Demo
A rough recording of a song used to showcase material to labels, publishers, or collaborators.
Definition
A demo (demonstration recording) is a rough recording created to showcase a song's potential to labels, publishers, producers, or collaborators. Demos prioritize conveying the song's essence—melody, lyrics, structure, vibe—over production polish.
Demo quality expectations have risen with home recording accessibility, but the fundamental purpose remains: demonstrating what a finished production could become. Demos may be simple voice-and-guitar recordings or more produced presentations depending on purpose and audience.
Why It Matters
Demos are currency in the music industry. Songwriters pitch demos to artists; artists pitch demos to labels; producers demonstrate their interpretation of songs through demos. The ability to create effective demos that convey potential is a critical industry skill.
Many hits started as humble demos that communicated something special despite rough presentation.
Examples in Practice
A songwriter's phone-recorded demo captures a vibe that survives through production, becoming a #1 hit that retains the demo's intimate feel.
A producer creates an elaborate demo to pitch their vision to an artist, winning the project over competing producers.
An artist's acoustic demos reveal songwriting talent that wasn't apparent in their more produced releases, attracting publisher interest.