GLOSSARY

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Using this Glossary

This glossary contains several different types of terms. Each term will have an identifier below it to help you quickly recognize what type it is, if it is more than one type, and how it is or should be used in music/music business contexts. Below are the four types of terms you’ll find, their visual identifiers, and their descriptions:

1. Legal - 🔑 lgl
   • Legal terms are formally defined within and codified by U.S. law. Legal definitions supercede all others.
2. Technical - 🔑 tch
   • Technical terms are formally defined and standardized by industry sectors and the concensus of their governing bodies and/or decision makers.
3. Jargon - 🔑 jrg
   • The general definition of jargon is: “special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand**¹**.”
   • Within this glossary, jargon will always mean music industry jargon. Since the music industry has numerous sectors, subsectors, and niches within niches, you will see an additional tag when helpful for context.
4. Acronyms - 🔑 acr
   • The general defenition of acronym is

It is important in every industry to know the functional role of the language used when communicating about it and within it, so that misunderstandings and miscommunications can be avoided, or addressed when they happen. This is especially true in the music industry, because:

• Common usage and practice can often conflict with legal definitions and requirements or technical definition and usage
• The variation and fluidity of jargon can catalyse mutual misunderstanding
• Any type of term can be a homonym terms can be homonymous

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TERMS

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A

Adaptation

2. 🔑 tch: An original modification or alteration of the lyrical content of a pre-existing work, regardless of whether the musical content has also been modified.

ASCAP

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers - A performing rights organization that collects and distributes royalties.

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B

BMI

Broadcast Music, Inc. - A performing rights organization representing songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

Buyout

A one-time payment for unlimited use of music within specified parameters.

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C

Cue Sheet

A document listing all music used in a production, including timing, usage type, and rights information.

Copyright

🔑 lgl

A bundle of exclusive rights which belong to and protect the owner of a copyrightable piece of intellectual property—an **original work **of authorship, fixed in a tangible medium.

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D

Digital Rights

Rights for using music in digital formats and online platforms.

Duration

The length of time a license remains valid.

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E

Exclusive Rights

Rights granted to a single party, preventing others from using the music in similar ways.

Extended Rights

Additional rights beyond standard license terms.

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F

First Use

The first time a piece of music is synchronized with visual media.

Festival Rights

Rights to use music in film festival screenings.

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L

License Agreement

Legal contract specifying terms and conditions for music use.

Limited License

License with restrictions on usage, territory, or duration.

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M

Master Rights

Rights to use a specific recording of a musical work.

Mechanical Rights

Rights to reproduce and distribute copyrighted musical compositions.

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N

Non-Exclusive Rights

Rights that can be granted to multiple parties simultaneously.

Needle Drop

Each individual use of a piece of music in a production.

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P

Performance Rights

Rights to perform music publicly, including broadcast and streaming.

Perpetual License

License without time limitation.

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R

Royalty

Payment made for the use of copyrighted music.

Re-Use Fee

Payment for using licensed music beyond original terms.

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S

Sync License

Permission to synchronize music with visual media.

Source Music

Music that is part of the scene (e.g., from a radio or TV in the scene).

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T

Territory

Geographic regions where licensed music can be used.

Term

Duration of the license agreement.

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U

Usage Rights

Specific ways music can be used under a license.

Universal License

License covering all media types and territories.

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W

Watermark

Digital marker in audio files for tracking and protection.

Work for Hire

Music created specifically for a project, with rights assigned to the commissioner.

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Technical Terms

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A

AAC

🔑ACR

Advanced Audio Coding: a digital audio compression format.

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B

Bit Rate

Amount of data processed per second in digital audio.

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F

File Format

Type of digital audio file (WAV, MP3, etc.).

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M

Metadata

Information embedded in audio files about the content.

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S

Sample Rate

Number of samples per second in digital audio.

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W

WAV

Waveform Audio File Format - Uncompressed audio format.

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Industry Terms

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B

Backend

Revenue sharing arrangement based on production success.

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C

Clearance

Process of obtaining necessary rights for music use.

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M

Music Supervisor

Professional responsible for selecting and licensing music for productions.

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P

PRO

Performing Rights Organization - Collects and distributes performance royalties.

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Q

Quote

🔑 jrgn

Formal price estimate for music licensing.