View source for Wikipedia:Notability (music)

{{short description|Wikipedia guideline for the notability of music topics}}
{{Hatnote|"WP:MUS", "WP:MUSIC", "WP:BAND", and "WP:NM" redirect here. You may have been looking for [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Music]], [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style (music)]], [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians]], [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Songs]], [[Wikipedia:WikiProject New Mexico]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Museums]]. For instructions on how to create and include Ogg Theora and Vorbis files on Wikipedia, see [[Wikipedia:Creation and usage of media files]].}}
{{Subcat guideline|notability guideline|Music|WP:NMG|WP:NMUSIC|WP:NM}}
{{nutshell|This page lists the specific criteria for whether musicians, ensembles, composers, lyricists, albums, singles and songs are [[WP:N|notable]]. These criteria inform the decision whether an article should be dedicated to these people or works.}}
{{IncGuide}}

This page provides a guideline for editors in applying the concept of [[WP:N|notability]] to topics related to music, including artists, bands, albums, and songs. Failing to satisfy the notability guidelines is '''not''' a [[WP:CSD|criterion for speedy deletion]]. However, an article on an artist or band that does not ''indicate'' that the subject of the article is important or significant can be speedily deleted under [[WP:CSD#A7|criterion A7]]. A mere claim of significance, even if contested, may avoid speedy deletion under A7, requiring a full [[WP:PROD|proposed deletion]] or [[WP:AFD|articles for deletion]] process to determine if the article should be included in Wikipedia.

Many who spend significant time improving Wikipedia's musical coverage feel that notability is required for a musical topic (such as a band or musical theatre group) to deserve an encyclopedia article. Please note that the failure to meet any of these criteria does not mean an article ''must'' be deleted; conversely, meeting any of these criteria does not mean that an article ''must'' be kept. Rather, these are rules of thumb used by some editors when deciding whether or not to keep an article that is listed at [[WP:AFD|articles for deletion]].

''To meet Wikipedia's standards for [[Wikipedia:V|verifiability]] and [[Wikipedia:N|notability]], the article in question must actually document that the criterion is true.'' It is not enough to make unsourced or poorly sourced claims in the article, or to assert a band's importance on a talk page or AfD page{{spaced ndash}}the article itself must document notability through the use of [[WP:RS|reliable sources]], and ''no'' criterion listed in this page confers an ''exemption'' from having to reliably source the article just because passage of the criterion has been claimed.

See also [[WP:NBIO]] for notability guidelines for biography articles in general.

==Criteria for musicians and ensembles==
{{Shortcut|WP:BAND|WP:MUSICBIO|WP:SINGER}}
{{redirect|WP:MN|the WikiProject on Minnesota|WP:WPMN}}
Musicians or ensembles (this category includes ''bands'', ''singers'', ''rappers'', ''orchestras'', ''DJs'', ''musical theatre groups'', ''instrumentalists'', etc.) may be notable if they meet at least one of the following criteria. 

Note that regardless of what notability criterion is being claimed, the claim ''must'' be properly verified by [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] ''independent'' of the subject's own self-published promotional materials. It is extremely common for aspiring musicians who want a Wikipedia article for the publicity to make inflated or false notability claims, such as charting hits that did not really chart (or which charted only on a non-notable [[WP:BADCHART]]) or nominations for awards that are not prominent enough to pass criteria number 8 (below). Thus, notability is not determined by what the article says, it is determined by how well the article does or does not ''support'' the things it says by referencing them to independent verification in reliable sources.

# <span id="C1"></span>Has been the subject of multiple, non-trivial, published works appearing in sources that are [[WP:RS|reliable]], not [[WP:SPS|self-published]], and are [[WP:INDEPENDENT|independent of]] the musician or ensemble itself.<ref group=note name=selfpromo>Self-promotion and product placement are not the routes to having an encyclopedia article.  The published works must be ''someone else'' writing about the musician, ensemble, composer, or lyricist, or their works.  (See the [[WP:SPS|self-published sources]] policy for details about the reliability of such sources, and the [[WP:COI|conflict of interest]] policy for treatment of promotional, vanity material.) The barometer of notability is whether people ''independent'' of the subject itself have actually considered the musician, ensemble, composer, or lyricist notable enough that they have written and published non-trivial works that focus upon it. The rationale for this is easy to see{{spaced ndash}}someone simply talking about themselves in their own personal blog, website, book publisher, social networking site or music networking site, etc., does not automatically mean they have sufficient attention in the ''world at large'' to be notable. If that was so then ''everyone'' could have an article. [[WP:DIRECTORY|Wikipedia is not a directory]].</ref>
#* This criterion includes published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, books, magazine articles, online versions of print media, and television documentaries<ref group=note name=published>What constitutes a "published work" is deliberately broad.</ref> ''except'' for the following:
#** Any reprints of press releases, other publications where the musician or ensemble talks about themselves, and all advertising that mentions the musician or ensemble, including manufacturers' advertising.<ref group=note>For example, endorsement deal publicity (including sell sheets, promo posters, fliers, print advertising and links to an official company website) that lists the artist as an endorser or contains an "endorsement interview" with the artist.</ref>
#** Works consisting merely of trivial coverage, such as articles that simply report performance dates, release information or track listings, or the publications of contact and booking details in directories.  
#** Articles in a school or university newspaper (or similar), in most cases.
# <span id="C2"></span>Has had a single or album on any country's [[WP:CHART|national music chart]].
# <span id="C3"></span>Has had a record [[Music recording sales certification|certified gold]] or higher in at least one country.
# <span id="C4"></span>Has received non-trivial coverage in independent reliable sources of an international concert tour, or a national concert tour in at least one sovereign country.<ref group=note name=disputed>This criterion has been disputed in the past and has been reworded numerous times as a result. Past significant discussions: [[Wikipedia talk:Notability (music)/Archive 4#"National or international "vs "significant" tours|2006]], [[Wikipedia talk:Notability (music)/Archive 7#Rfc: C4 International concert tour|2008]].</ref>
# <span id="C5"></span>Has released two or more albums on a [[major record label]] or on one of the more important indie labels (i.e., an independent label with a history of more than a few years, and with a roster of performers, many of whom are independently notable).
# <span id="C6"></span>Is an ensemble that contains two or more independently notable musicians, or is a musician who has been a reasonably prominent member of two or more independently notable ensembles.<ref group=note>Generally speaking, in a small ensemble, all people are reasonably-prominent, but, for example, being members of the chorus (not prominent) in two Broadway musicals (dozens of people involved) usually wouldn't be enough.</ref> This should be adapted appropriately for musical genre; for example, having performed two lead roles at major opera houses. Note that this criterion needs to be interpreted with caution, as there have been instances where this criterion was cited in a [[WP:CIRC|circular]] manner to create a self-fulfilling notability loop (e.g. musicians who were "notable" only for having been in two bands, of which one or both were "notable" only because those musicians had been in them.)  
# <span id="C7"></span>Has become one of the most prominent representatives of a notable style or the most prominent of the local scene of a city; note that the subject must still meet all ordinary Wikipedia standards, including [[WP:V|verifiability]].
# <span id="C8"></span>Has won or been nominated for a major music award, such as a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]], [[Juno Award|Juno]], [[Mercury Prize|Mercury]], [[Choice Music Prize|Choice]] or [[Grammis]] award.
# <span id="C9"></span>Has won first, second or third place in a major music competition.
# <span id="C10"></span>Has performed music for a work of media that is notable, e.g., a theme for a network television show, performance in a television show or notable film, inclusion on a notable compilation album, etc. (But if this is the only claim, it is probably more appropriate to have a mention in the main article and [[WP:REDIR|redirect]] to that article. Read the [[WP:BLP1E|policy]] and [[WP:1E|notability guideline on subjects notable only for one event]], for further clarifications).
# <span id="C11"></span>Has been placed in [[Rotation (music)|rotation]] nationally by a major radio or music television network. 
# <span id="C12"></span>Has been a featured subject of a substantial broadcast segment across a national radio or television network.

{{anchor|Individual members, reality television performers}}
===Individual members, reality television performers===
{{Shortcut|WP:BANDMEMBER|WP:REALITYBIO|WP:REALITYSINGER}}
# Members of notable bands are redirected to the band's article, not given individual articles, unless they have demonstrated individual notability. 
# Singers and musicians who are only notable for participating in a [[reality television]] series may be redirected to an article about the series, until they have demonstrated that they are independently notable.

==Criteria for composers and lyricists==
{{Shortcut|WP:COMPOSER}}
{{For|the WikiProject|Wikipedia:Composers}}

Composers, songwriters, librettists or lyricists, may be notable if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

#Has credit for writing or co-writing either lyrics or music for a notable composition.
# Has written musical theatre of some sort (includes musicals, operas, etc.) that was performed in a notable theatre that had a reasonable run, as such things are judged in their particular situation, context, and time.
# Has had a work used as the basis for a later composition by a songwriter, composer or lyricist who meets the above criteria.
# Has written a composition that has won (or in some cases been given a second or other place) in a major music competition not established expressly for newcomers.
# Has been listed as a major influence or teacher of a composer, songwriter or lyricist that meets the above criteria.
# Appears at reasonable length in standard reference books on their genre of music.

''Where possible, composers or lyricists with insufficient verifiable material to warrant a reasonably detailed article should be merged into the article about their work. When a composer or lyricist is known for multiple works, such a merger may not be possible.''

==Others==
{{Shortcut|WP:NMUSICOTHER}}
Composers and performers outside mass media traditions may be notable if they meet at least one of the following criteria:
# Is frequently covered in publications devoted to a notable music sub-culture.
# Has composed a number of notable melodies, tunes or standards used in a notable music genre.
# Is cited in reliable sources as being influential in style, technique, repertory or teaching for a particular music genre.
# Is cited by reliable sources as having established a tradition or school in a particular music genre.
# Has been listed as a significant musical influence on musicians or composers who meet the above criteria.

==Recordings==
{{Shortcut|WP:NALBUMS|WP:NALBUM}}

All articles on albums or other recordings should meet the basic criteria at the [[WP:N|notability guidelines]], with significant coverage in [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] that are [[WP:INDEPENDENT|independent]] of the subject. 

Specific to recordings, a recording may be notable if it meets at least one of these criteria:
# <span id="C1"></span>Has been the subject of multiple, non-trivial, published works appearing in sources that are [[WP:RS|reliable]], not [[WP:SPS|self-published]], and are [[WP:INDEPENDANT|independent from]] the musician or ensemble who created it.
#* This criterion includes published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, books, magazine articles, online versions of print media, and television documentaries<ref group=note name=published>What constitutes a "published work" is deliberately broad.</ref> ''except'' for the following:
#** Any reprints of press releases, other publications where the musician or ensemble talks about the recording, and all advertising that mentions the recording, including manufacturers' advertising.
#** Articles in a school or university newspaper (or similar), in most cases.
# The recording has appeared on any country's [[WP:CHART|national music chart]].
# The recording has been [[Music recording sales certification|certified gold]] or higher in at least one country.
# The recording has won or been nominated for a major music award, such as a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]], [[Juno Award|Juno]], [[Mercury Prize|Mercury]], [[Choice Music Prize|Choice]] or [[Grammis]] award.
# The recording was performed in a medium that is notable, e.g., a theme for a network television show, performance in a television show or notable film, inclusion on a notable compilation album, etc. (But if this is the only claim, it is probably more appropriate to have a mention in the main article and [[WP:REDIR|redirect]] to that article. Read the [[WP:BLP1E|policy]] and [[WP:1E|notability guideline]] on subjects notable only for one event, for further clarifications).
# The recording was in [[Spin (radio)|rotation]] nationally by a major radio or music television network.
# The recording has been a featured subject of a substantial broadcast segment across a national radio or television network.

Notability aside, a standalone article is only appropriate when there is enough material to warrant a reasonably detailed article; articles unlikely ever to grow beyond stubs should be merged into the artist's article or discography.

===Albums===
An album requires its own notability, and that notability is [[WP:INHERIT|not inherited]] and [[WP:NRV|requires independent evidence]]. That an album is an officially released recording by a notable musician or ensemble is not by itself reason for a standalone article. Conversely, an album does not need to be by a notable artist or ensemble to merit a standalone article if it meets the [[WP:GNG|general notability guideline]].   Album articles with little more than a track listing may be more appropriately merged into the artist's main article or discography article, [[WP:LENGTH|space permitting]].

===Singles===
{{see also|#Songs}}
A single requires its own notability, and that notability is [[WP:INHERIT|not inherited]] and [[WP:NRV|requires independent evidence]]. That a single is an officially released recording by a notable musician or ensemble is not by itself reason for a standalone article. Even if otherwise notable, material about a single may be more appropriately merged into the artist's main article or discography article, space permitting.

===Unreleased material===
{{Shortcut|WP:UNRELEASED|WP:FUTUREALBUM|WP:FUTUREALBUMS}}
Unreleased material (including demos, mixtapes, bootlegs, promo-only recordings) is only notable if it has significant independent coverage in reliable sources.

In a few special cases, an unreleased album ''may'' qualify for an article if there is sufficient verifiable and properly referenced information about it—for example, [[Guns N' Roses]]' 2008 album ''[[Chinese Democracy]]'' had an article as early as 2004, because it was already receiving a very large volume of reliable source coverage about Axl Rose's complicated stop-start process of making it. However, this only applies to a ''very'' small number of exceptionally high-profile projects—generally, an album should not have an independent article until its title, track listing and release date have ''all'' been publicly confirmed by the artist or their record label.

Articles and information about albums with confirmed release dates in the near future '''must''' be confirmed by [[WP:RS|reliable sources]]. Separate articles should ''not'' be created until there is sufficient reliably sourced information about a future release. For example, a future album whose article is titled "(Artist)'s Next Album" and consists solely of blog or fan forum speculation about ''possible'' titles, or songs that ''might'' be on the album, is a violation of ''[[WP:CRYSTAL|Wikipedia is not a crystal ball]]'' and should be discussed only in the artist's article, and even then only if there is some [[WP:V|verifiable]] information about it.

==Songs==
{{shortcut|WP:NSONG|WP:NSINGLE}}
Songs and singles are probably notable if they have been the subject<ref name="subject">The "subject" of a work means non-trivial treatment and excludes mere mention of the song/single, its musician/band or of its publication, price listings and other non-substantive detail treatment.</ref> of multiple,<ref name="multiple">The number of reliable sources necessary to establish notability is different for songs from different eras. Reliable sources available (especially online) increases as one approaches the present day.</ref> non-trivial<ref name="nontrivial">"Non-trivial" excludes personal websites, blogs, bulletin boards, Usenet posts, wikis and other media that are not ''themselves'' reliable. Be careful to check that the musician, record label, agent, vendor. etc. of a particular song/single are in no way affiliated with any third party source.</ref> published works whose sources are [[WP:INDEPENDENT|independent]] of the artist and label.  This includes published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, books, television documentaries or reviews. This excludes media reprints of press releases, or other publications where the artist, its record label, agent, or other self-interested parties advertise or speak about the work.<ref>Self-promotion and product placement are not the routes to having an encyclopedia article. The published works must be someone else writing about the song/single. The barometer of notability is whether people independent of the subject itself (or of its artist, record label, vendor or agent) have actually considered the song/single notable enough that they have written and published non-trivial works that focus upon it.</ref> Coverage of a song in the context of an album review does not establish notability. If the only coverage of a song occurs in the context of reviews of the album on which it appears, that material should be contained in the album article and an independent article about the song should not be created.

Notability aside, a standalone article is appropriate only when there is enough material to warrant a reasonably detailed article; articles unlikely ever to grow beyond stubs should be merged to articles about an artist or album. 

A standalone article about a song should satisfy the above criteria. Any of the following factors suggest that a song or single ''may'' be notable enough that a search for coverage in reliable independent sources will be successful.

# Has been ranked on [[WP:CHART|national or significant music or sales charts]]. (Note again that this indicates only that a song ''may'' be notable, not that it ''is'' notable.)
# Has won one or more significant awards or honors, such as a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]], [[Latin Grammy Award|Latin Grammy]], [[Juno Award|Juno]], [[Mercury Prize|Mercury]], [[Choice Music Prize|Choice]] or [[Grammis]] award.
# Has been independently released as a recording by several notable artists, bands, or groups.

{{anchor|COVER}}Songs with notable cover versions are normally covered in one common article about the song and the cover versions.

* ''Note 1: Songs that do not rise to notability for an independent article should redirect to another relevant article, such as for the songwriter, a prominent album or for the artist who prominently performed the song.'' 
* ''Note 2: Sources should always be added for any lore, history or passed-on secondary content. Wikiversity and Wikibooks have different policies and may be more appropriate venues for this type of content.''

==Concert tours==
{{shortcut|WP:NCONCERT|WP:NTOUR}}
Concert tours are probably notable if they have received significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources. Such coverage might show notability in terms of artistic approach, financial success, relationship to audience, or other such terms. Sources that merely establish that a tour happened are ''not'' sufficient to demonstrate notability. Tours that cannot be sufficiently referenced in [[WP:PSTS|secondary sources]] should be covered in a section on the artist's page rather than creating a dedicated article. A tour that meets notability standards does not make all tours associated with that artist notable. [[Michael Jackson]]'s 1988 ''[[Bad (tour)|Bad]]'' is an example of a notable concert tour.

==Resources==
Good online sources for recordings are the [[MusicBrainz]] [https://musicbrainz.org/search search engine]<ref group=note>Please, note that MusicBrainz, as a user generated database, is not a [[WP:RS|reliable source]]</ref> or the [[AllMusic]] [http://www.allmusic.com search engine]. To find ownership information on song texts copyrighted in the US, the [https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx ASCAP ACE Title Search] and [http://www.bmi.com/search/ BMI Repertoire Search] utilities are invaluable. When looking in depth, a [http://books.google.com Google book search] may turn something up. For material that has captured the attention of academics, a [http://scholar.google.com search on Google scholar] may work.

An experienced editor also provides [[User:Giggy/Satisfying music notability guidelines|a guide]] on ensuring that articles meet criteria.

==If the subject is not notable==
{{Shortcut|WP:SUBNOT}}
{{Further|Wikipedia:Notability#Articles not satisfying the notability guidelines}}

Wikipedia should not have a separate article on a person, band, or musical work that does not meet the criteria of either this guideline or the general notability guideline, or any subject that, despite the person meeting the rules of thumb described above, for which editors ultimately cannot locate [[WP:INDEPENDANT|independent sources]] that provide in-depth information about the subject.  Wikipedia's goals include neither [[WP:PERMA|tiny articles that can never be expanded]], nor articles based primarily on what the subjects say about themselves.

However, information about such subjects {{em|may}} be included in other ways in Wikipedia, provided that certain conditions are met.  Material about a musician, group, or work that does not qualify for a separate, stand-alone can be [[WP:PRESERVE|preserved]] by adding it into relevant articles if it:
* has the [[WP:DUE|appropriate level]] of detail and significance for that article;
* [[WP:NOTPROMO|avoids self-promotion]];
* includes information that can be [[WP:V|verified]] through [[WP:INDEPENDANT|independent sources]].

For example, material about individual members of a musical group is normally [[WP:MERGE|merged]] into larger articles about the group. Songs may be described in a discography or one of the many [[:Category:Lists of songs|lists of songs]].  Appropriate redirects from the subject's name and entries in disambiguation pages can be created to help readers find such information.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}
'''NSONG notes'''
{{Reflist}}