Last Updated: Saturday, October 10, 2025, 11:12:28 PM EDT

There are many terms in this field, which may feel overwhelming. UrbanMediaWorld is here to support you in becoming familiar with these terms. Should you notice any errors or inaccuracies, please submit a ticket so they can be addressed and corrected as soon as possible. Thank you!

Glossary Terms:

Bootleg: An unofficial or unauthorized recording, often live performances or unreleased tracks, distributed without the artist’s or label’s consent.

Cancelled: A release that was intended to be issued but was ultimately cancelled. The project may have been completed, partially finished, or abandoned at various stages. Reasons for cancellation may include a change in direction by the record label, excessive production costs, project scrapping, or other factors.

Compilation: An album made up of tracks from various sources or artists, often themed or curated.

Demo: A preliminary recording made by an artist to showcase material, often rough and not intended for commercial release.

Fake/Non-Existent: An album that never actually existed. A notable example is Phycho – Still Loco (199x) [Memphis, TN], which circulated in 2009/2010 but was not a genuine release. The authentic album is Psycho – Split Personality (1992) [Memphis, TN]. Such items may have been fabricated to deceive collectors or simply to generate interest.

Independent: Also referred to as “indie,” this term describes artists or labels that are not affiliated with major commercial record companies. These releases are not associated with major labels such as Sony Music or LaFace Records. Independent productions are typically self-managed and may differ in sound quality due to budget constraints.

Local: A release distributed only within a neighbourhood, region, or city, rather than receiving wide or international distribution typical of major labels. These often have limited print runs.

Lost Media: Media that was once available or known but is now missing or inaccessible. While there is hope for rediscovery, it is often unlikely.

Metadata: It refers to structured information that describes, explains, or provides context about other data. In the context of music and media, metadata includes details such as the artist’s name, album title, release date, genre, track length, and other relevant information that help organize, identify, and retrieve the content efficiently. Proper metadata is essential for accurate cataloguing, digital distribution, and archival purposes. For UrbanMediaWorld, that would be for accurate cataloguing and archival purposes.

Obscure: Something that is uncommon or not widely known.

Out-of-Print: Media that is no longer being produced. Therefore, it’s unavailable for purchase by the artist and/or label.

Rare: Refers to productions issued in limited quantities. These releases are not mass-produced as with major labels; typically, 500 copies or fewer are considered rare, though some consider up to 1,000 as rare as well. According to UrbanMediaWorld’s research, the fewer the quantity, the higher the value, which applies broadly.

Reissue: A new release of an album that was previously available but has been re-released, often with added content or improved packaging.

Remastered: A version of a previously released album or track that has been sonically enhanced or cleaned up for better sound quality.

Underground: Releases that are not part of the commercial music industry and are not associated with mainstream channels.

Unreleased: A project that has never been made available to the public.