2.6. Primary Performing Artist. The main performing artist must be listed as Primary at the album and track level. Entities such as companies, brands, and record labels are not artists and therefore should not be listed as primary.
For artists using “Meets” or “vs.,” all artists involved must be listed at the track level and identified as Primary. The terms “Meets” and “vs.” must only appear in the album or track title.
Track Title | In My Dreams (Adrima Meets Vinylshakerz) [Adrima EDM Edit] |
Track Artists | Adrima (Primary) Vinylshakerz (Primary) |
Track Title | Brute (Ferry Corsten vs. Armin van Buuren) |
Track Artists | Ferry Corsten (Primary) Armin van Buuren (Primary) |
A performing presenting artist must be credited at the track level and identified as Primary.
Track Title | Serious Love (Mind Fair Presents 21st Century Fox) [The Rhythm Odyssey Mix] |
Track Artists | Mind Fair (Primary) 21st Century Fox (Primary) |
Track Title | Electrify (Fabio XB Rework Edit) [Lange & Fabio XB Present Yves De Lacroix] |
Track Artists | Yves De Lacroix (Primary) Lange (Primary) Fabio XB (Primary) |
When artists are performing in the role of a character, the “Character” name can be used as the Primary artist. Do not use Primary role for both the Character and Performer.
2.7. Various Artists. If there are five or more Primary artists listed on the album, the album-level Primary artist must be Various Artists. Various Artists must not be a track-level artist. Various Artists must be the only Primary artist when it's used. “Various Artists“ and “John Smith” are not acceptable together. If crediting a one-track single, all primary artists must be credited at the album level.
Variations or abbreviations of “Various Artists” (for example, “V/A,” “V.A.,” “Various,” “Various Artist,” or “Varios”) must not be used. Translated versions of “Various Artists” are acceptable as long as they are consistent with the content’s language.
Scores and Musicals from stage, screen, or TV must not use Various Artists. Album-level Primary artists must be the composer and lyricist. Principal performers can be listed as primary artists at the album-level.
Language | Translation |
|---|---|
Arabic | فنانون متنوعون |
Chinese (Simplified) | 群星 |
Chinese (Traditional) | 群星 |
Dutch | Verschillende artiesten |
Finnish | Eri esittäjiä |
French | Multi-interprètes |
German | Verschiedene Interpreten |
Greek | Διάφοροι καλλιτέχνες |
Hebrew | אמנים שונים |
Italian | Artisti Vari |
Portuguese | Vários intérpretes |
Russian | Разные исполнители |
Spanish | Varios Artistas |
Swedish | Blandade Artister |
Thai | รวมศิลปิน |
Turkish | Çeşitli Sanatçılar |
2.8. DJ Mixes. Albums that are a collection of different tracks mixed together or separate tracks compiled by a DJ or artist must list the DJ or artist at album level and identify them as primary. Tracks that appear on DJ mixes must list the original artists as primary.
Album Title | A State of Trance 2015 |
Album Artist | Armin van Buuren (Primary) |
Track Title | Pegasus |
Track Artist | Protoculture (Primary) |
Track Title | Panta Rhei |
Track Artist | Armin van Buuren (Primary) Mark Sixma (Primary) |
Album Title | 4 To the Floor Presents Nu Groove (DJ Mix) |
Album Artist | Luke Solomon (Primary) |
Track Title | Tech Trax Inc. (Xplanitory Mix) [Mixed] |
Track Artist | Tech Trax Inc. (Primary) |
2.9. Remixes. Remix tracks, including sped up, slowed down, and lo-fi versions of tracks must list the original artist as Primary with the remixer assigned the remixer role.
Album Title | MMXX – VIII (feat. Lunice) [Kornél Kovács Remix] - Single |
Album Artists | Diplo (Primary) Lunice (Featuring) Kornél Kovács (Remixer) |
Track Title | MMXX – VIII (feat. Lunice) [Kornél Kovács Remix] |
Track Artists | Diplo (Primary) Lunice (Featuring) Kornél Kovács (Remixer) |
Track Title | ICU (Sped Up Version) |
Track Artists | Coco Jones |
Track Title | Tokyo (Lo-Fi Version) |
Track Artists | Leat’eq |
2.10. Scores. Albums that contain instrumental tracks that are originally scored for film must credit film score composers at the album and track level as Primary artists and the Composer role. If there are additional performers (for example, orchestra, soloist, band), then list those performers as primary at the album and track level.
Example: Star Wars: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Score) [Album Level]
Album Title | Star Wars: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Score) |
Album Artists | John Williams (Primary 1) John Williams [Non-Primary] (Composer) London Symphony Orchestra (Primary 2) |
Example: Star Wars: A New Hope - “Main Title” [Track Level]
Track Title | Main Title |
Track Artists | John Williams (Primary 1) John Williams (Composer) London Symphony Orchestra (Primary 2) |
2.11. Musicals. The composer and lyricist (or Music Director) must be listed with the Primary artist role at the album level. The composer and lyricist must be credited with the composer and lyricist roles at the track level. Vocalists must be credited as Primary Artists at the track level.
Example: Frozen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Album Level]
Album Title | Frozen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
Album Artist | Robert Lopez (Primary 1) |
Robert Lopez [Non-Primary] (Composer) | |
Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Primary 2) | |
Kristen Anderson-Lopez [Non-Primary] (Lyricist) | |
Christophe Beck (Primary 3) | |
Christophe Beck [Non-Primary] (Composer) | |
Idina Menzel (Primary 4) | |
Kristen Bell (Primary 5) |
Example: Frozen - “For the First Time in Forever” [Track Level]
Track Title | For the First Time in Forever |
Track Artist | Kristen Bell (Primary 1) |
Kristen Bell [Non-Primary] (Vocals) | |
Idina Menzel (Primary 2) | |
Idina Menzel [Non-Primary] (Vocals) | |
Robert Lopez [Non-Primary] (Composer) | |
Kristen Anderson-Lopez [Non-Primary] (Lyricist) |
Example: Frozen - “Let It Go (Single Version)” [Track Level]
Track Title | Let It Go (Single Version) |
Track Artist | Demi Lovato (Primary) |
Robert Lopez [Non-Primary] (Composer) | |
Kristen Anderson-Lopez [Non-Primary] (Lyricist) |
Example: Frozen - “Epilogue” [Track Level]
Track Title | Epilogue |
Track Artist | Christophe Beck (Primary) |
Christophe Beck [Non-Primary] (Composer) |
2.12. Karaoke, Tribute, Japanese Orgel, Parody, Cover Albums, and Ringtones. For these, the name of the original artist must not be displayed in any artist field on the track level or the album level.
Examples:
The Billy Joel Tribute Band is not an acceptable artist name.
Karaoke must not be used as the artist name unless it is part of the legal entity name, such as The Karaoke Kangaroos or All Star Karaoke.