Songs vs Recordings
Understanding the difference between compositions and performances in music production
The Confusion Every Producer Faces
When you're starting out, it's natural to think: "I made a song, I have a file, what's the big deal?" But here's the thing - the music industry has been making this distinction for over a century, and there are really good reasons why.
Think of it like this: a song is an idea, and a recording is a performance of that idea. The Beatles wrote "Yesterday," but there are thousands of recordings of it by different artists. Each recording is unique, but they're all versions of the same song.
How Songkeeper Organizes Your Music
There are three levels in our system:
1. Song (The Composition)
The creative idea itself. For example: "Midnight Dreams"
- Code - International Standard Musical Work Code
- Songwriters - Who wrote the
- - Who owns the publishing
- Lyrics & Chords - The written elements
2. Recording Version (The Performance)
How you performed the song. For example: "Midnight Dreams (Radio Edit)"
- Production Status
- Featured Artists
- Master Ownership
- Project Assignment
3. Recording Files (The Assets)
The actual audio files associated with each recording version:
- Demo.wav
- Mix_v1.wav
- Master.wav
- Stems.zip
Visual Overview
Here's how these three levels relate to each other:
Real-World Example: "Love Song"
You and your writing partner create a composition called "Love Song". It gets an ISWC code, you split the publishing 50/50, and register it with ASCAP.
From that single song, you might create multiple recordings:
Recording 1: "Love Song (Acoustic)"
- Solo acoustic version for Instagram
- You own 100% of this master recording
- Files: Demo.mp3, Final.wav
Recording 2: "Love Song (Band Version)"
- Full band arrangement featuring Sarah on vocals
- You own 60%, Sarah owns 40% of this master
- Files: Rough_Mix.wav, Master_v1.wav, Master_Final.wav
Recording 3: "Love Song (Remix)"
- Electronic remix by DJ Alex
- You own 30%, Alex owns 70% of this master recording
- Files: Remix_Demo.mp3, Club_Mix.wav, Radio_Edit.wav
Why This Matters
Money Flows Differently
Publishing Royalties (from the song) - Every time any version gets played on radio, streaming, or performed live
Master Recording Royalties (from each recording) - Only when that specific recording gets played or sold
Different ID Systems
ISWC Code (for songs) - Identifies the composition for publishing royalties
Code (for recordings) - Each final recording gets its own code for tracking
How Songkeeper Makes This Easy
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Organize Compositions | Keep track of who wrote what, publishing splits, and lyrics |
| Track Versions | Multiple recordings of the same song, each with different owners and uses |
| Manage Files | Demos, mixes, masters, and stems all organized under the right version |
Getting Started: Your First Song
- Create the Song - Add the composition with writers, genre, and basic info
- Add a Recording Version - Create your first performance of that song
- Upload Your Files - Add your demo, mix, master - whatever you have