1. Careers

Music Terms Glossary I-P

This page contains links to music industry terms starting with letters I-P. Click on any link below for a more in depth definition of the term.

A-H || Q-Z

IFPI

The IFPI is a powerful group in the music industry, working to advocate for the rights of musicians and music related businesses. Learn more about the IFPI.

ISRC

If you are just getting started in the music industry, you might be wondering what ISRC is. This code is an important part of selling music if you your sales to recorded properly. Get the definition of ISRC.

Indie Label

Self funded label not connected to one of the Big Four labels.

Jewel Case

Jewel cases are one kind of CD packaging. Learn more about them and your other options when it comes to designing your CD packages.

Key Member Clause

If you sign a record deal, especially a major label record deal, you might encounter a key member clause. What is a key member clause in a record deal? Find out more with this key member clause definition.

Label

What is a record label? Get the definition of record label and find out more about what they do.

Liner Notes

Album liner notes are the best part of the package to some fans. What are album liner notes? Find out more.

Licensing

Licensing music is a way that musicians and labels alike make money. Find out more about what music licensing means and how it could apply to your career.

Load In

Load in is a term used in concert promotion and show booking. Learn more about why knowing what time load in is is important to for your gig.

Longbox

If you work in a distribution or in a record store, longboxes are bound to be a big part of your life. Find out what they are and how they can help you add up your CD count.

M&D

These kinds of deals are getting harder to find, but for an upstart indie labels, they can give you a real leg up on getting your business off the ground. Get the details on this kind of distribution deal.

Manager

Artist managers run the day to day business side of things for musicians.

Master License

If you want to use a recorded version of a song in your visual media project, you will need a master license for music. A master license sometimes works in conjunction with a sync license - learn more about a master license for master recording rights.

Mechanical Royalties

Understanding mechanical royalties can get a little complicated for bands, labels, and publishers alike. Learn the basics and find out who should be getting what.

Multi Album Deal

Considering a record deal? Learn about multi album record deals and what they could mean to you.

Multiple Rights Deals

Multiple Rights deals are becoming more and more common in the music industry. Learn more about multiple rights music contracts, also known as 360 music contracts.

Music Supervisor

What is a music supervisor? If you ever want to see your music in ads, movies or TV shows, you will need a music supervisor on your side. Learn more about the job of music supervisor.

Music Trade Show

You can probably rattle off a list of music trade shows and music conventions, but exactly are they? Find out what happens at a music trade show and music convention so you know if you should be adding one to your calendar.

Net Neutrality

net neutrality internet neutrality free internet indie music net neutral internet neutrality

One Sheet

One sheets are sales tools for new releases, and the name gives a very important clue about what form they should take. Find out more about music one sheets.

Options

When you are presented with a record contract, you may encounter the term options. Find out what options are in a record deal and how options may affect you in the future.

P.D. - Per Diem

Per diems, or PDs, are the way bands cover their living expenses while on tour. Find out more about music per diems and how much they should be.

PR

Music PR is a big part of promoting your album - it's how you get those reviews that make people want to check out your music. Learn more about music publicity and when you should shell out for it.

Payola

paying radio stations to play songs

Performance Rights Act

The Performance Rights Act is making a lot of commercial radio stations in the US sweat. What is the Performance Rights Act and how does the Performance Rights Act impact commercial radio stations? Find out about the Performance Rights Act.

Performing Rights Royalties

What are performing rights royalties and who should get them? Find out.

Physical Distribution

Physical music distribution is one avenue of music distribution that labels and musicians need to consider. Learn what physical distribution is.

Platinum Album

The term platinum album sales is one that gets thrown around a lot but what is a platinum album? How many albums does a record have to sell to be platinum? Learn more in this definition of platinum album sales.

Playlist

If you have a new single out, being on the playlist can be like winning the lottery. Learn more about coveted playlist spots and how they can help you.

Press Kit

A music press kit is important to have to promote your new releases and concerts. Learn more about music press packs.

Premiums

When you are offered a record deal, you might come across the terms premiums. What are premiums in record deals? Find out what premiums are in the music industry and learn how premiums might affect you.

Producer Points

Music producers often get paid a deal that gives them points on a record - find out what album points are and how they affect a deal.

Promo

A music promo is primarily used to generate press coverage or obtain radio plays for a new release, but there are other uses. Find out more about music promos and how they differ from music demos.

Promo Package

If you're going to make in this business, you need a good promo package. Find out what exactly a promo package is, and what should be in yours.

Promoter

What are the responsibilities of a promoter? A promoter can be hugely influential to your music career, so understanding their role is key.

Publishing

Of all of the subjects in music, song publishing is probably the most complex. Get a handle on the basics, because though it may be complex, music publishing extremely important for musicians.

Needle Drop License

If you are licensing your music or trying to acquire a music license for a project, needle drop license is a term your are bound to encounter. Get the answer to the question what is a needle drop license with this needle drop license definition. Also check out the rest of the entries in the Music Industry glossary.

Non-Commercial Radio

Non-commercial radio is a new musician's best friend - but what exactly is it? Learn exactly what non-commercial radio is and what it can do for you as musician in this non-commercial radio definition.

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