Okuzeka
Music vocabulary · The Music Industry

Single

Meaning in music, with examples

/ˈsɪŋɡəl/nounCore term

In music, single means: One song released on its own, often to promote an upcoming album or to keep listeners interested between larger releases.

In Turkish: single, tekli

How it is used

Labels choose a 'lead single' to introduce an album, then release a 'second single'. Artists 'put out a single' or have a 'hit single'. Many independent artists now release a series of singles instead of albums.

Example sentences

  1. The lead single reached the top ten two weeks after its release.

  2. Instead of an album, we're putting out a new single every six weeks this year.

Common collocations

  • lead single
  • release a single
  • hit single
  • debut single
  • new single
  • releaseTo make a song, album or video available to the public, for example on streaming platforms, in shops or on video sites.
  • EPShort for extended play: a release longer than a single but shorter than an album, usually with about four to six tracks.
  • streamingListening to music over the internet without downloading it to keep, through services such as Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music. It is now the main source of recorded-music income.
  • record labelA company that finances, releases, distributes and promotes recordings, usually in exchange for ownership of the recordings or a share of their income.
  • trackA single song on an album or release. In a studio or DAW, it also means one separate recorded part, such as the drum track or the vocal track.

More terms: The Music Industry

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