Class of AdvancedRelationshipTypes for links to other online databases

Description

This class defines relationships that allow MusicBrainz to interact with OtherDatabases on the internet. Each record in the MusicBrainz database should be linked to the corresponding record in the other database. For example, George Harrison has an entry in Wikipedia, and the URL used should be the full URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Harrison. You shouldn't simply provide a link to http://wikipedia.org.

Websites where you can buy music should be handled by the GetMusicRelationshipClass.

Note that some databases (like MusicBrainz for example) have two different ways of representing the same artist, one of which is more "stable" than the other. For example, George Harrison's page in MusicBrainz might use his artist ID, 2863, giving a URL of http://musicbrainz.org/showartist.html?artistid=2863. However, this URL depends on the use of POST arguments, and explicitly mentions the artist ID, which might be subject to change if the artist is merged. The alternative, using a UUID, looks like http://musicbrainz.org/artist/42a8f507-8412-4611-854f-926571049fa0.html. This latter form would be preferable, because it's more likely to mean the same thing over the long term.

AdvancedRelationshipTypes

Each online database has its own relationship type:

• WikipediaRelationshipType:

  • This provides a link between an artist, label or album and their Wikipedia page. See also LinkWikipediaAndMusicBrainz.

• DiscogsRelationshipType:

  • This links an artist, label or album to their Discogs page

• MusicMozRelationshipType:

  • This links an artist to their MusicMoz page

• OLGARelationshipType:

  • This provides a link from a track to the corresponding guitar sheet music in the on-line guitar archive.

Sites Not Covered Above

• We can't link to All Music Guide, since they deliberately obfuscate their URLs to prevent people using their content without permission.

• Links to retailers are covered by the GetMusicRelationshipClass.

• You may also look at WhatNotToLinkTo

Discussion

What language should we use for Wikipedia pages? I can think of a few options:

• Always use English (when available)

• Always use the native language of the artist

• Try to add as many different versions as possible

  More discussion about this on the page for the WikipediaRelationshipType. --Shepard

What legal issues are involved here? Are there sites where we have to get permission to link?

• And: Discogs is not an open database. Should we restructure the URL relationship classes for links to non-open/commercial musical data? Where would an last.fm linktype go? --Shepard

See Also

SemanticWeb

CategoryRelationshipClass CategoryLabel