What is The Difference Between an EP and an Album?

1. What are EPs and albums?

• EP (Extended Play): A compact release that sits between a single and an album. It’s commonly 3–6 tracks and under about 30 minutes. EPs are great for experimentation, building buzz, or giving fans fresh music without the time and budget an album demands.
• Album (LP — Long Play): A full-length body of work — traditionally 8–15+ tracks and usually over 30 minutes. Albums signal a more complete artistic statement and typically come with a larger promotional push.

Quick frame: think of an EP as a powerful short story and an album as a novel.

2. Practical differences that matter to emerging artists

• Time & Cost
  
  • EP: faster to record, mix, master. Lower studio and production costs. Easier to fund with DIY budgets or small grants.
  • Album: longer studio time, higher mixing/mastering bills, potentially session players, and higher marketing costs.

• Marketing & Promotion
  
  • EP: easier to center around 1–2 singles. Good for steady content release cycles (single → EP → single). Simpler PR pitches.
  • Album: requires a campaign (lead single, follow-up singles, videos, press, possible tour). Media outlets and playlists may give larger plays to full albums.

• Audience & Booking
  
  • EP: great for new fans and promoters to sample your sound — often enough to book local shows and small supports.
  • Album: stronger “press” signal, better for festival & touring conversations and deeper press features.

• Streaming & Playlist Strategy
  
  • EP: focused singles can collect playlist momentum; listeners are more likely to binge a short body of work.
  • Album: more tracks mean more chances to land on different playlists, but attention may be split across songs.

3. When to release an EP vs an album

• Release an EP if:
  
  • You want to test a new sound or get music out fast.
  • You don’t have the budget or time for a full album.
  • You’re building momentum between larger releases.

• Release an album if:
  
  • You have a clear, cohesive artistic concept that benefits from length.
  • You can support it with multiple singles, videos, and a tour or press push.
  • You want to establish artistic credibility or reach industry tastemakers.

4. How to plan an EP release (simple roadmap)

1. Pre-production (2–6 weeks): finalize songs and arrangements.
2. Recording (1–2 weeks): track core parts — often done quickly for EPs.
3. Mixing & Mastering (2–4 weeks): prioritize the lead single for early release.
4. Release strategy (4–8 weeks lead time): submit single(s) to DSPs, prepare assets (art, lyrics, EPK), line up socials, email list, and press outreach.
5. Post-release (ongoing): tour, pitch playlists, release lyric or live videos, and collect feedback.

5. Promotion ideas for each format

• EP‍
  
  • Release one lead single 4–6 weeks prior.
  • Use behind-the-scenes clips and short-form video to show the EP process.
  • Pitch local press and playlist curators with a focused angle (sound, collaboration, story).
  • Bundle a small merch item (sticker, limited cassette) for early buyers.

• Album
  
  • Stagger multiple singles (lead single → second single → album).
  • Create a narrative across content: lyric videos, deep-dive interviews, making-of series.
  • Coordinate a release-week event (in-person or livestream).
  • Seek features in podcasts, longer-form press, and bigger playlists.

6. Budget considerations (very rough)

• DIY EP: low hundreds — home recording + basic mixing/mastering.
• Pro EP: low thousands — studio time + experienced mixer.
• Album: several thousands to tens of thousands depending on scale (studio, musicians, mixing/mastering, marketing).
  (Exact costs vary by studio rates, geography, and team.)

7. What counts for industry/press?

Albums often get more “weight” in press and awards contexts, but a well-executed EP can still land reviews, radio play, and festival interest — especially if it demonstrates a clear artistic identity.

8. Checklist before you release

• Mastered audio for DSPs
• Clean artwork + variations for socials
• Press kit (bio, photos, links)
• Spotify/Apple profile optimized (artist image, bio, tour dates)
• Landing page with email sign-up (essential)
• Plan for two weeks of social-first content and follow-up content after release

How About My Sound helps you release smarter

About My Sound makes the non-musical parts of a release simple so you can focus on the music:

• Create a professional musician website in two steps (Google signup → artist profile → design) and get a live yourname.aboutmysound.com site instantly.
• Embed Spotify, upload videos and photos, and list shows — all from one dashboard (Home, About, Sound, Photos, Videos, Shows).
• Use your site as a release hub: host your press kit, link to your DSPs, collect emails, and promote shows tied to the release.
• Designed for artists who want speed and polish without the technical headaches.

Ready to publish a single, EP, or album and show the world what you’ve made? Start your website and build your release hub in minutes at About My Sound.