We realize that the music industry is not an easy jungle to maneuver through. We have created individual Frequently Asked Questions for certain aspects that pertain to the music industry as well as your relationship with us. If you still have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us and we will see to it that your question is answered.

What is considered a Release?

A release is an album or single containing predetermined songs and artwork to be distributed to retailers. A release can consist of 1 song or even as much as 20+ songs.

What does Territory mean?

A territory is a particular geographical area in which your music is licensed. By default, every release distributed by Symphonic Distribution is set to be available worldwide however, via our Content Portal, you may choose to limit the distribution to a particular territory.

What does Genre mean?

A Genre is a way of categorizing music into different types, each of which shares a common sound or heritage. Through our Content Portal, each label has the choice of selecting a Genre at the Release and Song level.

What are Mechanical Royalties?

Mechanical royalties are royalties that are paid by a person making a new recording of an existing piece of music (most often a cover version of a song). In the UK, mechanical royalties are usually collected by Mechanical Copyright Protection Society which then passes them to the music publisher (usually itself a recorded music company). What the publisher receives is then split between the publisher and the creators of the music.

What is a UPC Code?

A UPC is a “universal product code”, and is similar to a barcode or serial number. It gives your release a unique identity. All releases are required to have this and we do take care of assigning them to releases. Some distributors and aggregators may charge per release while we only have a one time sign up fee to cover the cost of creation and assignation.

What is a ISRC Code?

An ISRC is an “international standard recording code” and identifies a particular recording of a track. All releases are required to have this and we do take care of assigning them to releases. Some distributors and aggregators may charge per release while we only have a one time sign up fee to cover the cost of creation and assignation.

Any other music industry terms I should know of?

The following collection of terms is the most complete music business and recording industry dictionary on the World Wide Web. Remember, understanding entertainment industry terminology is absolutely crucial to your success in the business. After reading this glossary, you will hopefully have a more thorough and complete understanding of the music business. To read the full glossary of terms, click here!