Single (music) facts for kids
A single is a type of music release. It usually has only one or two songs. Music companies use singles to promote a new song. The main song on a single is called the A-side. Any other song on the single is called the B-side.
Singles first became popular with vinyl records. These records had two sides, so one song could be put on each side. Today, singles can be found on compact discs or as digital downloads. Modern singles might have different versions of a song. Sometimes, B-sides are songs from an album. Other times, they are new songs not found anywhere else.
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Why Singles Are Important
Singles are very important in the music world. They help new songs become popular. When a song is released as a single, it gets a lot of attention. Radio stations play the A-side often. This helps people discover new music.
A-Sides and B-Sides Explained
The A-side is the main song. It is the one the record company wants to be a hit. The B-side is usually a less famous song. Sometimes, it's a song that didn't make it onto an album. Other times, it's a special song just for the single.
In the past, people often only listened to the A-side. But sometimes, a B-side became very popular too!
Competition Among Songwriters
Sometimes, there was friendly competition in bands. Members wanted their songs to be chosen as the A-side. For example, John Lennon and Paul McCartney from the Beatles both wrote many songs. They often tried to write the best song to be the A-side. George Harrison, another Beatle, also wrote songs. His song "Something" became a big hit for the band.
Michael Nesmith from the Monkees also wanted his songs on singles. He sometimes had to settle for a B-side. This led to some disagreements with the people in charge of the band's music.
Money from Singles
When vinyl singles were popular, musicians earned money from both the A-side and the B-side. This money is called a royalty. Even if people didn't listen to the B-side much, the artists still got paid for it. Some musicians used B-sides to release short songs or promote other music they made.
Extended Play (EP) Records
Records with more than two or three songs are often called EPs. EP stands for "extended play." An EP has more songs than a single but fewer than a full album. EPs are a good way for artists to release new music without making a whole album.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A 45 rpm EP on a turntable, ready to be played.
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A twelve-inch gramophone record.
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"Put a Little Love in Your Heart" was a hit single for Jackie DeShannon in 1968. It sold over 1,000,000 copies.
See also
In Spanish: Sencillo para niños
