Single (music)

A music release centered on one principal song, sometimes accompanied by additional tracks. Singles are issued in formats ranging from vinyl records and CDs to digital downloads and streaming.

A-side and B-side: The primary and secondary sides of a two-sided record, traditionally associated with a single’s main track and its companion. The distinction shaped how singles packaged a featured song with another recording.
Digital distribution: The delivery of recorded music to listeners through online services and digital storefronts. Online distribution lets a single reach audiences without a physical pressing.
78 rpm record: A shellac disc format commonly played at 78 revolutions per minute, used for recorded music in the early twentieth century. Its limited playing time favored issuing songs individually on discs.
Lead single: The first song released to promote an upcoming album or project. A lead single introduces the campaign surrounding a larger release.
Studio album: A collection of studio-recorded tracks released as a unified album. An album presents a larger body of work rather than centering on one principal song.
Double A-side: A single that promotes two tracks as equally important lead songs. It departs from the usual hierarchy between a single’s principal song and additional tracks.
Music streaming: The continuous delivery of audio over a network as it is played. Streaming services make individual songs readily available outside album-based formats.
45 rpm record: A small vinyl record format played at 45 revolutions per minute, widely used for singles. It became a standard physical format for single-song releases.
Debut single: An artist’s first officially released single. It can establish an artist’s public identity and initial audience.
Mixtape: A collection of music assembled and released by an artist, often outside conventional album structures. Mixtapes usually emphasize a collection of tracks rather than one featured song.

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