performedBy

Performed by is a designation used in credits to indicate the artist who actually performed the work. It distinguishes the performer from creator roles such as composer, lyricist, arranger, or producer. In music recordings, the performed by field credits the vocalist or instrumentalist responsible for a track’s performance. When multiple artists contribute, the line may read “Performed by X and Y” or list them in order; sometimes it uses “various performers” for ensembles or unknown contributors.

In film, television, and video, performed by appears in soundtrack credits to attribute the on-screen performance of a song or a score, and can also apply to vocal dubbing or voice acting in animated works. In live theatre, particularly musicals, the designation identifies the performers in a given production.

Legal and rights considerations: the performed by credit relates to performance rights and public execution of the work, not necessarily ownership of the underlying composition. It helps differentiate who delivered the actual execution of the work from who wrote or produced it. Credits may be standardized by industry practices but vary by country, label, or production.

Metadata and cataloging: databases and digital music services use performed by to surface performance credits, contributing to royalties and attribution. See also: composer, lyricist, producer, arranger, publisher, rights management.