minialbums

Minialbum is a music release category used to describe a set of songs released between an extended play and a full-length album. Definitions vary by market and label, but minialbums are typically longer than a standard EP and shorter than a full album, aiming to present a cohesive collection without the breadth of a major studio release.

Most minialbums run roughly 20 to 40 minutes and include about four to eight tracks. They may be designed around a single concept or theme and often feature a lead track released to promote the collection. Because the category is fluid, some releases marketed as minialbums overlap with what some markets would label as EPs or short albums.

In Japan and South Korea, "mini-album" is a common industry term and can correspond to what Western markets would call an EP or a studio album, depending on length and marketing. In Western markets, the term is less standardized and may be used more as a branding choice by artists or labels.

Minialbums allow artists to release new material more quickly than a full album, test new directions, or maintain visibility between larger projects. They are distributed in physical formats such as CD and vinyl, and increasingly as digital releases across streaming platforms.