what is an ep in music

An EP, short for extended play, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album. EPs generally contain four to five tracks and are considered less expensive and time-consuming for an artist to produce than an album. EPs are usually shorter than albums, with a typical length of under 30 minutes. They are often created to showcase a new band who don’t want to go all out just yet with a full album. Releasing an EP can be a great way for emerging artists to start building a fan base, as it allows the artist to showcase more than one song, giving the listener a better understanding of their style. An EP also enables the artist to explore different genres and potential collaborations.