Primary vs. featured artist

The difference between the primary artist role and the featured artist (featuring) role, how to decide which one applies, and why you don't type "feat." into the name.

In a release's credits, every person has a role. The two most common — and the two most often confused — are primary artist and featured artist (featuring).

Primary artist

This is the artist the release or track is by: their project, their catalog. It appears as the headline name in stores.

You assign it with the Primary Artist role when you add the artist to the release and to each track.

Featured artist (featuring)

This is someone who appears on a track as a guest, but the track isn't theirs. A verse, a hook, an added vocal.

You register it with the Featured Artist (Featuring) role, or by answering yes to "Is there a featured artist (featuring)?" in the wizard.

How to decide which is which

Ask yourself:

Is the track by this person, part of their discography? → Primary artist.
Does this person appear on a track that's another artist's? → Featured artist.

If two artists share authorship as equals, both are primary artists (see below).

Don't type "feat." yourself

Never add feat. X, ft. X or with X to the primary artist name.

Register the guest in their own field. UXEM and the stores build the credit line (with or without "feat.") from the roles.

Collaborations: multiple primary artists

A true collaboration — two artists who sign the song together — is registered with multiple primary artists, each added separately with that role.

Keep primary artists to 3 at most (4 on a single). With more, Spotify reclassifies the track as "Various Artists". If one is really a guest, move them to Featured Artist.

Common cases

A's song with a verse by B: A is primary, B is featured.
An established duo or a song signed by both: both are primary.
A backing vocalist with no lead role: usually a vocal role, not a featuring credit.
A remixer: not a featured artist; credited with their own role, and the version goes in the version field.

Consistency between release and track

On a single, the track's primary and featured artists must be identical to the release's. If they don't match, review sends it back.

On EPs and albums, each track can have its own guests, but the release's primary artist must be present.