EP vs. LP: What’s the difference? Does it matter in 2024?

Music formats are a tricky business in the 2020s. Musicians used to be limited by the media they used. Vinyl, cassette tapes, and CDs all had their constraints, which shaped the way that music was released. In the digital era, few limits exist. A music release could be five seconds long or last an entire day. How can we decide which format to release in?

The terminology has also gotten confused. Words like “EP” and “LP” come from old media, and their modern definitions are vague. So what is an EP exactly, and what is an LP? In this article, we’ll define these terms, explain the pros and cons of EPs vs LPs, and give examples of artists using both formats to their advantage. While it may not settle the EP vs. LP vs. album debate once and for all, this article should give you the confidence to release your music in the format that’s right for you...