The last year has been a crash course for me about the music industry. Actually the last few months have been the most schooling I've gotten about this whole process since Trey began with Echoing Angels. Its amazing how much goes into putting a record together. There are 3 versions of the new single! Wow, I had no idea. There is the album version, which is full length. There is a Christian radio version, which is much shorter and has a lot of electric guitars edited out and then there is a Christian Rock radio version where the Electric guitars are turned up a lot! I just think that is so interesting. Some of the financial aspects of this have been interesting too....who gets what percentage of what, etc. Most of it has to be explained to me in the kindergarten terms so that I can follow the conversation. Maybe when the next record rolls around I will be hip and know all the music industry terminology! I thought it would be fun to compile a list of what I've learned. So here is your guide for today's music industry terms (what I've learned so far anyway):
Record: Yes, we've reverted back to 1960. this is the CD
Drop: "the single will drop on the radio next week" Means "start" or "arrive"
Spin: when a radio station, or anyone else, plays your song
P.D.s - Also PDs. Short for "per diems," which means "per days." This refers to the stipend paid daily to band members and crew on a tour (or sometimes when out of town for recording) for their personal expenses, such as food and drinks.
One Sheet - The info sheet for a release - can contain info about the band, the recording or anything else significant about the release. Also gives the release date. One sheets are used by labels and distributors to sell a new release. They get their name from the fact that they are (or at least they should be) one page long.
PR - Technically means "press relations" but is also used in a slang way to refer to a person who works in press relations. PR is also known as "publicity." PR companies/PR people are usually hired to work on a campaign basis to promote a new album, single or tour. Some PR people only promote to print media, some only to websites, some only to TV and some to a combination of mediums. Some PR people also work in radio plugging, but often radio is treated as a separate entity.
Mechanical Royalties - Royalties paid to the songwriter per album pressed (or sold, depending on the deal). Also sometimes called "mechanicals."
Publishing - Essentially another level of copyright control for songs, publishing deals simply put a person in charge of making sure the appropriate amount of royalties are collected for a song, in exchange for a portion of those royalties and some rights to the song. Most publishers go further than that and actively try to place songs in revenue generating positions, like advertisements or with other artists for cover version, etc.
Session Musician - A musician who contributes to a recording or a live performance but is not actually a full time member of the band.
Promo Package - A package used to promote music, including a promo CD and any appropriate press releases, one sheets, photos and other information. Also known as press kit or press pack.
A & R – Artist & Repertoire, the department of a label that is responsible for signing artists and “assisting” them creatively in such things as the selection of a producer and song material.
Airplay – Time on the radio. Airplay sells records.
Clicktrack – Metronome-like device to aid timing or rhythm that is heard through headphones during a recording session or heard by the drummer during live concerts.
Copyright – A bundle of exclusive rights granted by law to the creator of an original literary, artistic, or other intellectual work, including songs and sound recordings.
Crossover – A song originally promoted in one market which “crosses over” to be a hit in another market. A country song may crossover to the pop market, for example.
Demo – A CD done for presentation purposes usually to try to secure a label, publishing, or management deal.
Downtime – Time when work is halted in a recording session due to equipment malfunction or time when a studio has not been booked for use. Or time the band has to do what they want when on the road.
Dud – A song that flops. Also, a person who flops.
Ears – The ability to recognize a hit song or act after only hearing it a few times. "in ears" are special ear buds that are connected to the sound board so the musician can hear himself or other players......or
in the anesthesia world, its a stethescope :)
Fader – Control on a studio console which regulates input or output of sound level.
Gig – Job, especially a club or concert performance
Gold – Award presented for sales in excess of 500,000 CDs.
Grammy – Music industry award presented by the NARAS (National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences).
Headphone Mix - the blend of sounds heard through the headphones in a recording session.
Hook – A musical or lyrical phrase that stands out and is easily remembered.
Hype – Publicity used to feed the promotional machines of the music business. Hype may or may not be true, but it should be “sensational.”
Image – The public’s impression of an artist or product
Master – A recording done for release as a CD album project.
Mix – Blend of sounds. The mix is particularly important in multi-track recording.
Multi-track recording – Recording a multiplicity of audio tracks which allows you to isolate sounds and record them at different times.
Overdub – In multi-track recording, any element that is added after the basic track.
Platinum – Award for sales in excess of one million CDs.
Production fee – Fee paid to the producer.
Riff – A particular group of notes which form a short melody.
Roadie – Person in the employ of a musical act who is usually responsible for moving and setting up sound equipment.
Tracking – Recording basic tracks.
Vamp – an ending to a song that repeats over and over while gradually fading to silence.
Yes I live in another world. It can sound like everyone is speaking a different language, with all of their demos, promos, one sheets and whozits and whatzits. What did you say? What's that? I must ask Trey that once a day. One day I will be a music biz pro....but for now, I'll stick to anesthesia!
Record: Yes, we've reverted back to 1960. this is the CD
Drop: "the single will drop on the radio next week" Means "start" or "arrive"
Spin: when a radio station, or anyone else, plays your song
P.D.s - Also PDs. Short for "per diems," which means "per days." This refers to the stipend paid daily to band members and crew on a tour (or sometimes when out of town for recording) for their personal expenses, such as food and drinks.
One Sheet - The info sheet for a release - can contain info about the band, the recording or anything else significant about the release. Also gives the release date. One sheets are used by labels and distributors to sell a new release. They get their name from the fact that they are (or at least they should be) one page long.
PR - Technically means "press relations" but is also used in a slang way to refer to a person who works in press relations. PR is also known as "publicity." PR companies/PR people are usually hired to work on a campaign basis to promote a new album, single or tour. Some PR people only promote to print media, some only to websites, some only to TV and some to a combination of mediums. Some PR people also work in radio plugging, but often radio is treated as a separate entity.
Mechanical Royalties - Royalties paid to the songwriter per album pressed (or sold, depending on the deal). Also sometimes called "mechanicals."
Publishing - Essentially another level of copyright control for songs, publishing deals simply put a person in charge of making sure the appropriate amount of royalties are collected for a song, in exchange for a portion of those royalties and some rights to the song. Most publishers go further than that and actively try to place songs in revenue generating positions, like advertisements or with other artists for cover version, etc.
Session Musician - A musician who contributes to a recording or a live performance but is not actually a full time member of the band.
Promo Package - A package used to promote music, including a promo CD and any appropriate press releases, one sheets, photos and other information. Also known as press kit or press pack.
A & R – Artist & Repertoire, the department of a label that is responsible for signing artists and “assisting” them creatively in such things as the selection of a producer and song material.
Airplay – Time on the radio. Airplay sells records.
Clicktrack – Metronome-like device to aid timing or rhythm that is heard through headphones during a recording session or heard by the drummer during live concerts.
Copyright – A bundle of exclusive rights granted by law to the creator of an original literary, artistic, or other intellectual work, including songs and sound recordings.
Crossover – A song originally promoted in one market which “crosses over” to be a hit in another market. A country song may crossover to the pop market, for example.
Demo – A CD done for presentation purposes usually to try to secure a label, publishing, or management deal.
Downtime – Time when work is halted in a recording session due to equipment malfunction or time when a studio has not been booked for use. Or time the band has to do what they want when on the road.
Dud – A song that flops. Also, a person who flops.
Ears – The ability to recognize a hit song or act after only hearing it a few times. "in ears" are special ear buds that are connected to the sound board so the musician can hear himself or other players......or
in the anesthesia world, its a stethescope :)
Fader – Control on a studio console which regulates input or output of sound level.
Gig – Job, especially a club or concert performance
Gold – Award presented for sales in excess of 500,000 CDs.
Grammy – Music industry award presented by the NARAS (National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences).
Headphone Mix - the blend of sounds heard through the headphones in a recording session.
Hook – A musical or lyrical phrase that stands out and is easily remembered.
Hype – Publicity used to feed the promotional machines of the music business. Hype may or may not be true, but it should be “sensational.”
Image – The public’s impression of an artist or product
Master – A recording done for release as a CD album project.
Mix – Blend of sounds. The mix is particularly important in multi-track recording.
Multi-track recording – Recording a multiplicity of audio tracks which allows you to isolate sounds and record them at different times.
Overdub – In multi-track recording, any element that is added after the basic track.
Platinum – Award for sales in excess of one million CDs.
Production fee – Fee paid to the producer.
Riff – A particular group of notes which form a short melody.
Roadie – Person in the employ of a musical act who is usually responsible for moving and setting up sound equipment.
Tracking – Recording basic tracks.
Vamp – an ending to a song that repeats over and over while gradually fading to silence.
Yes I live in another world. It can sound like everyone is speaking a different language, with all of their demos, promos, one sheets and whozits and whatzits. What did you say? What's that? I must ask Trey that once a day. One day I will be a music biz pro....but for now, I'll stick to anesthesia!
|
Post a Comment