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Topic: What Is A CD Single - A Rough Guide

9th Feb 2013, 9:55 AM
	sladesounds Turning rebellion into money since 1962 Member since Nov 2009 6560 Points Moderator	What is a CD Single - A CD World users (rough) guide. To many a CD Single is obvious - the equivalent of a 7" single, 7" EP or a 12" single or 12" Maxi single. However with record labels being generous and making full use of the CD format we have CDs being issued which could be called Mini Albums (or the equivalent). This site, being the sister site of 45Cat is about CD singles, not CD albums or CD mini albums. So how to define a CD, using the UK Chart Company's guidelines, to qualify in the UK as a single: The CD (Single) must contain the featured track or a version/remix of it. The CD (Single) must meet the minimum dealer price requirement. The CD (Single) must have no more than 4 different tracks, although each song may appear in any number of different versions. The CD (Single) maximum running time is 25 minutes (if more than one different song is featured), or 40 minutes (if one song is featured in multiple versions/mixes). So the important bits that make a CD qualify as a CD Single. No more than 4 different tracks (not counting any remixes of the same song). No more than 25 minutes in playing time (for up to 4 different tracks) or upto 40 minutes if the CD contains remix versions. So (besides selling a few copies) a CD with tracks listing: 1. Song A 2. Song B 3. Song C 4. Song D is good for inclusion in the UK Charts; whereas a CD with the track listing: 1. Song A 2. Song B 3. Song C 4. Song D 5. Song E is not. A CD with track listing: 1. Song A 2. Song B 3. Song C 4. Song D 5. Song A (remix) is classed as valid for although it has 5 tracks, the remix track does not count for UK Chart purposes. The guidelines outlined above are based on the UK charts; there are always going to be exceptions to the rule such as do we include the running time of any video tracks on the disc? What about DVD singles? A general rule that can be applied is that if a CD charts in the singles chart of a country, regardless of the number of tracks on the disc, then it must be a CD Single (at least as far as that country is concerned). Another general rule is if an artist/band releases a CD and calls it a CD Single or the record label promotes the CD as a CD Single then, in theory, it must be a CD Single regardless of the number of tracks or the running time. There will be many discs that fall outside of the basic guidelines/rules and these can be discussed in the forums. If you have any disc that you can't make your mind up about then ask in the forums and see what the consensus is, let the masses decide. Edited by sladesounds on 9th Feb 2013, 10:01 AM