Glossary

Automatic Content Recognition. It’s used by platforms and devices to detect music or video playing in the background.

Short for Collective Management Organization. This is a general term for groups like PROs that collect and manage rights and royalties.

A global standard that helps music companies share data like royalty reports and release info in a consistent format.

Selling music, merch, or experiences directly to fans without going through labels or platforms.

A service that helps artists send their music to DSPs. Examples include DistroKid, CD Baby, and TuneCore.

A Digital Service Provider. These are platforms like Spotify or Apple Music that stream or sell music online.

Tech that can recognize songs by analyzing the audio itself, even without metadata. Used by apps like Shazam.

A number used to identify songwriters, composers, and publishers so that royalties go to the right people.

A unique code that identifies a specific recording of a song. It works like a barcode for each track.

This code tracks the written version of a song — the composition, not the recording. It helps identify who wrote the song.

The final stage of music production. It makes sure the song sounds clear, loud, and consistent on all devices.

Extra info attached to a music file, such as artist name, song title, release date, and credits. Good metadata helps with visibility and payments.

Stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It lets digital instruments and software send notes and timing to each other.

Balancing and adjusting all parts of a song so everything sounds good together.

Royalties paid to performers and recording owners when their tracks are played in public places like radio stations or cafes.

A feature that lets fans save an upcoming release to their streaming library before it’s out.

A Performance Rights Organization. It collects royalties when songs are played publicly, for example on the radio or in a venue.

Rights related to the songwriting part of music — the lyrics and melody, not the recording itself.

Payments to people who own music rights when their music is streamed, sold, or used.

A short sound or jingle that helps people recognize a brand. Think of the Netflix "ta-dum."

A document where songwriters agree on how much of the song each person owns. It’s important for avoiding future disputes.

Permission to use music in videos, ads, games, or films. This usually involves a fee paid to the rights holder.

A code used to track music releases like albums or singles. It’s useful for digital distribution and reporting.

A hidden code added to music files to track where they came from. Often used to prevent leaks or piracy.