Compilation album

A music album can hold many songs. Some songs are by one singer. Other songs are by many singers.

Some albums collect a singer's best songs. These are called "greatest hits." They can also have new songs.

Other albums have a special theme. They might have only love songs. They might have Christmas songs.

Some albums show many artists. They might all play the same kind of music. This helps you find new sounds.

Now, many people use digital playlists. These act like new kinds of collections. They help us find music to enjoy.

A compilation album is a collection of songs. These songs come from different recordings. Sometimes they are songs you already know. Other times, they are songs that were never heard before.

Some albums focus on just one artist. These are often called "greatest hits" albums. They gather a singer's best-known songs in one place. Some are called "anthologies." These might cover an artist's whole career. They can even be big "box sets" with many discs. These are great for fans who want every song.

Other albums feature many different artists. These might follow a theme. For example, they might only have love songs. They might play music from a specific time. Some albums show many artists playing one style, like jazz.

Some collections are made to help people find new music. These are called "samplers." They are often free or very cheap. In the past, people used vinyl records for these. Now, many people use digital playlists to find hits. These collections help us enjoy many sounds at once.

A compilation album is a special collection of music. It brings many different tracks together in one place. These songs might be ones you have heard before. They could also be unreleased songs that are brand new. Sometimes, these tracks come from just one singer or performer. Other times, they feature many different artists.

There are many ways to build these albums. If the songs are by one artist, it might be a "greatest hits" album. These gather a person's most famous songs together. Some are called "anthologies" or "retrospective" albums. These can cover a long career. Some are even huge "box sets" with many discs. These often include rare songs or tracks from radio sessions.

Making these albums can be a big job. Sound experts like Richard King say classical music albums need extra work. This is to make songs from different places sound the same. They must match different sizes of musical groups too. In the 1970s, some hit albums were made very quickly. They used short edits to fit many songs on one record. This meant the songs were not their full length.

History shows many different kinds of these collections. In 1949, RCA Victor released "Theme Songs" to show off their artists. This was a way to sample music. In 1961, Columbia Records sold over 500,000 copies of "Stars for a Summer Night." Some famous single-artist albums include "The Kink Kronikles" from 1972. There is also a 1976 album called "Changesonebowie."

Today, music has changed how we listen. We used to use vinyl records or CDs for these collections. Now, streaming is the most common way to hear music. Many hit collections have become digital playlists. Some albums are even made for business uses. They might help promote music to radio stations or TV shows. Artists can also work together on special projects. Ed Sheeran made a project called "No.6 Collaborations Project" with different artists.

A compilation album is a curated collection of musical tracks. These tracks are brought together into a single work from separate recordings. The songs on the album may be previously released hits or unreleased material. Some compilations focus on a single performer, while others feature many different artists. This format serves many purposes, from celebrating a career to introducing new music. It allows listeners to experience a specific theme, genre, or historical era through a single package.

Creating a professional compilation requires careful technical work. Sound technician Richard King notes that classical music compilations often need extra processing. This is because tracks may come from various recording venues or different sources. Engineers must also account for the different sizes of musical ensembles used in each recording. In the 1970s, some hit compilations used specific methods to fit many songs onto one vinyl LP. They might use harsh edits to truncate songs or place grooves closer together. While this allowed for more tracks, it often resulted in lower sound quality.

There are several distinct types of compilation albums. Single-artist collections include "greatest hits" or "best of" albums that gather famous songs. Some are called "anthologies" or "retrospective" albums if they cover a long career. Other versions focus on rarities, B-sides, or songs from radio sessions. Box sets are even more elaborate, often using multiple discs to cover a whole record label or genre. Various-artist compilations can be themed, such as collections of Christmas songs or love songs. They can also be organized by genre, such as jazz, funk, or synth-pop.

History shows how these collections have evolved over time. In 1949, RCA Victor pioneered the use of samplers with the release of "Theme Songs." These were promotional tools used to showcase a label's roster of artists. In the 1950s, Elektra Records also released several sampler albums. By the summer of 1961, Columbia Records' "Stars for a Summer Night" sold over 500,000 copies. In the 1970s, certain single-artist albums became major cultural events. Examples include the 1971 Ray Charles release, "The Kink Kronikles" in 1972, and "Changesonebowie" in 1976.

Compilations play a significant role in the music economy. Hit compilations became a very successful market segment starting in the early 1970s. During this era, albums like "Power Hits '72!" would pack about ten tracks on each side of a vinyl record. By the 1980s, the standard format shifted to double albums with six to eight tracks per side. As technology changed, compilations moved from vinyl to CDs, which can hold one, two, or three discs. Today, the rise of streaming has changed the format again. Many hit compilations have transitioned into digital playlists of current hits.

Beyond simple collections, compilations serve specialized professional roles. Promotional samplers are often free or very cheap to help labels promote artists. Some compilations are even "private labeled" for specific retail outlets or commercial brands. This allows artists and companies to co-brand for marketing purposes. In the business-to-business sector, labels use compilations to pitch music to radio stations or film supervisors. Some hip hop producers release compilations that feature many artists but use a single producer for every track. Others, like Ed Sheeran's "No.6 Collaborations Project," feature an artist collaborating with different people on every song.

Managing the money behind these albums involves complex royalty structures. For multi-artist compilations, royalties are usually prorated among the performers. In 1999, a typical per-record royalty rate was between 12% and 14%. This amount is often divided by the number of artists on the album. In some cases, companies pay a simplified rate, such as 0.5% to 1% or 15 to 16 cents per record. If a track belongs to a different record company, the royalties are split between the artist and that original company. In the United Kingdom, the Official Charts Company even maintains a specific weekly chart for compilation albums.