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Nothing in this part of the wiki should be considered official site policy until it is moved to the public wiki.
Standards for track listings
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Adding track listings to releases in the RYM database isn't always as easy as simply listing 1 through 10. This document will walk you through many of the unique scenarios that may arise when adding track titles and other content to your releases. Please adhere to these guidelines as closely as possible, but feel free to ask questions (via the Rate Your Music message board) if something is unclear or has yet to be addressed.
Tracks for all releases should be listed in standards 1-100 format unless noted below.
Releases on Vinyl, Cassette, or other format containing "sides" should be numbered as in the example below.
For CD releases, numeralize each track number in a "disc number (dot) track number" format. So, Disc One, Track One would be 1.1; Disc Two, Track Five would be 2.5; and so on.
If a unique title is given to each disc, write the title of the disc in bold above the corresponding tracks. Do not use disc numbering (Disc 1, CD2 etc.) in the headers.
For Vinyl releases, double (or triple, etc.) albums should be listed using an A-B-C-D "side" system, where A and B represent the first disc, C and D represent the second, and so on.
For any vinyl release with only one track on one side, track numbers are not necessary. Listing the track simply as A or B is sufficient.
For 8 Tracks, label each program P1, P2, P3, and P4 in the track number field and list each track, preceded with a dash, under its program.
Please consult the Capitalization standards for an outline on how titles should be properly capitalized on RYM. Take special note of the Capitalization standards for other languages if the release is written in a language other than English.
If a track title appears to be spelled incorrectly on the cover, please do not attempt to correct it, but enter it as it appears on the cover. Sometimes track titles are deliberately misspelled and/or spelling mistakes can be a valuable tool to identify different issues of the same release.
Neither external links nor RYM shortcuts should be used in the track list. The only exception is artist links, as described in Various Artists releases below.
Track times may be sourced from one of the three following sources (listed in order of preference):
1. Outer packaging (back cover, outer sleeve)
2. Inner packaging (booklet, inner sleeve)
3. Printed on media itself (CD, vinyl, cassette)
For analog recordings (e.g. Vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) which do not have track times listed anywhere on the packaging the track times should be left blank.
For digital formats, track times may also be sourced from the following if the time is not available from one of the above sources:
4. Media player (CD/DVD player or software media players)
5. Internet source, but only if the source includes sufficient information to confirm it is for the exact same issue (so it includes the catalog number, format, etc.)
For the purpose of the track timing policy, all formats on the release editing page including in the sections "Digital" or "Optical" are considered digital releases. All other formats fall under the "Analog" rules.
If there is a significant difference (more than 10 second) between the length noted on the release and the actual length of a track on a digital release, record the actual (factual) time in the track listing and note the printed time in the release notes.
Release notes can also be used to record how timings may differ on different areas of the packaging, e.g. if the timings printed on the label of the LP differ from those on the back of the sleeve.
For compilations, split releases, or any other scenario that may require multiple artists to be listed, please follow the below standards.
If a featured performer is listed as part of a track title on an album's packaging, do not enter it as part of the track listing. Instead, enter the artist in the Credits section of the page, using the role "featured artist" and specifying the track(s) on which the artist appears.
When you enter a featured artist in credits, their name will automatically appear in the track listing next to the appropriate tracks with the text "feat." preceding the name.
Similarly, collaborations on tracks should be entered in credits with the role "guest performance". They will appear in the tracklisting as "with ".
Much like how 7" Single titles are to be formatted, always use a space before and after words separated with a forward slash in track titles. Cases of artistic intent are not exempt from this rule.
Multiple format releases (DualDiscs, CDs with bonus DVDs, albums with bonus 7"s, etc.) should be entered with the format of the disc in bold above its corresponding tracks.
For text that is not part of an actual song title, but included in the release's track listing, (parentheses) should be used. This is frequently found for demo tracks, live tracks, and remixes. For example, if a track is listed as "Song (Demo Version)" on the album's sleeve notes, it should remain that way and be capitalized as if they were part of the title when entered here.
[brackets] should only be used for editorial text: information that is added by a RYM user and not actually listed as part of the track listing. Keep in mind that inclusion of such [editorial text] should not be liberal and RYM moderators can deny your submission if they feel the additional text is unnecessary. Stick to essential info in as minimal a fashion as possible.
There are tracks that are composed of multiple parts, each part with its own name, all under the umbrella of one single-named track. Provided that the CD issue has not divided each of these parts into its own Track #, there are 2 ways to list these.
Oftentimes an artist will list a track as being only, say, 3:48, when in fact the track runs for 20:35. Maybe the official name of the song will only run those 3:48, but the track continues in silence for 10:03, before bursting into another section of music/sound. Sometimes this hidden section will even have a name listed somewhere (liner notes, website, interview with artist, etc.) Try listing this like you would treat a Suite:
For releases with consecutive silent tracks, collapse them into one track and add the durations. For example, tracks 1 through 12 are 0:05 each.
Oftentimes an artist will record music/sound over the "minus time" between two tracks on a CD (known as the "pre-gap"). To avoid confusion, simply put a "-" (minus) before the track number it precedes. For instance:
If a release contains Enhanced content, list the content under a header titled "Enhanced Content" in bold. Only audio and video material should be listed. Do not enter any images, web links etc. as Enhanced content. Do not number the content.
A header (in bold) should be used to give a unique title for an important section of the contents of the video release. This, for example, may include Main Program, Promo Videos, Live at the Marquee, etc. If the sections are not named on the package, they should be formatted as editorial text: [video tracks], [photo gallery], etc. Tracks should be numbered starting from 1 within each section.
For special features or extras that are not part of the main contents of the video release and have no specific order in which they are played, each special feature should be listed with a hyphen (-) (not numbered). If one special feature has multiple items underneath, you should use the layout for Tracks that are multi-part suites.
Multi-disc releases follow the same layout as listed above in the Multi-disc releases section.
Contents |
Numbering tracks
Single disc releases
Tracks for all releases should be listed in standards 1-100 format unless noted below.
CD Release; where tracks are simply listed 1-12.
Releases on Vinyl, Cassette, or other format containing "sides" should be numbered as in the example below.
Vinyl Release; where A and B indicate the side of the record and numbers indicate the song position.
Multi-disc releases
For CD releases, numeralize each track number in a "disc number (dot) track number" format. So, Disc One, Track One would be 1.1; Disc Two, Track Five would be 2.5; and so on.
If a unique title is given to each disc, write the title of the disc in bold above the corresponding tracks. Do not use disc numbering (Disc 1, CD2 etc.) in the headers.
For Vinyl releases, double (or triple, etc.) albums should be listed using an A-B-C-D "side" system, where A and B represent the first disc, C and D represent the second, and so on.
Vinyl with one track on a side
For any vinyl release with only one track on one side, track numbers are not necessary. Listing the track simply as A or B is sufficient.
8 Tracks
For 8 Tracks, label each program P1, P2, P3, and P4 in the track number field and list each track, preceded with a dash, under its program.
Capitalization
Please consult the Capitalization standards for an outline on how titles should be properly capitalized on RYM. Take special note of the Capitalization standards for other languages if the release is written in a language other than English.
Spelling
If a track title appears to be spelled incorrectly on the cover, please do not attempt to correct it, but enter it as it appears on the cover. Sometimes track titles are deliberately misspelled and/or spelling mistakes can be a valuable tool to identify different issues of the same release.
External links and shortcuts
Neither external links nor RYM shortcuts should be used in the track list. The only exception is artist links, as described in Various Artists releases below.
Durations
Track times may be sourced from one of the three following sources (listed in order of preference):
1. Outer packaging (back cover, outer sleeve)
2. Inner packaging (booklet, inner sleeve)
3. Printed on media itself (CD, vinyl, cassette)
For analog recordings (e.g. Vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) which do not have track times listed anywhere on the packaging the track times should be left blank.
Digital releases
For digital formats, track times may also be sourced from the following if the time is not available from one of the above sources:
4. Media player (CD/DVD player or software media players)
5. Internet source, but only if the source includes sufficient information to confirm it is for the exact same issue (so it includes the catalog number, format, etc.)
For the purpose of the track timing policy, all formats on the release editing page including in the sections "Digital" or "Optical" are considered digital releases. All other formats fall under the "Analog" rules.
Release notes
If there is a significant difference (more than 10 second) between the length noted on the release and the actual length of a track on a digital release, record the actual (factual) time in the track listing and note the printed time in the release notes.
Release notes can also be used to record how timings may differ on different areas of the packaging, e.g. if the timings printed on the label of the LP differ from those on the back of the sleeve.
Various Artists releases
For compilations, split releases, or any other scenario that may require multiple artists to be listed, please follow the below standards.
Tracks should be listed artist first, followed by song title. Between the artist name and the track name should be a dash ( - ), with a space before and after. If available, the shortcut should be listed.
It is encouraged to use shortcuts when listing releases with remixes or other multi-artist collaborations.
Credits / Featured artists
If a featured performer is listed as part of a track title on an album's packaging, do not enter it as part of the track listing. Instead, enter the artist in the Credits section of the page, using the role "featured artist" and specifying the track(s) on which the artist appears.
When you enter a featured artist in credits, their name will automatically appear in the track listing next to the appropriate tracks with the text "feat." preceding the name.
Similarly, collaborations on tracks should be entered in credits with the role "guest performance". They will appear in the tracklisting as "with ".
Track titles with forward slashes
Much like how 7" Single titles are to be formatted, always use a space before and after words separated with a forward slash in track titles. Cases of artistic intent are not exempt from this rule.
Multiple format releases
Multiple format releases (DualDiscs, CDs with bonus DVDs, albums with bonus 7"s, etc.) should be entered with the format of the disc in bold above its corresponding tracks.
Annotated text: (Parentheses) vs. [brackets]
(Parentheses)
For text that is not part of an actual song title, but included in the release's track listing, (parentheses) should be used. This is frequently found for demo tracks, live tracks, and remixes. For example, if a track is listed as "Song (Demo Version)" on the album's sleeve notes, it should remain that way and be capitalized as if they were part of the title when entered here.
[brackets]
[brackets] should only be used for editorial text: information that is added by a RYM user and not actually listed as part of the track listing. Keep in mind that inclusion of such [editorial text] should not be liberal and RYM moderators can deny your submission if they feel the additional text is unnecessary. Stick to essential info in as minimal a fashion as possible.
For example, if you wanted to indicate a bonus track, you could enter RYM Song [bonus track]. The editorial text should remain lowercase:
Tracks without titles should be indicated as [untitled]:
Track names that do not use text and cannot be represented by typed characters should be described briefly in brackets:
Tracks that are multi-part suites
There are tracks that are composed of multiple parts, each part with its own name, all under the umbrella of one single-named track. Provided that the CD issue has not divided each of these parts into its own Track #, there are 2 ways to list these.
Example 1: The parts are notated by alpha characters (a, b, c, d, etc.) or Roman Numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.)
Example 2: The parts are not notated, except by commas or other punctuation.
Tracks with hidden length
Oftentimes an artist will list a track as being only, say, 3:48, when in fact the track runs for 20:35. Maybe the official name of the song will only run those 3:48, but the track continues in silence for 10:03, before bursting into another section of music/sound. Sometimes this hidden section will even have a name listed somewhere (liner notes, website, interview with artist, etc.) Try listing this like you would treat a Suite:
Consecutive silent tracks
For releases with consecutive silent tracks, collapse them into one track and add the durations. For example, tracks 1 through 12 are 0:05 each.
"Minus time" tracks
Oftentimes an artist will record music/sound over the "minus time" between two tracks on a CD (known as the "pre-gap"). To avoid confusion, simply put a "-" (minus) before the track number it precedes. For instance:
Enhanced content
If a release contains Enhanced content, list the content under a header titled "Enhanced Content" in bold. Only audio and video material should be listed. Do not enter any images, web links etc. as Enhanced content. Do not number the content.
Video releases
Single disc releases
A header (in bold) should be used to give a unique title for an important section of the contents of the video release. This, for example, may include Main Program, Promo Videos, Live at the Marquee, etc. If the sections are not named on the package, they should be formatted as editorial text: [video tracks], [photo gallery], etc. Tracks should be numbered starting from 1 within each section.
For special features or extras that are not part of the main contents of the video release and have no specific order in which they are played, each special feature should be listed with a hyphen (-) (not numbered). If one special feature has multiple items underneath, you should use the layout for Tracks that are multi-part suites.
Multi-disc releases
Multi-disc releases follow the same layout as listed above in the Multi-disc releases section.