album
Let an agent identify an album grouping by artist, title and catalogue relationships, relay track lists, formats, dates and identifiers with their specific member releases from catalogue sources, distinguish albums from singles, compilations and reissues, and separate the music sense from photo and stamp albums.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Identify Which album.
Which
Artist and title.
Which
Which.
- Which album is meant, by whom, and which release or edition? definition
- Is the question about a music album or a photo or stamp album? boundary
Release
Releases and formats.
Release
Release.
- What releases, formats, dates and catalogue numbers exist? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific album? action
Content Tracks and credits.
Tracks
Track list.
Tracks
Tracks.
- What are the tracks, their order and durations? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific track? action
Credits
Credits.
Credits
Credits.
- Who performed, wrote and produced the album? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Context Reception and history.
Reception
Charts and reviews.
Reception
Reception.
- How did the album chart and how was it received, with sources? measurement
- Are reviews attributed? boundary
History
The album as a form.
History
History.
- How did the album develop as a format from 78s to streaming? provenance
- Which entry fits recorded music? action
Rights Rights and data.
Copyright
Rights.
Copyright
Copyright.
- Which rights apply to an album and its tracks? provenance
- Which entry fits music copyright? action
Data
Metadata.
Data
Data.
- Which databases and identifiers describe albums? provenance
- Which entry fits music metadata? action
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Information and virtual systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- INF
- Domain
- INF.MED
- Other names and narrower kinds
- stockbook, album reissue, split album, live album, remix album, studio album reissue, compilation album reissue, live album reissue, twofer compilation, double live album, instrumental live album, live video album
What it is Filled
A grouping of related album releases by an artist, usually issued at the same time with the same title and tracks in different formats such as digital, compact disc or vinyl; the grouping connects those releases, while format, catalogue number and barcode belong to individual releases and do not by themselves identify the grouping.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent identify an album grouping by artist, title and catalogue relationships, relay track lists, formats, dates and identifiers with their specific member releases from catalogue sources, distinguish albums from singles, compilations and reissues, and separate the music sense from photo and stamp albums.
Distinguishing features Filled
- The grouping brings together related releases of an album.
- Member releases usually share a title, artwork and track order.
- Formats and release identifiers describe individual member releases.
- An album grouping is distinct from a single or EP grouping.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Distribute or share albums in breach of the rights holders' copyright.
- Credit tracks or albums to the wrong artists, or remove credits.
- Release generated music under the name of a real artist.
Only with a human decision
- Licensing, releasing or withdrawing an album.
May
- Describe albums, their tracks, credits and release history from reliable sources.
- Play or recommend albums through licensed services.
Moral aspects Filled
- Albums are the work and income of artists and the people who make them.
- Credits recognise often-overlooked contributors such as session musicians.
Who is affected
- Artists and songwriters
- Session musicians and producers
- Listeners
Owners Filled
Steward
The artist and the label or publisher holding the rights.
Master systems
- Music rights and recording identifier registers
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q108346082 - registry parent class
related
- release group - in music metadata
- single - a shorter release
- photo album - another sense of the word
contains
- track - the recordings
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.album
- Wikidata: Q482994 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q482994)
- catalogue number: label specific
- barcode: EAN or UPC physical releases
- MusicBrainz release group: UUID metadata database
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
- length: about 30-80 minutes - typical; formats set limits
- tracks: about 8-20 tracks - typical
Plane INF: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Catalogue records link related releases of a titled set of tracks by an artist or group.
- A catalogue number or barcode on a physical release identifies that release rather than the album grouping.
- A photo album and a stamp album are different objects.
- A physical disc or tape in a sleeve or case with artwork, or a digital release with cover image.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- identify the album and its releases
- relay track list, format and date
- distinguish studio, live, compilation and reissue albums
- relay identifiers and catalogue sources
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Confusing releases, reissues and editions
- Wrong track lists across regions
- Copyright infringement
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Copyright and neighbouring rights for recordings
- Chart rules defining album eligibility
- Metadata standards such as ISRC for tracks
Context of use required Filled
- Presenting a set of recordings as one work.
- studio albums
- live albums
- compilation and greatest hits albums
- soundtrack albums
- remix and split albums
- reissues and deluxe editions
- concept and double albums
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q482994: album - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Album - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should each album be a separate entry only?
- How should MusicBrainz and Discogs be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases including a stamp stockbook; should they be split off?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q482994/spec.json