What does the terminology used in the metadata section mean?

4 min. readlast update: 11.14.2022

The number one thing that stops tracks from getting licensed is incomplete metadata. For a detailed explanation of how to comprehend the various metadata sections in MDIIO, see the section below.

Key - The key of a song is the note or chord the music is centered around, the tonic.

BPM - BPM stands for beats per minute; a musical term that means measuring the tempo of the music.

Tags - A tag is a piece of information stored inside a music file. You can choose from our selection of MDIIO tags, or your tracks will be automagically tagged in hyprAUDIO for easy searchability. 

These articles may be of interest to you as well: 

What tags can I search for in hyprAUDIO? and Why can’t I search for MDIIO tags / Additional Tags in hyprAUDIO?

Publisher - Publishers are responsible for representing composers, songwriters, and lyricists — the authors of the musical works — making sure that they get compensated for the commercial use of their intellectual property.

Add. Publisher - If your publisher isn’t registered on MDIIO or if you’re self-published, you can add their information here under “Additional Publishers”.

PRO - A PRO (Performing Rights Organizations) is an agency that ensures songwriters and publishers are paid for the use of their music by collecting royalties on behalf of the rights owner.

Public Track - Making your track public, means it will be available on hyprAUDIO for immediate licensing. 

Regions - This has to do with the regions where your track can be licensed. This is where you might explain, for instance, that your track is exclusively available for licensing in North America.

Catalog - A collection of musical compositions is cataloged into a music catalog. If your song is already included in a catalog, you can add it here. 

Terms of Use - The term, either perpetual or fixed, specifies the amount of time a certain media project can be broadcast. The usage — either single or unlimited — specifies the number of projects a certain song can be used alongside. Both the term and usage (for example, a perpetual, single-use sync license) must be specified for any type of license.

Copyright - If you create something, you are the owner of that something, and you’re the only one that has a right to make copies of it. 

If you write a song, you’re the only person who has a right to reproduce it. That could mean writing the melody in sheet music and printing that, it could mean printing out lyrics with chords, or it could mean recording the song and making copies on vinyl records. This also includes digital reproduction rights, like mp3 files or, you guessed it, YouTube videos.

Master Info/Label Copy - Label copy is a collection of important metadata, including the following information: Artist, song title (mix), ISRC, composer/author, publisher, producer, and rights holder.

ISRC - The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) system is the international system for the identification of recorded music and music videos. Each ISRC is a unique identifier that can be permanently encoded into a recording or music video.

CAE/IPI - An IPI/CAE number is an international identification number assigned to songwriters and publishers to uniquely identify rights holders. These are typically 9-11-digit numbers and are assigned when a songwriter affiliates with a PRO.

Contains Sample - In sound and music, sampling is the reuse of a portion of a sound recording in another recording. Samples may comprise elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, sounds or entire bars of music, and may be layered, equalized, sped up or slowed down, repitched, looped, or otherwise manipulated.

Cue Sheet No - A cue sheet is a document containing a detailed listing of all the music used within a television show, feature film, documentary or other audiovisual production.

A music cue sheet lists theme music and background cues associated specifically with those productions, as well as independent songs which are also included in the soundtrack.

Genre - A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions.

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