What is a bands EP?

Answer 1

A band's EP is usually a batch of 3-6 songs that are released before a full-length album comes out, or during the wait time between a band's album releases.

///Reasons independent bands do this:

- Lack of money. It's less expensive to record 4 songs than to record 10. They can then use sales from the EP to help pay for recording a full-length record.

- Lack of material. A new band might only have 5 songs written, but wants to start gaining exposure and have something to sell at concerts.

- They're looking for a record label. If a band wants to find a record label to fund and release a record for them, they want to keep enough songs to still be able to record a full album of material, yet they need to release a few songs to gain "buzz" and attract the industry folks.

///Reasons record labels do this:

- To test the market to see if sales are high enough of the EP to warrant paying for the recording of a full-length record.

- To keep fans satisfied during long wait times between albums or because they have a batch of songs that don't particularly fit on the next record.

- There was enough B-sides from the recording sessions to release an EP and make extra money.

There are an infinite number of other reasons, but I believe these to be the main ones.