The record label division responsible for discovering talent and overseeing artistic development.
Above the Line
Creative talent and costs that are negotiated before production begins.
Advance
Upfront payment from a label or publisher against future royalties, recouped from earnings before the artist receives additional payments.
Artist Manager
A professional who guides the career development and business affairs of musicians.
B
Below the Line
Technical and production costs that occur during the actual filmmaking process.
Booking Agent
A licensed professional who secures live performance opportunities for artists.
Box Office
Revenue generated from theatrical ticket sales, a key measure of a film's commercial performance.
C
Call Sheet
The daily production document detailing shooting schedule, cast calls, crew calls, and logistics.
Clearance
The legal process of obtaining permission to use copyrighted material like samples or compositions.
Color Grading
The process of altering and enhancing the color of motion picture footage.
D
Day Player
An actor hired for a single day or brief period, typically for small roles with few scenes.
Demo
A rough recording of a song used to showcase material to labels, publishers, or collaborators.
Development Hell
The extended, often troubled development phase where a project remains stuck without progressing to production.
Drop
The release of new music, often with strategic timing and promotion.
E
F
G
I
M
Master Recording
The original, final recording of a song from which all copies are made.
Mastering
The final step of audio post-production that prepares a recording for distribution.
Mechanical Royalty
Payment to songwriters and publishers when their composition is reproduced on physical media or as a digital download.
Merch
Branded merchandise sold by artists as a revenue stream and fan engagement tool.
Mixing
The process of combining multiple audio tracks into a final stereo or multichannel sound.
Music Distributor
A company that delivers music to streaming platforms and digital stores.
Music Supervisor
Professional who selects and licenses music for film, TV, games, and advertising.
O
P
PRO (Performance Rights Organization)
Organizations that collect and distribute performance royalties to songwriters and publishers.
Performance Royalty
Payment to songwriters and publishers when their composition is publicly performed or broadcast.
Pitch Deck
A visual presentation used to sell a film or TV project to investors or studios.
Playlist Placement
Getting songs added to curated playlists on streaming platforms.
Principal Photography
The main period when a film or TV show is being shot.
Publishing Rights
The legal rights to a musical composition, as distinct from the recording.
R
Recoupment
The process of recovering advances and costs from an artist's royalties before paying additional income.
Residuals
Ongoing payments to performers and creatives when their work is reused, rerun, or distributed in new formats.
Rider
A list of requirements that must be provided for an artist at a performance.
S
SAG-AFTRA
The labor union representing actors, announcers, and other media professionals.
SVOD
Subscription Video on Demand services like Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max.
Sampling
The practice of incorporating portions of existing recordings into new music.
Showrunner
The creative leader responsible for day-to-day production of a television series.
Spec Script
A screenplay written without commission or assignment, created on speculation of future sale.
Splits
The agreed-upon division of songwriting credits and royalties among collaborators.
Streaming Royalties
Payments artists receive when their music is played on streaming platforms.
Streaming Window
The period during which content is exclusively available on a specific platform.
Sync License
Permission to use music synchronized with visual media like film, TV, or ads.
T
Talent Agent
A licensed professional who procures employment opportunities for performers.
Theatrical Release
The distribution of a film through movie theaters.
Turnaround
When a project is released by one studio, allowing it to be shopped to others.
V
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