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Documentation: Releases

Basics
  • The name and romaji are for the official, base title; press and type fields can be accessed with the press/type button.
If the release doesn't have an exact name, try to use whatever is written on the release itself, i.e. 2019.08.06 コメントCD.

In the event that the name is unknown, or hasn't been anounced, use a brief descriptor in parentheses: (unknown demotape) (comment CD) (single TBA).
  • press is for additional pressings, which typically occur on separate dates. The “most official” press name should be used: usually however the band refers to the press in promotional material, i.e. “追加プレス” or “2ndプレス.”
  • type is for when multiple types of a release were made available at the same time. Again, this should use the “most official” name, i.e. “TYPE-A” or “通常盤” or “RED VER.”
If the type has no official designation, use the shortest possible differentiation, i.e. “赤” or “C”.

In general, different covers signify different types, even if the band itself doesn't advertise the release as having multiple types. However, inclusions (e.g. trading cards or differntly-colored CDs) in a release do not count as types. Information about such inclusions can go in the notes section.
  • artist is for the official artist. You can select (omnibus) ((オムニバス)) for omnibuses and coupling CDs.
Note that it's possible for multiple artists to be on a non-omnibus CD: KISAKI & Kansai Kizoku (妃&関西貴族) included one ∀NTI FEMINISM (アンチフェミニズム) track on a CD, but the CD is clearly still by KISAKI & Kansai Kizoku (妃&関西貴族).

If the artist was using a different name at the time of the release, use the display name section to specify the old name.
  • date can be blank, or just the year, or just the year and month (there's currently no way to be less specific, i.e. “90s”). You do not have to type the hyphens.
  • price should be formatted xxxx yen. Separating commas are not necessary. You may also write “free.”
Handling non-visual artists in omnibuses
Non-visual artists may no longer be added simply because they appear in a visual kei omnibus. Our guidelines for allowed bands on vkgy apply.
  • If the artist meets the criteria in the above document, you may create a profile for them and link them to the omnibus as normal.
  • If the artist does not meet any acceptable criteria, instead select “omnibus” as the artist for their track(s), then click “display as,” and enter the artist's name as a display name. Our guidelines for proper artist naming still apply.
Presses and types
In the world of visual kei, “press” and “type” are treated as two different attributes. This may be little more than a marketing tactic, but we respect the delineation nonetheless.

Types

  • Type describes multiple versions of a release which were planned, announced, and released at the same time. The versions usually differ in content (bonus tracks, additional footage) and/or packaging (cover art, case type). Common examples of types are TYPE-A and TYPE-B, or Tsuujouban (通常盤) and Shokaiban (初回盤).
  • Always use the “most official” type name. This information can usually be found on the title strip of the release or on flyers promoting the release. If the type name is written in kanji, romanize it rather than translating it.
  • Note that Japanese type names do not translate neatly into English. For example, Shokaiban (初回盤) is often translated as “first press” but it is almost always an indicator of type.
  • In the event that the band has not specified an official type name, use the shortest possible differentiation, such as Aka (赤) for a red cover, or A, B, and C if details about the differences are unknown.
  • If a release has multiple covers, these should usually be considered separate types. Different inclusions (such as 1 random trading card of 5 possible) do not generally qualify as a separate type.
  • Digital releases should be considered a separate type if their content differs from the physical release. If the digital type does not have an official type name, Haishinban (配信盤) is acceptable.
  • Although types are usually released on the same day, this is not always the case. For example, bands often freely distribute separate types of a single release over three separate lives.

Presses

  • Press describes an additional printing of a release which is planned separately from the initial press. These are generally released later and indicate that the initial release sold out. Presses may or may not have multiple types of their own.
  • Common press names are 2nd PRESS (2ndプレス) and Tsuika PRESS (追加プレス). Be sure to use the “most correct” name as it is written on the release, flyer, or official website. If unsure, default to 2nd PRESS (2ndプレス).
  • If a release is essentially a second press but uses a different name than the original release, the press field may be left blank.
  • Never add “1st press” to a release unless the band themselves specified it that way at the time of release. First presses should usually have the press field blank.
  • Additional presses usually feature minor changes in packaging or content. Be sure to include thorough notes about these changes, as different presses are often difficult to identify after the fact.
  • Presses that feature the exact same content and packaging are generally referred to as Tsuika PRESS (追加プレス)—these should still be treated like a separate release.
Production details
  • Both physical medium and format can have multiple values.
Note that “CT” = “demotape.”
  • venue can have only one selection.
Note that “industry only” is for items that were only distributed to label producers, shop owners, etc.
  • pressing refers to pressing limitation, and is usually specified by the band. This field can be left blank if the pressing wasn't limited in any way.
copies made is the number of copies in that particular press. Separating comma is not necessary.
  • The following fields are all related to companies, and can have multiple values, or none. This information usually comes from the back of the release, or from marketing material.
The fields are in order from most-commonly-specified to least (left to right).
  • label is whichever label managed the artist at that time
  • publisher is whoever published (paid for) the release
  • distributor is who sent the release to stores
  • marketer is whoever was in charge of promotional material
  • manufacturer is who physically made the release
  • organizer is whoever planned the release
Tracklist
  • When you type in a tracklist name, the system will automatically search for other songs by that band, and give auto-complete suggestions. These suggestions will automatically fill in the romaji, if it was specified before.
This only works if you already selected an artist, and does not work for omnibuses. Sorry!
  • Click and hold the button and drag to rearrange tracks. Click + to add a spot for a track directly below the current one.
  • add tracks adds spaces for several additional tracks at once.
  • add disc and add section will separate the tracklist into discs and sections, respectively.
“Disc” is used generically here, and refers to separate items within the same set, e.g. CD and DVD.

“Section” is used for sections within one item, e.g. “Side A” and “Side B” on the same demotape.

All discs and sections need a name, even if it's as simple as “CD.” Again, use the “most official” name, or as brief a name as possible if no official name was provided.
  • show artists gives the option to specify an artist for each track—this is useful for random guest appearances on releases. Omnibus releases have this option shown by default.
show artist display names can be used if an artist appeared on a release, but under a different name. Note that display name within the “Basics” section should be used if the entire release was made by an artist under a different name.

For tracks that don't really have an artist (e.g. an uncredited SE on an omnibus), you can put (omnibus) ((オムニバス)) as the artist (and add a display name if you wish).
  • To save time, you can copy tracklists directly from websites and paste them into one of the tracklist boxes, and the system will automatically separate them. This works for tracklists in the following format:
1. Song A
2. Song B
3. Song C
  • clear tracklist is mainly useful when duplicating releases (see Advanced editing).
Advanced editing
  • If a release was cancelled, it should still be entered into the database: just add (cancelled) at the end of the title.
  • If a release was postponed, put the last date in the date field, but mention the original date and reason for delay in the notes.
  • If a release was sold on multiple days (e.g. three lives in a row), use the first for date and list the others in notes.
Note different presses/types must be entered as separate releases. Even if the band doesn't specify that they're multiple types, if there's any difference, it should be separate entries.
  • You can add as many images as you'd like, just be sure to select default cover image for whichver one is the cover. For the others, you can add descriptions as necessary.
You can delete images by double-clicking the trashcan icon.

scanned by vkgy user should only be selected if you (or another user) scanned the image. These images will be watermarked with the username of whoever uploaded them.
  • friendly url is a url-friendly name for the release. It's automatically generated, but you can edit it if you'd like. Letters, numbers, and hyphens are allowed.
  • notes is for any random notes you have about the release. You can separate them with a horizontal line, and Markdown can be used.
note 1

---

*another* note
  • note 1
  • another note
  • booklet credits is for the liner notes. For these, just type them however they appear in the booklet. Special formatting will be applied to any lines that are formatted like credit - name.
Producer - KISAKI
Engineer - Mr. Yamamoto

Special thanks to... you
Producer KISAKI
Engineer Mr. Yamamoto

Special thanks to... you
  • concept/tagline is for when the artist specified a concept for the release. This is usually found on the obi or flyer, and was mostly only a trend with kote bands.
  • jan code is for the number under the barcode.
  • After hitting submit, you can immediately view the release or click edit to fix any mistakes.
Clicking duplicate will keep all of the information, but as a new release. This is useful mainly for quickly entering multi-type releases. The friendly url will be cleared, but all information will stay the same until you edit it and submit again.

clear tracklist can often be useful when duplicating releases.
  • If you added a release that isn't out yet, a blog entry may be generated for that release. In that case, you'll be notified, and will have the option to edit the blog entry, if you wish. Any additional releases added on the same day by the same artist will be automatically added to the blog post.
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