What is Release (music)?
In the [[music industry]], a '''release''' usually is a [[creative]] output from an [[artist]] available [[Sales|for sale]] or [[Distribution#Economics|distribution]]. It is a broad term covering the many different forms music can be released in. Music can be released as [[single (music)|single]]s, [[extended play]]s or as [[album]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetarygroup.com/music-promotion-guide/plan-album-release |title=How to Plan for a Record Release |publisher=Planetary Group |access-date=12 October 2015}}</ref> A popular medium for releases is the [[Compact Disc]] (CD). Musical performers often [[self-release]] (self-publish) their recordings without the involvement of an established [[record label]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://musicians.about.com/od/beingamusician/a/selfreleasepnc.htm |title=Self-Releasing Music: Pros and Cons of DIY Music Releases |author=Heather McDonald |publisher=About.com |access-date=12 October 2015 |archive-date=6 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906083523/http://musicians.about.com/od/beingamusician/a/selfreleasepnc.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some artists or groups who enjoy local or small scale popularity have started their own labels in order to release their music. Others simply sell the music directly to customers. One [[example]] is when it is sold at their live [[concert]]s. With the growth of the [[Internet]], many musical acts have sold their recordings over the Internet without a record label. Unlike self-publishing a [[novel]], which usually means that [[publisher]]s did not want to publish it, even well-known musicians will choose to self-release recordings. Music [[manager]]s are increasingly getting involved in music releases. The word can also mean the event at which an [[album]] or [[Single (music)|single]] is first offered for sale. A release is sometimes called an '''album launch''', or '''single launch'''. ==Related pages== * [[Music recording sales certification]] * [[Movie release]] == References == {{reflist}} [[Cat