Music Glossary: digital

A service that delivers your releases to streaming/download platforms, collects royalties, and pays out to you. more

Audio/visual matching systems that detect your works on platforms for monetization and takedowns. more

Ensuring compulsory/mechanical licensing compliance when distributing cover recordings. more

Computer-based environment for recording, editing, and mixing audio/MIDI (e.g., Cubase, Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Live). more

Networked audio I/O at the stage that feeds the console. Reduces analog run length, simplifies patching, and increases channel count. more

Higher-margin downloads, physical, and merch bundles directly to audience; control pricing and data. more

Upfront payment from a distributor recouped from your future royalties; watch term length and recoup clauses. more

Consistent fields: artist, contributors, writers, splits, producers, explicit flag, genre, mood, artwork specs. more

Unique code for each recording used for royalty tracking across DSPs, broadcasters, and collections. more

Timing variability of the sampling clock causing low-level modulation or distortion. more

Marketplaces for licensing short-form uses (creator videos, podcasts, small ads) at scale. more

Collect broadcast/performance income for performers and master owners via national CMOs. more

Radio-style vs on-demand streams; different royalty pathways and rules. more

Number of digital samples per second (e.g., 44.1, 48, 96 kHz); sets the upper bandwidth limit. more

Written percentage allocations on the master to avoid disputes at payout time. more

Optimizing titles, bios, images, and keywords to improve discovery across streaming services. more

Pro-rata vs fan-powered/user-centric systems; know how your audience behavior affects your revenue. more

Earning from user-generated videos that use your audio on platforms supporting revenue share. more