What Is Music Metadata?

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Күн бұрын

How do you add metadata to music files? What is metadata in music? This video is audio metadata explained, including what metadata to add to an mp3, AIFF or WAV music file. Embed metadata to an mp3 file all the way to what metadata is needed for music licensing.
In this video, Michael gives a music metadata how to, and also goes through a great metadata strategy for sending music to production music libraries to get your music on film and TV.
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• What Is Music Metadata?
#MusicMetadata #MetadataMusic #AddMetadataToMusicFile

Пікірлер: 65

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

Do you add any extra fields to your metadata? Any cool tips you have for writing great track descriptions for your metadata? What do you do for "better meta?!" Comment below!

@mikecirasuolo6069 11 ай бұрын

Thank you Michael, As always valuable information! Appreciate your time spent

@barrytunes 3 жыл бұрын

Terrific video with information I wouldn't have found anywhere else. Thank you, Michael!

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Barry - appreciate that! Glad you found it useful!!

@modernman4269 Жыл бұрын

thank you Michael for sharing and your kindness

@lauraprincipato8079 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 👍 This is the most comprehensible explanation of metadata application on the whole of you tube. He explains the who, what, when, where and why. 👏

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Aww Laura, that's so great to hear! Thanks for your kind words!!

@andreasfranzmann9634 3 жыл бұрын

Michael that stuff is golden! Thank you so much for sharing! All the best, Andy

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andy!!

@raymondspagnuolo8222 2 жыл бұрын

So very helpful. Thanks for posting!

@RogerBadgerDSFlyer Жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you. Covered exactly what I wanted to find out.

@jadlad9666 8 ай бұрын

Very helpful, thank you!

@natanael2585 Жыл бұрын

Wow... Thank you so much for providing all the information about Metadata in details! God Bless You Man!!!😊

@robertogomesmusic 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@MichaelFix 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent (& important) information! Thanks for creating these videos.

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Michael! Glad you enjoyed it!

@lorendigiorgi 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent info, Michael! I’ve known the importance of accurate metadata for some time, but never thought of saving it to a spreadsheet for ease of use later on.

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Loren! Yes the spreadsheet approach really helps. Bit of a pain in the butt at the time, but makes life easier later!

@MrSkunky2009 2 жыл бұрын

GREAT INSIGHTS !!!

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Rob!! 🙌🏽

@jigsound 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, Michael! This is an extremely important topic. We started with the spreadsheet route, but immediately realized that with our particular business strategy this was just too much work (relatively fast-paced production and anywhere from 20 to 40 edits per track for maximum commercial flexibility out of the box and multiple marketplace platforms / music libraries for non-exclusive licensing, each with a different metadata format). Eventually, we decided to write an in-house metadata management software, which is the backbone of our whole business today. After the substance, of course, I hope. 😁 It handles everything from organizing DAW projects into album folder structures to inputting, importing, and formatting metadata, and exporting CSVs, packaging ZIPs and watermarking the MP3 previews. The template for importing and exporting is set up with an internal "markup language" with which we can build dynamic recipes for each library. This way, we can offer our entire catalog or any part of it to be represented by a new partner with virtually no additional work/cost on our behalf, and precisely in the desired format: just one ZIP file containing every WAV file, and a CSV file containing all the requested the metadata. PS. Of the categories you mention, the soundalike metadata is actually the only part we have omitted from filling into our database to date, as less and less marketplaces accept copyright-protected tags for their search. Maybe it is a bit differently with the boutique libraries? BR Eero

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

🙌🏽🙌🏽YES!!! Impressive stuff indeed! This sounds like a great method for your considerable output. Certainly if you’re targeting the non-exclusives and it’s something you’re therefore having to deliver several times instead of just once. Agreed with the sound alikes, (I think it was the Eminem soundalike debacle in Australia that was a catalyst for a lot of this nervousness) though I know a couple of libraries that ask for this info, but hide it as a displayed search option. Weird! Thanks for sharing your methods. Sounds like you guys are doing meta at a super efficient level: amazing!! 🙌🏽

@jigsound 3 жыл бұрын

@@MusicForIncome, my pleasure! 😊 I kind of guessed that the libraries hide the soundalike information from the end-user in order to protect themselves from these lawsuits that seem to pop up every now and then nowadays. It is a shame the times have changed so much in the recent years into such a blurry and ambiguous direction in this regard; I have a lot of quality pastiche (all original compositions, though) sitting on my hard drive that I'm too afraid to put out there, and ironically, at the same time I hear a lot, say, "less imaginative" parody tracks getting away with it on major tv productions. 🤔 - Eero

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

@@jigsound Yeah, for me personally, the pastiche route just isn’t worth the risk nowadays. As you know, Library music contracts put any liability for copyright infringement solely at the door of the composer. Getting general inspiration from several tracks is very different to just trying to duplicate/pastiche one existing track.

@jigsound 3 жыл бұрын

@@MusicForIncome, I've taken a similar stance on the matter to try to be on the safe side. With the blurriness and ambiguity I refer to the reality that today even a general insipiration can be claimed as a copyright infringement if the courtroom people can be persuaded with an argument about "a similar feeling/atmosphere", which is a subjective experience rather than a provable copyright violation in terms of musical content.

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

@@jigsound Certainly makes sense to stay of the safe side of these things!

@jdubbs9655 2 ай бұрын

Michael, new sub. here. Thank you for sharing this valuable information with us! "Keep Doing That Voodoo That You Do!"

@MusicForIncome 2 ай бұрын

Appreciate you! Thank you!!!

@SharmaYelverton 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael. Quick question, I often have a variable BPM throughout my tracks, ether slightly tempo variations for realism or actually tempo changes per section. What would you suggest in this case for tempo meta data?

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Sharma. Great question. Personally, if they are just slight variations here and there, I'd go for the bpm the track stays at for the longest.

@musicmediaproductions 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you for your time! We are extremely new to this field and your channels have helped us out tremendously! Question #1: How do you add metadata into the AIF files and wave? (we are using a Macbookpro) Question #2: How do you make a spreadsheet for metadata? Thanks again and have a great day!

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and kind words! Yes of course, happy to try to help you out. You can use good old iTunes to add meta to an AIFF. The only tagging system in wide usage for WAV is the Broadcast Wave Format (also known as a BWAV.) If you have already ripped your music as WAV files you can convert them to AIFF using iTunes. This is easy to do. Simply highlight all the WAV files you wish to convert and then use the “Advanced” drop down menu from the iTunes nav bar and select “Convert to AIFF.” Be certain that you have enough available hard drive space as this will temporarily double the amount of storage occupied by the music files you’ve chosen to convert. Then you can always delete the WAVs after the copy. For a metadata spreadsheet, simply open a new excel file (or Numbers program if you’re on a mac) and fill in the top fields of the columns with the categories talked about in the video. Hope that all helps, like and subscribe if you want, we’d love to have you here in the community with us!

@musicmediaproductions 3 жыл бұрын

@@MusicForIncome Thank you so much!! Hope you have a great Friday and a fabulous weekend!

@MusicForIncome 3 жыл бұрын

@@musicmediaproductions And you, my friend!

@raymondspagnuolo8222 2 жыл бұрын

@@MusicForIncome The tip about BWAV to AIFF was very helpful! Thanks.

@backpackingvillager1480 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you but still got some questions. 1. When using music aggregator to get auto uploaded on Spotify or YT, do I have add metadata before or after uploading on MA? 2. Using MA, I would like to upload wav track but I cannot able to add metadata on wav file. So how do I do this? 3. If suppose I release wav track with metadata , then if somebody downloaded that track via Spotify or third party as mp3, will that mp3 automatically have metadata in it? 4. About the info, I wrote lyrics and I'm also the vocal but the instrumental is done by the producer with my little main melody but he also added the melody as most of it. So who is the main composer here? 5. I would like to use my artist name as different than Original name but I want to add my Original name on the lyrics. Is this good idea or should I use artist name on both as vocals and lyrics?

@StephenRidley 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the excellent details here! About the 'DAW Title' (great name for it hah): What about the actual AIFF file name? Does that matter? For instance, I'll enter a proper song name into my metadata fields, but the actual file still has a DAW title. Is that bad? Seems like the filename shouldn't matter as long as your metadata is correct.

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Stephen! I’d add a column for your reference of DAW title, next to the actual track title that the final file should be labelled as. Just delete the DAW titles when sending the meta sheet to libraries, as they’ll obviously have no need for that and it may we’ll confuse matters! Useful for you though. Hope that helps!

@sumannath99 2 жыл бұрын

I have a question my friend, what is the "MOST ACCURATE WAY TO SAVE ID3 MP3 music FILES?" What is the first thing I need to do, second, third, etc? What are the most important things to add, edit, omit, change, delete in the music metadata? How can I make my "PLAYLIST LOOK LIKE SPOTIFY ACCOUNT"? What is the best and latest id3 mp3 tags editor? Thank you!

@jenniferwaldren7111 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your video, Michael. I'm about to send my first recorded song to a distributor, but according to their website, they say "Unfortunately any metadata you have embedded in your audio files will be not be retained once we complete our processing." Why would a songwriter use this distributor? And how would sales and downloads be tracked without this information attached to the audio file? First timer, here....😐

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Jennifer! Hope you're well! I can't really speak to their specific policies but I do feel that these are totally legit questions to ask them. You have some good options out there re. distributors so I do feel they should be upfront with answering these questions. I'd say drop them a line to ask some questions and to get really clear on how they operate.

@zugo-tg7125 Жыл бұрын

When it comes to physical medium releases however, the data would have to come from the booklet or other associated artwork.

@SharmaYelverton 2 жыл бұрын

Hey again, regarding Era, what do you put if your music is non era specific cinematic orchestral music?

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Some folks write "Soundtrack" "Cinematic" or something along those lines.

@JohnsTechBlog 2 жыл бұрын

I struggle to find soundalikes for many of my instrumental tracks. Do you have any suggestions on how to find them, please?

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Great question, John! i have no idea! You mean tracks that sound like what you've written in terms of metadata?

@BenCaesar 11 ай бұрын

Just watched a video that said iTunes optimizes the metadata on the program for Apple ecosystem. Not sure if it's true but worth using a cross platform metadata program.

@timyoung5230 Жыл бұрын

Most of these posts are going back a year, so Ido not know if you are still following this post or not. But, I have a ? regarding IPI numbers, because I recently spoke with dome from Folk Alliance International, and they said to include the ISRC number, and I wrote back to him and he said that I could include both the ISRC, and IPI number, and I am wondering if one or the other could be used, and what are your thoughts about using both.

@LenGreenblat 2 ай бұрын

What software are you using to enter Metadata? I want to add my Metadata myself without a distributor. Do all platforms recognize all TAGS? For example, if someone uses your music on KZfaq, will it recognize the TAGS and report it to your PRO? I read somewhere that Microsoft does not recognize all TAGS entered in Metadata, rather it more often recognizes Metadata entered as INFO. Also, are WAV files recognized?

@DiscoCentral Жыл бұрын

When MetaData is completed do you have to 'Save' anywhere then 'Export' to a suitable file?

@heyjesusson 2 жыл бұрын

The spreadsheet for the metadata can be done from a regular spreadsheet editor yeah? anyone?

@creatingnearcalvados6069 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I have a real problem I can't get answered. I have some co-writers on some of my tracks, but they are happy to sign things off to me to deal with. They don't have any affiliation with Performing Rights organisations and don't want to. How do I deal with that if they are happy for me to do so?

@tomkent4656 2 жыл бұрын

How do I get the metadata spreadsheet to appear?

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Tom. You’ll need to open up an excel or numbers file (Mac) and create one yourself, using the headings suggested in the video. Doesn’t take long.

@earlkeith4135 9 ай бұрын

Embedding #ISRC CODE???

@rickhorvath 2 жыл бұрын

iTunes doesn’t work. Mp3tag is the best option.

@MusicForIncome 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Rick. 👋🏽What problem are you encountering with iTunes? Working fine here…

@zugo-tg7125 Жыл бұрын

@@MusicForIncome It may be that iTunes only supports about 5 formats, those being WAV/AIFF, MP3, AAC, and ALAC. Or also that its metadata editing capabilities are rather limited. In my experience either MP3Tag or Foobar2000 work for more use cases.

@michellegalasmusicofficial 2 жыл бұрын

Once you put the song on itunes and write all infos how to extract the mp3 from the itunes , Could you show us how to do with windows i click on the track but i can not see nowhere to write the datas. Thank you in advance.