Artist Roles
There’s a list of roles based on different categories like technical, performance, instrumental, and editorial. Below, you’ll find the full list along with some extra details on a few roles.
Requirements for DSPs in Music Distribution
• Primary Artist: The name of the main artist or group is required for every release. If the album features more than three primary artists, use “Various Artists” at the album level, but make sure to list each artist individually for the tracks. Avoid using “Various Artists” if there are fewer than four artists. Don’t use abbreviations like “V/A,” “VA,” “Various,” or “Various Artists.”
• Performer: Singers and instrumentalists who are part of the recording should be listed as performers on each track. Don’t mention instruments, except in genres like jazz or classical, where the instrument can be listed alongside the performer’s name.
• Producer: The producer is the person leading the recording process. If they appear on the album cover, they should be listed as such in the metadata.
• Remixer: A remixer adds new elements to an existing track. They should be listed with the term “Remix” in the version field. If you’re remixing a song by another artist, make sure to provide the necessary licenses. This is different from the mixing engineer, who’s listed as the producer.
• Composer: Composers are the creators of the music and should be listed in the metadata, especially if it’s a cover or a version of another song. In classical music, if there are more than four composers, use “Various Composers” at the album level.
• Lyricist: The lyricist writes the song’s lyrics. This role is required if the song has any spoken text. For instrumental tracks or those without any lyrics, mark it as “No Linguistic Content.”
• Publisher: The publisher is the entity that holds the distribution rights for the release.
• Featuring / With: Guest artists should be listed as “Featuring” or “With.” If they appear on the album cover, they should be listed for the corresponding tracks. This shouldn’t be used for backing bands like “Glenn Miller with his Big Band.”
• Conductor: This role is specific to classical music and refers to the person conducting the orchestra.
• Arranger: The arranger is someone who adapts or changes an original composition. If the changes are significant, you need to get explicit permission for it.
• Orchestra: This is used in classical music to refer to the group performing the recording. If the orchestra is the main artist, it can also be listed as the Primary Artist.
• Actor: This role is for musical theater or opera recordings. Don’t use it for music videos.