rerecorded

Rerecorded describes a new vocal or instrumental recording made by the original artist of a song or album that had previously been released. The rerecorded version creates a new master recording separate from the original master. It is distinct from remastering, which improves the fidelity of the existing master, and from remixing, which changes the mix or arrangement of the track.

Artists pursue rerecordings for various reasons, most notably to gain ownership or control of the master recording after contract or label disputes. By releasing a new version under a separate master, the artist can license and monetize the rerecorded track independently of the original master.

Rerecorded works typically involve new performances and production, and may differ in arrangement, vocal interpretation, length, or order. They can include additional tracks not available on the original release, commonly marketed as From the Vault or bonus material.

Legal and licensing context: in many jurisdictions, song copyrights cover the composition while the master rights cover the specific sound recording. Re-recordings are used to establish ownership of the new master; the original master often remains owned by the label or former rights holder unless rights are transferred or licenses expire. Contracts commonly specify when re-recordings become feasible.

An influential modern example is Taylor Swift, who began releasing Taylor's Version recordings after her contract with Big Machine Records. Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021), Red (Taylor's Version) (2021), 1989 (Taylor's Version) (2023), and Speak Now (Taylor's Version) (2023) illustrate the practice, which also includes previously unreleased tracks in some editions.

Rerecordings affect licensing, streaming, and fan reception, sometimes achieving chart success while simultaneously offering artists greater ownership.