What is the difference between an EP, LP, Mixtape and an Album? Find out.
Understanding Music Business: The music business is perceived to be complex, and this goes for both new artists and fans. At times, the business can be tricky to deal with in terms of its working and the jargon. One such aspect of this is the categorisation of various music projects as EPs, LPs, Mixtapes and Albums. A lot of people don't know the difference between the aforementioned terms. It might seem insignificant, but it can alter the way you perceive music.
The terms EP, LP, mixtape, and album refer to various types of releases, each with its own characteristics. Understanding how they vary, by length, purpose, and creation, helps artists and listeners as they move through the digital streaming platforms (DSPs). Let's take a look at what these terms mean.
An EP, or Extended Play, is a short collection of songs, typically made up of 3–6 tracks and playing 10–30 minutes. Between one and an album, EPs allow artists to experiment with new styles or acclimate audiences to bigger projects. They're within budget for DIY bands and provide fans with a glimpse of an artist's evolving style within a short timeframe. An example of a good EP is Billie Eilish's "Dont Smile at Me" (2017).
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LP, or Long Play, refers to a standard album, generally 8–12 songs with albums ranging from 30–60 minutes in length. LPs are topical, generally being a story or thread, such as The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967) or Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" (2000). LPs are a worthwhile contribution by an artist, aiming at depth and artistry toward lasting legacies.
A mixtape is an informal release, historically compiled on cassette tapes. A mixtape is a free project released by an artist that consists of original content, remixes, freestyles, or covers. Preferred by hip-hop artists, mixtapes allow rappers like J. Cole to release projects like "Friday Night Lights." Mixtapes allow artists to experiment with their sound without any creative or commercial restrictions, prioritising speed over perfection, sample clearances, contrary to official albums.
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An album is a professionally produced music project with 8 or more tracks that is created with commerciality in mind. Albums like Taylor Swift's "Folklore" (2020) are created with a clear sonic or storytelling motive, distributed through labels or DSPs like Spotify. Often dropped on vinyl, albums are an artist's most intentional work, made to reach the masses and leave a long-term impact. An example of a good album is 2Pac's (Tupac Shakur) "All Eyez on Me", released in 1996.
EPs (Extended Plays) are short and experimental bodies of work, perfect for experimenting with new things. LPs (Long Plays) and albums are an artist's magnum opus created to give polished and unified experiences, and Mixtapes on the opposite end of the spectrum embrace creative freedom with little to no focus on commerciality.
All of the above-mentioned types of music releases have their role to play and prove effective at different stages in an artist's career. Knowing these differences can not only help aspiring artists but also help listeners by giving them a new perspective on certain projects.
