Music Glossary
Music production, distribution, artist management, and industry business terms
3
A
A&R (Artists and Repertoire)
The record label division responsible for discovering talent and overseeing artistic development.
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
C
D
E
G
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.
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.
Playlist Placement
Getting songs added to curated playlists on streaming platforms.
Publishing Rights
The legal rights to a musical composition, as distinct from the recording.
R
S
Sampling
The practice of incorporating portions of existing recordings into new music.
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.
Sync License
Permission to use music synchronized with visual media like film, TV, or ads.
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