Authorized access points for musical works

As of August 12, 2015, the rules on this page have been approved in concept by the SCRAP committee, but the exact wording is still being adjusted. Please use these rules. Please send any feedback to SCRAP.

The authorized access point for a musical work controls both how the catalog record for that work is filed in bibliographic listings (such as catalog hit lists and bibliographies), but also what text is used for added access points in other records that point to the item in hand.

The following rules only apply when using the RDA cataloging rules.

Popular music

For albums & compilations of several musical works of non-classical musical sound recordings (including popular music, rock music, blues & jazz, and so forth), when there is a collective title or a cataloger-supplied collective title, always treat the principal performer as the creator when creating and recording the authorized access point for the collective work, regardless of whether the individual musical works are all written by a single composer, and regardless of whether the composer is part of the performing group.

Example:

John Lennon & Paul McCartney wrote almost all of the Beatles' songs. Albums recorded by the Beatles should get an authorized access point of "Beatles. Album title"

When there is a collective title, and there is no principal performer (either because none is listed, or because there are various performers with nearly equal contributions), regardless of whether all of the works are by a single composer, make the title alone the authorized access point.

Examples:

John Lennon & Paul McCartney wrote almost all of the Beatles' songs. A tribute album of covers of Beatles songs recorded by various other performers should get an authorized access point of just the album title.

A collection of one-hit wonders from the 1980s should get an authorized access point of just the album title.

This change is being considered by the SCRAP committee. Do NOT follow this change. Please send any feedback to SCRAP.

Scores Also follow the above guidelines for collections of printed music from those genres.

Classical music

For collections of classical music, follow the RDA guidelines as written for creating authorized access points. (Brief summary: When there is a single composer of all works, always use the composer when constructing the authorized access point. When there are multiple composers, use just the title.

MARC coding

The authorized access point for the item in hand is recorded in MARC records as a 130 field alone, or as a 100 or 110 field with a 240 or 245 field, as appropriate.

The personal names portion of an authorized access point should be recorded in a 100 field.

The corporate/group name of an authorized access point should be recorded in a 110 field.

Authorized access points that consist solely of a title are recorded as a 245 field. If differentiation from other works with the same title is necessary, then the unique authorized access point is recorded in a 130 field.