Re: [mb-users] Are different digital downloads different releases?

Hello,

On 12/31/2012 07:30 PM, Greg Thomas wrote:
> Are digital downloads in different formats different releases? For
> example, "Fly Yellow Moon"
> (http://musicbrainz.org/release/924b8b54-af02-416f-90dc-9f3c14835934) can be
> downloaded in the UK from either;
>
> 1. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003JVBLFK (£3.99 in 256 kb/s MP3
> format)
> 2.
> https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bjhqn5dhlu6esx2yswqkpolkqri
> (£4.49 in 320 kb/s MP3 format)
> 3. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/fly-yellow-moon/id370394444 (£4.99
> in 256 kb/s AAC format)
>
> and possibly elsewhere, too.
>
> On the face of it, these appear to be the same release as they have the
> same number of tracks that are the same length.

I think they're different releases, yes.  The audio itself is different 
because each retailer uses their own encoding (with different file 
format and bitrate).  The available cover art is typically in different 
resolutions.  The file names will be different.

When dealing with physical releases very small differences to the 
coverart (different barcode or catalog number, different record label 
imprints) already is enough for a new release, even if the audio is 
identical between them.  A different release date (e.g. for 
geographical regions) is already a new release in musicbrainz.  We 
shouldn't treat digital versions differently in that regard, there are 
differences between them, so we should have separate entries in our 
database.

Though I believe most of us agree that if a retailer of digital 
downloads (such as bandcamp) offers the download in multiple formats 
(e.g. flac, mp3, ogg), we consider those to be the same release.
(that is my impression based on irc discussions, I could be wrong).

-- kuno / warp.