How and Why to Properly Label an MP3
For many aspiring music professionals, or even industry veterans, correctly naming song files are often low priority. Many people, if not a majority, don’t realize there is a specific format to creating mp3 files to ensure proper playback quality and maintain professionalism. The above Info Box may be a completely foreign sight to them.
Renaming files and labeling file properties help with organization. Files also need to be named correctly so the artist name and song title show up in portable music players like iPods, as well as online music streaming programs hulkshare/sharebeast/etc. If you’re goal is to get your music listed on blogs, you’ll reach that goal much faster with a correctly titled song. Below is an example of how to label files and step-by-step instructions. Leave a comment if you have questions or other suggestions/helpful hints.
Incorrect mp3:
01 SONG NAME_ROUGH MIX 09388.mp3
How the studio engineer leaves an mp3 title is incorrect 9/10 times. Engineers have individual ways of organizing files, and most of the time it is a disorganized way. Never begin an mp3 title with a track # unless it is part of a group of songs for a mixtape/album. But for individual mp3s such as a single, do not include a track number. Include artist name, song name, feature name, producer name (if absolutely necessary), and what version of the song: main, radio, accapella, instrumental, etc. (I personally don’t like the terms clean & dirty, but to each his own). Use underscores to separate words.
Correct mp3:
Artist Name_Feat Name_Song Name_Clean.mp3
Examples:
2Chainz_ft Drake_No_Lie_prod Mike Will_radio edit.mp3
Kanye_Pusha_T_Big_Sean_2Chainz_Mercy_remix_main.mp3
How to edit file name & Properties:
PC:
Open documents folder where file is saved
Right Click file/rename
Edit title but DO NOT remove the .mp3 extention or file will become corrupted
click outside of the file to save
Right Click file/Properties
Edit artist name, album, comments, etc. Some people use the comments section to list a website.
Save & close box
Mac:
I’m not an advanced Mac user so if anyone has an easier way let me know!
Open folder where file is saved
Click on file once to highlight, right click/Get Info
Edit name but leave extension
Close box
Open file with iTunes
Right Click & Get Info
Click on Sorting Tab
Edit Name/Sort Name, Artist/Sort Artist, etc.
Personally I like to use the file name as the song name in the sort info because mp3 players use this has the displayed song title: Kanye_Pusha_T_Big_Sean_2Chainz_Mercy_remix_main
(don’t use .mp3 in the song name here)
Click Info tab to edit comments section
Click OK
PREVIOUS: 5 Steps to Successful Email Marketing
YES. THANK YOU!
Sorely needed. However, there are a few points I think you could’ve added on.
1. Don’t just rename the file for organization in the folder interface – you have to update the ID3 tags as well, because most people play their music directly from their music player’s library, which uses the ID3 tags to organize the songs correctly, by artist, album, genre, year, etc.
2. If all of the files in question are a part of a volume, it looks much more professional to consistently use the same organizational format on all the files. I will actually DELETE whole mixtapes/albums if it turns out only half the files have one format and the rest have track numbers in the song title, or the featured artist in the “song artist” tab with “feat. MC XYZ” in the song title.
3. Don’t. Ever. Do. What Datpiff.com does when they upload files. They rename EVERY. SINGLE. FILE. to read “DatPiff Exclusive” at the end of the folder/file name, but delete all the ID3 tags, leaving your media library a cluttered, unorganized mess. Not to mention, half the joints they do that to aren’t ‘DatPiff Exclusives”, when you can just download ‘em off LiveMixtapes.com WITH the ID3 info intact.
very good points. Thanks!