Aggregator: A company that distributes your music to digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Dashboard: Platform or distributor interface where artists track streams, royalties, and stats.
Digital Service Provider (DSP): Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc., where music is streamed or downloaded.
DSP Algorithm: How streaming platforms decide what music to recommend or playlist.
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code): A unique identifier assigned to individual tracks, used to track sales and streams.
Metadata: The information embedded in a music file that describes the track, including song title, artist name, contributors, ISRC, genre, release date, and more. Accurate metadata ensures proper royalty payments, discovery, and catalog organization across platforms.
Pre-Save: A marketing tool that lets fans save a release before it’s out so it appears in their library on release day.
Smart Link: A marketing tool that creates a centralized landing page with streaming links, social links, merch, and more.
Streamshare: The percentage of total streams that your track has generated on a DSP during a specific time period.
Territory: A geographic area where a song or album is distributed or licensed.
Track Link: A landing page with multiple streaming service options for one release.
Waterfall Release: A release strategy where new singles are added to an existing album or playlist, keeping all the tracks together to maximize streams.
Watermarking: Invisible audio tags to track unauthorized use or leaks.
Advance: A lump sum paid upfront to an artist or writer, recoupable against future earnings. (Contrary to popular belief, this is not ‘free money’.)
Backend Royalties: Payments made after a sync placement when the song is broadcast or performed.
Black Box Royalties: Unclaimed royalties held by collection societies when rights owners can’t be identified.
Cross-Collateralization: Using income from one project to pay back advances or expenses from another.
DART Royalties: Royalties on blank recording media (e.g., blank CDs, digital recorders).
Front-End Royalties: Payments received before a song is used publicly (advances, sync fees).
Mechanical Rate: The statutory or negotiated rate paid for mechanical royalties.
Mechanical Royalties: Earned when your music is physically or digitally reproduced (e.g., streaming, downloads, CDs).
Performance Royalties: Earned when your music is performed publicly (radio, live shows, streaming).
Recoupment: The process of paying back an advance or investment with future revenue (e.g., royalties).
Revenue Share: A model where royalties or income are split between parties (e.g., artist and label).
Revenue Streams: Different ways artists make money (streaming, sync, merch, live).
Royalty-Free: A license type that allows unlimited use without ongoing royalty payments.
SoundExchange Royalties: Digital performance royalties paid specifically for non-interactive streaming.
Sync Fee: The upfront payment for licensing music for visual media.
Co-Publishing Deal: A type of deal where the songwriter and publisher split ownership of the songs.
Composition: The underlying musical work (melody and lyrics), separate from the sound recording.
Cue Sheet: A document listing all music used in TV, film, or other media, including info like song title, duration, usage type, and rights holders. Essential for royalty tracking.
IPI Number: A unique number assigned to songwriters and publishers by PROs to track royalties.
Mechanical License: A license that allows for the reproduction of a composition in a recording.
PRO (Performing Rights Organization): Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC that collect performance royalties.
Publishing Administration: A service or deal where a third party handles registration, royalty collection, and licensing for your compositions.
Split Sheet: A document that outlines the ownership percentage of each contributor to a song.
Sync Licensing: The right to use a piece of music in film, TV, video games, etc.
Work for Hire: A song or production created under a contract where the employer, not the creator, owns the rights.
Album Cycle: The process of releasing, promoting, and touring an album.
Cut: A track on an album or a version of a recording.
Demo: Rough or preliminary recordings used to pitch songs or ideas.
EP (Extended Play): A release that’s longer than a single but shorter than a full album, typically 3–6 tracks.
Master Recording: The final version of a recording from which all copies are made.
Master Use License: Permission to use a specific recording in sync placements or samples.
Single: A standalone song released to promote an artist or album.
Stem: Individual audio tracks (like vocals, drums, bass) used for mixing or live performances.
Tracklist: The list of songs included in a release.
Boilerplate: Standard language used in contracts.
Exclusivity: A clause that prevents the artist from working with other labels or partners.
Option: A contractual right to extend the term or add more releases.
Reversion Clause: A clause that allows rights to revert back to the artist after a certain period.
Term: The length of time a contract is active.
Work for Hire: A legal agreement where the creator forfeits rights to the work.
Call to Action (CTA): A prompt encouraging fans to take an action (e.g., “stream now,” “follow,” “buy tickets”).
Content Strategy: A plan for how and when to release digital content to engage fans.
Email List: A database of fan emails used for direct-to-fan communication and promotion.
Fan Conversion: Turning casual listeners into engaged supporters.
Fan Funnel: The process or model of converting casual listeners into superfans.
Hashtag Campaign: A marketing strategy leveraging social media hashtags to increase reach.
Marketing Drivers: External factors (press, touring, collaborations) that help boost a song’s chances of editorial or algorithmic support.
Playlist Pitch: The act of submitting a track for editorial playlist consideration.
Premiere: An exclusive first-time debut of a song or video through a media outlet or platform.
Rollout Plan: The strategic schedule and steps leading up to and following a release.
UGC (User Generated Content): Fan-created content using your music, important for organic social media growth.
A&R (Artists & Repertoire): Industry professionals who scout talent and help shape an artist’s sound.
Booking Agent: Secures live performance opportunities and tours.
Business Manager: Handles artist finances, taxes, and accounting.
Creative Director: Shapes the visual identity and branding of an artist.
Development Deal: An early-stage deal to help build an artist’s career.
Label Services: Support offered to artists or labels, such as marketing, distribution, or rights management.
Manager: Oversees the artist’s business, career planning, and partnerships.
Publicist: Handles press, media outreach, and brand visibility.
Backline: The instruments and gear required for a live performance.
Guarantee: A flat fee paid to an artist for a performance.
Hospitality Rider: A list of hospitality requests an artist includes in their performance contract.
Roadie: Crew member who sets up instruments and gear on tour.
Set List: The list of songs an artist plans to perform during a show.
Tour Manager: Oversees logistics and operations during tours.
Tour Support: Financial or logistical assistance provided by a label or sponsor to help cover touring costs.
Walkthrough: A pre-show run-through of venue logistics and performance setup.
Artificial Streaming: Illegitimate streams generated by bots or paid services.
Fraud Detection: Systems used by platforms and distributors to identify suspicious activity.
Playlist Payola: Paying to be added to playlists, often against DSP policies.
Stream Farms: Operations that inflate stream counts using fake accounts or repetitive plays.
IPI Number: (Repeated) Identifies songwriters/publishers within PRO systems.
ISRC: (Repeated) International identifier for sound recordings.
SoundExchange: A nonprofit that collects and distributes digital performance royalties for sound recordings.
SoundScan: A system that tracks sales of music and music video products in the U.S.
UPC (Universal Product Code): A code used to identify an entire album or product.