Status: one of the very interesting proposals lying around. Probably (at least) parts of it may be implemented for a relatively low development cost (ReleaseFormat enhancements?). While this proposal is not "exactly" stalled (it has been regularly worked on during the past years), for now it lacks promotion efforts and needs refreshed edits to be made fruitful. -- dmppanda 2008-02-20 15:19:49 -- mo 2008-07-27 22:05:54

Proposal

update new fixings.

I have been re-thinking this Release-release thing over again. I have tried to include what people have said on irc and in the ReleaseTypeRestructuringDiscussion page, Here is my redraft proposal updated after the new 1-4-2007 release.

First a small list with new names, all the new options are in italic, (the option 'I don't know' is implied throughout). After this list follows a list of explanations of their meanings.

Physical Media

Parts of this is now official and is defined by ReleaseFormat.

• CD

  • 8cm

  • 12cm

• DVD

  • DVD-A

• SACD

• MiniDisc

• Vinyl

  • 7"

  • 10"

  • 12"

  • other

• Cassette

• 8-track

• Digital Media (web releases / stand alone mp3/ogg etc)

• Other

Release Status

Official | Commercial | Bootleg | Promotional

Main Types

• Album (LP)

• EP

• Single

  • Maxi-CD

• Other

...

• Split

• Compilation

  • Highlights

• Remix

• Remaster

• Live

• Soundtrack

• Composer

• Data (when clicked, either option under is possible, but not both)

  • audiofile disc

  • multimedia 2 session disc

• Other

• Demo

• Bonus

• Spokenword

  • Interview

  • Audiobook

  • Radio play

  • other narrative

Description

Physical Media

pretty much says itself, what is the thing you have in your hand? These types have now been partially implemented with the 1.4.2007 server release as part of the LabelSupport (see ReleaseFormat) these are also connected with releasetype+releasedate tables, which is what I said would have to happen from the get go, here we go:

Each releasedate and place can have one Physical Media accociated, as well as a label, #cat and optional barcode. This outline some more detailed subtypes that may be added.

CD

just a regular audio CD, also known as CD-A.

DVD

we are going to get pure musical DVD's eventually. There are a few thousand according to wikipedia, the same is true for DVD-A.

SACD

separated from DVD because it is a different coding process entirely, hybrid SACD discs that have the capability of being played on regular CD-player should go under this option as well.

MiniDisc

There are not many new releases but a lot of older ones.

Vinyl

finally we have Vinyls! subgroups of 7", 10" & 12" and 'other' for that one nth" type laying in PRAEst76's attic

Cassette

just your average tape

8-track

for really old wonky releases on 8-track tape

Digital Media

(webalbums / stand alone mp3/ogg etc)

Other

random obscure types!

Release Status

the status of the release. These should not be multiple choice as one release conglomeration should only be able to be one of these options at a time. (while per days date, release events and labels are separated from release status.)

Official

exactly like it is today, sanctioned by *both* the artist and the record-company (if applicable). These releases are most likely listed on the artists' own website and most fansites.

Bootleg

same as today. albums not sanctioned by the record company (owner of the licence/copyright) but may or may not be sanctioned by the artist. These albums might be listed on official websites (rare), but most good fansites will have a bootleg section.

Commercial

this a new, confusing type, this is for releases that may be sanctioned by the record-company (or resold/legally pirated by other companies) but *not* necessarily by the artist.

• Wizzcat suggests retail as a name instead. please discuss.

• Commercial not sanctioned by the artist (but the licence may be i norder / not illigal in italy/etc)

Promotional

same as today, for releases that are given away (usually free) by sweepstakes. magazines, competitions etc.

Main Types

These are mostly multiple choice per release conglomeration. The exceptions are album, single and EP, as (I think) they are exclusive of each other. (these are per day's date separate from release events and labels)

(One Choice)

Album

same as today, first time releases.

EP

same as today, for releases clearly marked 'EP'

Single

same as today, single releases

Maxi-Single

a suboption for single, basically what EP was to vinyl this is to CD's today? the rules are not as strict though, any Maxi-Single is as explicitly a single, if a release is rather more classified as EP, use that instead.

Other

for releases that do not fit in any other categories, Album, EP or Single.

(Multiple Choice)

Compilation

for compilations, same as today: releases that are selections of tracks from one ore more artists that has been released before.

Split

releases that are re-releases of 2 or more releases on one disc (f.ex No Heavy Petting / Lights Out) or releases where two or more artists share a disc (f.ex Light the Fuse and Run/Hot Cross Split ). both are typically called a "split release".

Remix

same as today, remixes. although they should probably be stored with albums on the 'albums' page in APR?

Remaster

while there is an AR for this, sometimes a release is released as being specifically a "Remaster" rather than a "remastered album", probably some [album] [remaster] combination for this. Other times a release is a collection of "remastered tracks found on several albums" (making them in essence compilations) (see "Remasters" 1 & 2 by Led Zep for an example) [compilation] [remaster] etc.

Live

same as today, a live release. The difference however is that one can now chose [compilation] [live] for releases that aren't of a single live 'session', finally solving this issue.

Soundtrack

same as today, with the addition that one can chose [compilation] [soundtrack] for comps of soundtracks, etc.

Composer

this is a new type for releases that utilise the ClassicalStyleGuide (where the artist in the !track/album is the composer of the work, not the performer). Here [album] [composer] is for your typical "full works" and [compilation] [composer] for releases with several works by the one or more composers on the same release.

Highlights

after discussion with Clutcher I agree. this should be (at least) a subtype in its own right. please use with Composer style or Soundtrack

Data

this is for releases that are either

• a) audiofile discs, cd's full of audio files such as mp3's or ogg

• b) multimedia 2 session disc (bad name please change) cd's that typically have 2 sessions, one which is data and the other which is comprised regular of audiotracks, such discs are typically computer-Game CD's or CD-lens cleaners.

Demo

a new type. a demo is released by an unknown band to promote themselves, usually released in a crude format such as a homeburnt CDR or homemade cassette (f.ex blink-182's Buddha demo). Alternately a demo can be an early version of a song, recorded before the final layout of the song has been... layed out. The demo release type is not for releases that were, either commercially, officially or unofficially, compiled and released after the final cut/album was released.

Bonus

after discussion with Shepard this makes sense. mod #3576131 excellent example of why 'bonus' needs to be added.

Other

ideally this type should now be obsolete, it should however be retained because a) we still lave loads of releases with this type and b) no matter how you try to cater for releases there is going to be the odd one out that breaks the mold.

Spokenword

this is now a heading type. it is still used the same as before. however it is implied that if something is 'audiobook' or 'interview' it is also at the same time 'spokenword'

Interview

same as today, for interview discs

Audiobook

same as today, for audiobooks

Radio play

a new subtype, as requested by Shepard: "At the moment many actual radio plays are stored as Audiobooks in the db - this is wrong. And audiobook is just a book read by one person. A radio play is an audio play with many different characters and background sounds and stuff"

other narrative

other spokenword type releases not already covered.

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See also

• ReleaseRegionStyle - proposal for restructuring release countries to wider release regions

• ReleaseDataSet - a proposal on how to restructure other release data

• AlbumRework - a comprehensive proposal which makes use of the types defined here

• misc link: bla

Discussion

Please see ReleaseTypeRestructuringDiscussion

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CategoryProposal