Traditional

Traditional is not a real composer; it is a credit given for any piece of music where the songwriter is not known and the music has been handed down - usually by rote (word of mouth / copying the music by ear). It is a common credit in music such as blues, folk, jazz, world, classic and rock (to a lesser extent). This profile should also be used for credits to “Spiritual”.

Please read the entire profile before deciding whether a credit to Traditional is appropriate.

Use the Traditional credit only for composition type credits. ([g2.3.1.])
For ‘Folk’, ‘Folklore’, or variations/translations, please use Folk and an ANV.
Common abbreviations for this credit are ‘Trad’ and ‘Trad.’ or any language variation thereof.

NOTE: If the writer credit is NOT a variation or translation of ‘Traditional’, such as DP (Domaine Publique/Public Domain). please check for an existing artist name, before using Traditional with the appropriate ANV.
Other existing placeholder names used for composing credits are for instance Folk, Anonymous, Unknown Artist.
Also note No Artist for use as a main artist placeholder.

For releases using ‘PUBLIC DOMAIN’ and variations, please put the information in the notes and/or baoi section.