Songs in Songkeeper
Learn how songs store composition metadata, lyrics, writers, publishing splits, and links to recording versions and files.
A song is the composition-level record in Songkeeper. It holds the title, lyrics, writers, publishing information, and composition metadata, while each recording version holds the audio-specific details for a particular performance or master.
Quick answer
Use song pages when you need to organize the composition and all of its recordings in one place. Create the song first, then add lyrics, writer splits, publishing details, files, and recording-version metadata from the song detail view.
What Belongs on a Song?
| Information | Where to Put It |
|---|---|
| Title, alternate titles, genre, work type | Song metadata |
| Writers and publishing shares | Song metadata and splits |
| Lyrics and lyric collaboration | Lyrics |
| Artists, performers, credits, master owners, BPM, key, studio | Recording metadata |
| Demos, mixes, masters, stems, assets | Files and audio |
Common Song Tasks
- Start with creating a song when you are adding a new composition to the catalog.
- Read song vs recording versions when you are deciding whether a change belongs on the composition, a recording version, or a file.
- Use managing recording versions when you need separate versions for an acoustic take, remix, live recording, alternate mix, or master.
Song Articles
- Creating SongsCreate a song with a required title, optional primary artist, optional project, and an automatically generated Original recording version.
- LyricsUse the Lyrics tab to autosave lyrics, collaborate with expiring guest links, manage sessions, print, use lyric tools, and lock finalized lyrics.
- Managing VersionsCreate, edit, mark primary, associate projects, and delete recording versions for demos, alternates, live takes, remixes, and masters.
- Song MetadataTrack composition-level fields such as song title, alternate titles, writers, publishing shares, lyrics, ISWC, genre, work type, samples, and notes.
- Song vs Recording VersionsLearn the difference between a song composition, recording version, master, and audio file so credits, ownership, ISRC-bearing files, and assets stay organized.