Here at Hazey Studios, we aim to provide the highest-quality experience when recording your music. Part of what makes us different is that we don't just want to take your money and let you go with sub-par recordings—we want to ensure the creatives that work with us understand all of their marketing options.

One challenge newcomers often face is deciding whether they want us to help produce a single, EP, or album. With that in mind, we thought we'd dig into each format and help answer all the basics, like how many songs can be called a single or what is an EP? Read on to learn more!

Quick Definitions

Single: A music release typically featuring one track, focused on promoting 1 song.

EP (Extended Play): A music release that is longer than a single but shorter than an album, usually containing 4 to 6 tracks.

Album: A comprehensive music release with a collection of multiple tracks, usually around 10 to 12 songs, often sharing a common theme or idea

What is a Single?

Where did it start?

The single has undergone the most transformation of the three terms we're examining. In the past, when most music was recorded to and played from vinyl records, the single was typically two songs.

The first song is the headline title that would (hopefully) play on the radio and be named on the sleeve, and the opposite side of the record was referred to as a B-Side.

Until the development of the digital music age, a single meant (usually) two songs or two versions of the same song.

Where are we now?

Nowadays, music is typically streamed from platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Since there is no physical product, artists often release only one song at a time.

Without the pressure to create two impressive tracks, new artists can use singles as an easy way to introduce themselves to the industry and gain traction on social media.

Another benefit of a single is the reduced time and budget needed to record it, allowing artists to take more creative risks and see how their music is received.

It's worth noting that despite everything we've said above, some of the various music platforms do still accept multiple tracks as singles, as listed below:

TuneCore – One track is a single
iTunes – 1 to 3 tracks, under 30 minutes, and less than 10 minutes per track
Spotify – 1 to 3 tracks and under 30 minutes

What is an EP?

EP stands for Extended Play. EPs are between a single and an album in length and tracks. A typical EP is a collection of 4 to 6 tracks with a playtime of around 20-30 minutes.

The EP concept is very flexible, meaning that music that differs from the artist's core style can be released, either as an experiment, testing the waters for a new direction, or simply because the tracks are good but don't fit in with the artist's normal content.

In addition, Eps offer an opportunity to engage with fans while keeping your budget down while you work on your masterpiece album. This keeps your fans excited to hear from you. After all, you don't want to be the subject of a YouTube "Where are they now?" video because your adoring fans haven't heard from you in 2 years.

One thing to note is that the term EP is a holdover from the era of vinyl. Many platforms only offer singles or albums in terms of musical definition, and there really is no limit on an artist's ability to release EPs with additional remixes of one or more of the songs on the EP. Nonetheless, the EP remains an important and useful definition for a mid-sized musical release.

What is an album?

As you may guess at this point, the difference between EP and album again comes down to the number of tracks and the length.

Typically, an album contains 10-12 tracks and has a playtime of over 40 minutes. It is seen as the pinnacle of creation for musicians. Truly great albums that work together as a cohesive body of work can stand the test of time and be listened to generations later.

While singles offer a quick way to gain a following for a lucky few, the album is by far the best way to grow your fan base and display your musical talent. Albums also help you connect with corporate partners, perform shows and tours, and much more.

Conclusion

While it mattered in the past, today, it really doesn't matter whether you opt to release a single song, a multi-song single, an EP or a full album, at least in terms of ease of access for your fans. However, understanding the difference between EP and Album remains useful for classifying your work, and as your body of work grows, your listeners will come to know what they can expect from you as an artist.

If you're ready to step into the recording studio, come check out Hazey Studios, located close to Hackney Downs station, London. We provide an experienced and friendly sound engineer of your choosing who will discuss your preferences and goals for the session. Contact us today!

FAQs

How many tracks on an album?

An album typically has 10 to 12 tracks, with a playtime of more than 40 minutes.

How many tracks on an EP?

An EP tends to contain only 4-6 tracks and is, therefore, shorter than an album, which is the key difference between EP and album production.

What is an EP / Whats an EP in Music?

An Extended Play, or EP, is a collection of music larger than a single and smaller than an album. It typically has 4-6 tracks, but thanks to digital platforms, this is not a hard and fast rule.

What does EP stand for?

EP Stands for Extended Play. Typically, an EP is 4-6 tracks.

Single, EP, and Album: What’s the difference?