Single (music)

A single is a way to share one song.

Long ago, people used tall tubes to hear music. Later, they used small discs.

One famous disc is the 45. It is a small, black circle. It has a song on each side.

Some singles are very big. DJs use large discs to play dance music.

Today, many people use computers. You can find songs on the web. This makes it easy to listen.

Singles help us find new music to love.

A single is a way to share a song. It is a recording with only a few tracks. Most singles have one or two songs.

Long ago, people used tall tubes to hear music. These were called Edison cylinders. Later, people used discs. In the early 1900s, most music was sold as singles. These discs were made of shellac. They played at a fast speed called 78 rpm.

In 1949, a new type of disc became popular. It was called a 45. This name comes from its speed. It is a small, 7-inch vinyl record.

These records have an A-side and a B-side. This means there is one song on each side. Some 45s had large holes in the middle. In other places, they had small holes. You could use a plastic puck to make them fit.

Some singles are much larger. DJs use 12-inch singles for dance music.

These big discs let people play long dance mixes. Today, many people find music online. You can buy or stream singles on a computer or phone. Singles help artists share their best songs with the world.

A single is a special way to share music. It is a recording that has fewer songs than a full album. Most singles only have one or two tracks on them.

Sometimes a single is a standalone song. Other times, it is a song that belongs to a larger album. Artists often release a "lead single" to get people excited before the whole album comes out. This helps build a foundation for their music. Singles are a way for people to enjoy their favorite tracks quickly.

In the past, people used different tools to listen to these short recordings. In the late 1800s, music was shared on Edison cylinders.

These cylinders held about two to four minutes of sound. Later, people used flat discs instead of tubes. By 1910, most people used 78 rpm shellac discs. These discs played at a very fast speed. This speed was needed because the needles used back then were quite thick. This made it hard to fit many grooves on a disc.

A major change happened in 1949 with the 45 rpm record. This was a small, 7-inch vinyl disc.

It was much more durable than the old shellac discs. The name "45" comes from how fast it spins. Most 45s have an A-side and a B-side. This means you can hear one song on each side. In the United States, these records had large holes in the center. In the UK, they often had small holes. You could use a plastic puck to help a large-hole record fit a small spindle.

As music changed, the size of singles changed too. In the 1970s, DJs began using 12-inch singles for disco music.

These larger discs allow for much longer dance mixes. The bigger surface also makes the music sound better. They are less likely to get scratches or wear out. In the 1960s, songs also started getting longer. The Beatles released "Hey Jude" in 1968, which was over seven minutes long. This helped prove that radio stations would play longer songs on a single.

Today, the way we buy singles is very different. Many people use digital stores like the iTunes Store or Spotify.

In the early 2000s, digital downloads became very popular. In 1997, Capitol Records sold the first digital single by a major artist. This was the song "Electric Barbarella" by Duran Duran. Now, many artists release several singles before they ever release a full album. This helps them connect with fans one song at a time. Whether on vinyl or a phone, singles remain a vital part of music.

In the world of music, a single is a specific type of release. It contains fewer song recordings than a full album, which is often called an LP. Typically, a single features only one or two tracks. These tracks can be standalone songs or part of a larger collection. Often, an artist will release a "lead single" to build interest before an album arrives. This strategy helps musicians create a foundation for their work.

The history of the single began in the late 19th century. Early music was distributed on Edison cylinders.

These cylinders held about two to four minutes of audio. Later, flat disc phonograph records replaced the cylinders. By 1910, the 78 rpm shellac disc became the most common format. These discs had technical limitations due to crude cutting techniques. The thick needles used on record players meant fewer grooves could fit on the surface. A high rotation speed was required to maintain acceptable sound quality.

A major shift occurred in the mid-20th century with the 45 rpm single. This format is a 7-inch vinyl record named after its speed of 45 revolutions per minute. RCA Victor released the first regular production 45 rpm record, "PeeWee the Piccolo," on December 7, 1948.

The 45 was a more durable and higher-fidelity replacement for shellac discs. Most 45s feature an A-side and a B-side. This means there is one song on each side of the disc. In the United States, these records had large center holes to fit the RCA hub. In the UK and Australia, they used a small 0.25-inch hole. Listeners in those regions could use a plastic puck to play large-hole records.

As music evolved, the length of songs on singles began to change. For a long time, the three-minute single was the standard. This changed in the 1960s due to improved mastering techniques. In 1964, The Animals released "The House of the Rising Sun," which was 4 minutes and 29 seconds long. In 1965, Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" challenged radio standards. Although Columbia Records tried to split the six-minute song between two sides, fans demanded the full version on one side. A major milestone arrived in August 1968 when The Beatles released "Hey Jude." This song lasted over seven minutes and pushed the limits of the 45 rpm format.

Different physical formats have served different musical needs over time. While the 7-inch vinyl is most common, other versions exist. There are 10-inch and 12-inch discs, as well as cassette singles and CD singles. In the 1970s, DJs introduced the 12-inch single for disco music.

The larger surface area allows for wider grooves and better separation. This results in less "cross-talk" and makes the record less likely to suffer from scratches. 10-inch vinyl singles are now often used as limited edition collector's items.

The digital era has changed how we define and buy singles. In the early 2000s, digital downloading and streaming became very popular. Apple's iTunes Store launched in January 2001 and changed the industry. In 1997, Capitol Records sold the first digital single from a major artist, "Electric Barbarella" by Duran Duran. By 2004, the RIAA introduced digital single certification. Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" became the first platinum digital single. In the UK, the Official Singles Chart began including downloads in 2005. Gnarls Barkley was the first act to reach number one via downloads alone with "Crazy."

Today, the distinction between a single and an album can be blurry. The iTunes Store defines a single as a release with three tracks or fewer. Each track must also be less than ten minutes long. If a release is longer, it is classified as an EP or an album. However, platforms like Spotify and Bandcamp allow artists to promote longer releases as singles. Modern artists often release many singles to build a foundation before an album. This trend helps sustain their careers in a fast-moving digital market.