What Is the Definition of a Recording Artist?
With the huge presence of pop culture in our daily lives, the word "recording artist" frequently springs up in conversations. It is easy to incorrectly designate all singers as recording artists; but, to be correct, only those who have recorded and sold their work will meet the definition.
A recording artist is somebody who performs or writes music. Obviously, of course, they eventually wind up recording the tunes that they play.
A recording artist is the proper name for what we often refer to as a singer. Not that the name "singer" is not proper, but the term "recording artist" more describes their occupation in life, while "singer" just tends to describe what they do. That difference is a major one between the words "singer" and "recording artist." Anyone can be a singer, but it takes an especially talented person to be labeled as a recording artist because they have to have recorded and sold their music.
Sometimes looking at words in comparison helps to better define them. You can certainly be a singer without being a recording artist. Someone who sings in a choir or on the street is a singer, but not necessarily a recording artist. In order to be a recording artist, you must have had something recorded and sold.
Famous Recording Artists
Another way to get you to understand the definition of a recording artist is to give you some examples of famous people who were and are recording artists.
Here are some famous recording artists. Chances are, you have at least heard of a handful of them. They span across a variety of genres as well as various time periods.
- The Beatles
- Elton John
- Elvis Presley
- Michael Jackson
- Tim McGraw
- Shania Twain
- Backstreet Boys
- Nsync
- Miley Cyrus
- Rod Stewart
- Bruce Springsteen
- Billy Joel
- Peter, Paul, and Mary
- The Beach Boys
- Shaggy
- Madonna
- Led Zeppelin
- Kiss
- Lady Gaga
- Queen
- Bee Gees
- Celine Dion
- Andre Bocelli
- Enrique Iglesias
- Ricky Martin
- Marc Anthony
- Jennifer Lopez
- Julio Iglesias
- Mariah Carey
- Mandy Moore
- Whitney Houston
- Cher
- Sonny
- Pink Floyd
- The Rolling Stones
- The Eagles
- Nelly
- Shakira
- 98 Degrees
- Jim Croce
- The Bee Gees
- The Animals
- Aerosmith
- Bon Jovi
- Spice Girls
- Bryan Adams
- Don Mclean
- Don Henley
- Chicago
- Boston
- David Bowie
- Bob Carlisle
- Frank Sinatra
- Fleetwood Mac
- Metallica
- Limp Bizkit
- Christina Aguilera
- Neil Diamond
- U2
- Five for Fighting
- Five Iron Frenzy
- Saves the Day
- Taking Back Sunday
- Prince
- Hanson
- Eminem
- Carlos Santana
- Barenaked Ladies
- Goo Goo Dolls
- Matchbox 20
- Tupac Shakur
- Van Halen
- Bob Seger
- Bob Dylan
- Westlife
- Bbmak
- Coldplay
- The Used
- Rancid
- Brand New
- Bowling for Soup
- Duran Duran
- Green Day
- Meatloaf
- Robbie Williams
- Willie Nelson
- Destiny's Child
- Fall Out Boy
- Alicia Keys
You will notice that time also plays a role in whether someone is considered a recording artist or not. Great singers lived in every century; however, hundreds of years ago, the physical tools to be a recording artist were just not yet invented.
Therefore, if some of those greats lived in the past century or so, they may very well have been considered a recording artist. As you can see, recording artist is fairly synonymous with the term "singer" in cases of popular acts.