MWN Terminology for Creations

Various terms are used to describe creations of all types that are included in the structure of the message formats of the DDEX standards. This article describes the terminology that is used by DDEX mainly in the context of the MWN standard.

Cue

A cue provides data describing when, in what way and for how long a musical work, sound recording or other creation is used in another resource.

The MWN standard does not cover the provision of cues data yet, although some of the data that may form part of the exploitation data included in the MusicalWorkClaimNotificationMessage may relate to cues. Data relating to cues form part of the ERN standard, see here. Data relating to cues are considered to be included as a form of exploitation in the next version of the MWN standard.

Exploitation

The term exploitation means an embodiment of a musical work in a complex creation e.g. an audio-visual production or a set list for a performance, that usually also uses other musical works. This is distinct from simply embodying a musical work in a sound recording or music video.

The MWN standard version 1.3 provides an ExploitationList the data contained in which may describethe embodiment of musical works other than in sound recordings or music videos and this thus enables the communication of data about such exploitations to business partners.

Music Video

An audio-visual recording of the performance of a musical work.

The MWN standard version 1.3 provides a ResourceList with a Video composite the data contained in which may describe the embodiment of musical works in music videos and this thus enables the communication of data about such resources to business partners.

Musical Work

A musical work is a distinct, abstract creation of the mind intended to be perceivable as a combination of sounds, with or without accompanying text. Any words that are intended to be expressed with a musical work (often termed lyrics) form part of that musical work. Not all musical works have lyrics. A musical work may be expressed and fixed to become part of a sound recording or a music video, or may be used to create notated music (sheet music, scores, instrumental parts) or sound generation codes (such as MIDI files). In some cases, the musical work comes into existence simultaneously with its expression. This is common in extemporised forms such as jazz music.

The MWN standard version 1.3 provides a WorkList the data contained in which may describe musical works and this thus enables the communication of data about such musical works to business partners.

Release

A release is an abstract entity representing a bundle of one or more resources compiled by the issuer of the release, usually a record company or distributor. The resources in releases are normally primarily sound recordings or music videos, but this is not invariably the case. The release is not itself the item of trade (or “product”). Products have more extensive attributes than releases. For example, one release may be disseminated in many different products.

The MWN standard version 1.3 provides a ReleaseList the data contained in which may describe releases of resources embodying musical works and this this enables the communication of data about such releases to business partners.

Resource

A resource is a digital fixation of an expression of an abstract work (such as a sound recording, a music video, an image, software or a passage of text). Resources are individual assets that make up a release. Typical resources are sound recordings, music video and cover art images.

The MWN standard version 1.3 provides a ResourceList the data contained in which may describe resources embodying musical works and this thus enables the communication of data about such resources to business partners.

Sound Recording

A sound recording is an audible persistent manifestation of a subject (often but not necessarily of a performance). Sound Recordings may embody one or more musical works.

The MWN standard version 1.3 provides a ResourceList with a SoundRecording composite the data contained in which may describe sound recordings embodying musical works and this thus enables the communication of data about sound recordings to business partners.

Video Release

Conceptually, this is the same as a release except that the one or more resources a video release contains have an audio-visual element embodying musical works and may also contain sound recordings embodying musical works.

The following figure illustrates these terms and the relationships between them. Terms described in this Knowledge Base article are shown in blue boxes.