extendedplay

An extended play, commonly abbreviated EP, is a musical release that sits between a single and a full-length album. An EP typically contains about four to seven tracks and runs roughly 15 to 30 minutes, though exact definitions can vary by country and label. The term extended play reflects its length relative to a standard single and a long-playing album (LP).

Historically, EPs emerged in the vinyl era as releases longer than a single but not long enough to be considered a full album. They were often issued on 7-inch or 12-inch records and could be played at 33 1/3 or 45 rpm, depending on format. EPs have also appeared in other media formats, including CD, cassette, and digital releases. They are frequently used by artists to present a cohesive set of songs, to bridge between albums, or to showcase early material from emerging artists. Variants include split EPs, which feature multiple artists sharing a single release, and mini-albums, a label sometimes uses to describe shorter collections that resemble an EP.

In the digital era, the distinction between EPs, singles, and albums has become more fluid. EPs are released digitally and may be marketed as mini-albums or as a concise release intended to make a specific artistic statement without producing a full-length record. Classification and chart eligibility can differ by region and platform, but the EP remains a standard format for presenting a compact body of work.