A Guideline for Music Artists: Differences between LP, EP, Mixtape, and Album

Are you an emerging music artist? Are you still not sure about the differences between LP, EP, Mixtape, and album? Get through a complete guideline to have a better understanding.

Musical creations are the greatest assets of music artists that help them create a successful career ahead. In the music industry, there are various terminologies for a music project which is named based on some particular features of the project. Music projects are mainly categorized with 4 different terms namely,

• LP
• EP
• Mixtape
• Album

While these terms are known to everyone, the definitions of these terms are still confusing to many emerging artists. It is highly important to properly define these terms for the artists as without knowing them, they cannot define their music projects either. Let’s take a better look at what these terms actually mean.

LP

LP stands for Long Play which is also similar to album. It is a music project that is made with a collection of several tracks. There will be at least 10 tracks in an LP and the total clock time would be somewhere around 40 minutes. While there are many similarities between an album and an LP, one of the greatest differences is their format. While albums can be virtually released through music streaming platforms, LPs are mostly released via a vinyl format. LP releases take place right after album releases and often consist of more or special tracks that are not present in the album. Many celebrity music artists also release limited edition vinyl records which makes LPs always at the top of public demand than any other physical format of music. It is also one of the important assets for the DJs who produce mixes.

EP

EP is referred to as extended play which is a small musical collection that consists of more than a single. However, it does not have many tracks like an LP or an album. It is more like a collection of 3 to 4 tracks and comes with a clock time of around 25 minutes. EPs have much popularity among fans and listeners and music artists also like to drop EPs when they do not have too many original creations in hand. A lot of artists also like to release two EPs instead of one album or LP which helps them to keep the buzz with a regular interval. Most music artists drop EPs at the initial phase of their career and then they switch to album projects. The EP projects can be also utilized as a prequel or sequel to an album that has already been released. Rick Ross’ The Albert Anastasia EP is one of the greatest examples in this case. It is a pivotal asset in the music industry and everybody seems to like it much.

Mixtape

The mixtape is typically used in hip-hop and R&B music which is also a common way to release projects by the rappers. This typical format helps the artists to create an appeal in the music industry and also among the listeners. The mixtape showcases their talent with a collection of diversified tracks. Mixtapes are especially favorite to the fans as they are not sold in stores commercially, but rather provided with free access so that everyone can stream it online without spending money to listen to it.

Album

The album is the biggest format of a music project that can have a handful of original creations. Whether there are 8 tracks or 20, an album can fit everything. It is a more professionally sound release which is similar to LP but mainly focuses on digital release. Usually, the music artists release the singles first that appear in the album which helps to create anticipation in the market. They do not release all the singles but only 2 or 3 which is enough to make the music lovers curious. Albums are recorded with a finer quality in the studio which is why it is also called a studio album.

Wrapping Up

As a rising music artist in the market, you should be well aware of the aforementioned terms other than just making music. These formats of musical releases look more professional and help to create a lasting impression in the market. Focus on making more projects than crafting a song and you will be a renowned professional artist soon.