Radio edit, extended mix and instrumental: versions of one song

One song often lives in several versions: the original, a shorter radio edit, a longer extended mix for DJs, an instrumental with no vocal. Each of them is a different recording, and each has to be labelled so that platforms and listeners know exactly what they are getting. Getting this wrong is a common reason for confused catalogues, split streams and releases sent back for correction.

What each version is

• Original (album) version. The main recording. It usually needs no extra label at all, so leave the version field empty.
• Radio edit. A shortened version made for radio and playlists. The intro and outro are trimmed, a verse or a repeat may be cut, and the lyrics are sometimes cleaned of explicit words.
• Extended mix. A longer version, mostly in electronic and dance music. It has a longer intro and outro, and sometimes extra sections, so a DJ can blend it with other tracks.
• Instrumental. The same track without the vocal, or without the lead vocal. DJs, singers practising, video creators and others use it.
• Other versions. Acoustic, live, remix, remaster and a cappella are separate versions with their own labels.

A version is a real difference in the audio. A file with a different name but the same sound is not a new version.

How to label versions: the version field

Release forms have a separate "version" field next to the track title. Use it.

• Title: Yay gecəsi
• Version: Radio Edit

Platforms combine the two and show them in their own style. If you also type the label into the title, it may appear twice.

Some habits that keep metadata clean:

• Use the standard words: Radio Edit, Extended Mix, Instrumental, Acoustic, Live. For a remix write the remixer's name: Elvin Rza Remix.
• Don't add "Official", "New", emojis, the year or "feat." to the version field. Featured artists belong in the artist fields.
• Be accurate. If a "radio edit" is simply the original with a different name, don't call it that.
• Set the explicit flag for each track on its own. A radio edit with cleaned lyrics may not be explicit while the original is.
• Mark instrumentals as instrumental if the form asks, so no one expects lyrics.

One release or separate releases

You have two sensible options.

1. One release with several versions. A single containing the original, a radio edit, an extended mix and an instrumental is very common, especially in dance music. Listeners find all versions in one place. Put the version you want to promote first.
2. Separate releases. This fits when the versions come at different times, for example an instrumental months after the single, or when each version is aimed at a different audience.

Remember that streams are counted per track. When the same song exists in four versions, the listening splits between them. For playlists and attention, it's best to decide on one main version and treat the others as extras. If you hope for a strong first week on one track, don't spread it across four releases on the same day.

One ISRC per version, one UPC per release

These two codes are often confused.

• ISRC identifies a specific recording. A radio edit, an extended mix and an instrumental are different recordings, so each gets its own ISRC. Giving two versions the same code mixes their streams and reports.
• UPC identifies the release as a product. A release with four versions has one UPC and four ISRCs. Two separate releases have two UPCs.
• Same audio, same ISRC. If the original single later appears on an album unchanged, it keeps its ISRC. A genuinely new mix or edit does not.
• Remasters. If the audio changes noticeably, treat it as a new recording and check the ISRC guidelines in your country.

On the Professional plan in CULT you can use your own UPC and ISRC codes. In that case keep a simple table that lists each version, its file name, its ISRC and the release it belongs to. It saves a lot of confusion a year from now.

A short checklist before you submit

1. Every version is a separate, finished WAV, named clearly in the file name too.
2. The radio edit is really shorter, and its lyrics are checked if it's meant to be clean.
3. The version field uses a standard label, and the title doesn't repeat it.
4. Credits are the same for every version, and any remixer is credited.
5. You've decided on one main version and the order of the tracks.
6. Each version has its own ISRC, written in your table.

Versions are cheap to make and easy to mislabel. Five minutes spent on naming and codes keeps your catalogue readable for you, for the platforms and for the listener.