Record Label & Music Industry Glossary for Bands
Plain-language definitions of terms bands run into during demo submissions, EPK prep and record deals.
A&R
Artists and Repertoire. The label role or department involved in finding artists, evaluating music, developing relationships with bands and helping guide releases. At small labels, the founder or owner may effectively perform the A&R role without using the title.
Demo
A recording used to demonstrate a band’s music. A demo may be rough, professionally recorded, or effectively release-quality. Labels may use the word broadly, so always check their submission instructions.
Unsolicited Demo
Music sent to a label without the label specifically asking for it. If a label says it does not accept unsolicited demos, cold submissions should not be sent through unrelated contact channels to bypass the policy.
EPK
Electronic Press Kit. A compact collection of a band’s music, biography, photographs, logo, live history, press coverage and contact information.
Master Recording / Master Rights
The master is the specific recorded version of a song. Master rights concern ownership/control of that recording and are separate from ownership of the underlying composition.
Publishing
The business and rights connected to the underlying musical composition — the song itself — rather than the specific sound recording.
PRO
Performing Rights Organization. Organizations such as ASCAP, BMI and SESAC in the United States collect/distribute certain performance royalties for songwriters and publishers.
Mechanical Royalties
Royalties paid for the reproduction of a composition — historically tied to physical copies, now also covering permanent downloads and (via different mechanisms) streaming.
Performance Royalties
Royalties paid to songwriters/publishers when a composition is performed publicly, including radio play, streaming and live performance, typically collected through a PRO.
Recoupment
When a label recovers certain agreed costs or advances from income before additional royalties are paid to the artist. The details depend entirely on the contract.
Advance
Money paid to an artist in advance under a deal. An advance is often recoupable rather than simply free money, depending on the agreement.
Distribution
The process of making releases available through digital platforms, physical retail, distributors or other sales channels.
Licensing Deal
An arrangement in which a label receives the right to exploit/release a recording for an agreed term, territory or purpose without necessarily owning the master permanently.
Record Deal
A broad term for a contractual relationship between an artist and record label. Deal structures vary significantly and can include licensing, master ownership, distribution, options, royalties, advances and other rights.
Private Stream
A non-public listening link used to share unreleased music with labels, press or other industry contacts.
Momentum
Evidence that an artist’s audience, sales, live activity, media attention or other meaningful career signals are moving in a positive direction. Momentum does not require large absolute numbers; context and rate of change can matter.
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