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CSEN

Glossary

184 terms from music distribution, metadata, copyright, collective management, royalties, platforms and production. Explained clearly, with links to laws, guides and official sources.

A

Arranger Roles and credits A person who adapts an existing song – instrumentation, harmony, structure. An arrangement is an adaptation of the work. Also: arranger, arrangement Author Roles and credits The natural person who created the work – in music the composer and the lyricist. A company or artificial intelligence cannot be an author. Also: authors, songwriter

C

Composer Roles and credits The author of the musical part of a work – melody, harmony, rhythm. Entered in the Composer field of every recording. Also: composer, music writer

F

Featured artist Roles and credits A performer who appears on a recording as a guest – shown after “feat.” next to the recording title. Also: featured artist, featuring, feat., ft.

L

Lyricist Roles and credits The author of the words of a song. Entered in the Lyricist field; an instrumental recording has no lyricist. Also: lyricist, lyric writer

M

Mastering engineer Roles and credits The engineer who turns a finished mix into the final master for distribution. Also: mastering engineer Mixing engineer Roles and credits The engineer who mixes the recorded tracks into the final mix. Also: mix engineer, mixing engineer Music producer Roles and credits The person who leads the creative side of making a recording – sound, arrangement, work with the artist; with beats often also the music author. Also: music producer, producer, beatmaker Music publisher Roles and credits A company that manages and commercially exploits the copyright in a work (song), not in a recording. Also: music publisher, publishing company

P

Performer Roles and credits A person who performs a work – singer, rapper, musician. They have rights in their performance, independently of the song's authors. Also: performer, performing artist Primary artist Roles and credits The artist under whose name the release comes out and to whose profile it is attached on the platforms. Also: primary artist, main artist, lead artist Producer of a sound recording Roles and credits The person or company who first makes a recording on their own responsibility – usually whoever initiated and paid for it. They own the rights in the master. Also: master owner, phonogram producer, record producer (legal sense) Pseudonym (artist name) Roles and credits The name under which an artist performs and releases music. In Artists Bez Labelu it is tied to the account. Also: stage name, artist name

R

Record label Roles and credits A company that finances, releases and promotes artists' recordings and usually owns them or holds an exclusive licence to them. Also: label, record label, record company Remixer Roles and credits An artist who created a new version (remix) from an existing recording. Credited in the remixer role, not as primary or featured artist. Also: remixer