Music Business Terms Talking the Industry Talk

If you're trying to get started in the music business, it can sound like everyone is speaking a different language, with all of their demos, promos, one sheets and whozits and whatzits. Don't know the lingo? Don't sweat it! These basic music industry terms will give you all of the vocab you need to talk like an old hat music biz pro. If you want to know more about any of the terms here, just click on the word and you'll go to a more in depth definition.

360 Deals

An increasingly common major label deal structure in which the label not only earns income from the sale of recorded music of their artists but also gets a cut of other artist income, including money generated by touring and merchandise sales.

Big Four LabelsAgent

Someone who liaises with promoters and venues to book gigs for bands. (Sometimes people use the term "agent" when they really mean "manager" - careful!)

Major record labels.

Demo

A sample recording of a band's music. Often rough recordings or early versions of "songs in progress."

Big Four Labels

Major record labels.

Demo

A sample recording of a band's music. Often rough recordings or early versions of "songs in progress."

Big Four Labels

Major record labels.

Demo

A sample recording of a band's music. Often rough recordings or early versions of "songs in progress."