A music album is a collection of audio recordings, typically consisting of multiple songs or tracks, released as a single entity. The concept has evolved significantly over time, reflecting changes in technology and how people consume music.
Historically, the term “album” originated in the early 20th century when individual 78 rpm records, which could only hold a few minutes of audio, were sold in bound booklets that resembled a photo album. With the introduction of long-playing (LP) vinyl records in 1948, it became possible to fit a full collection of songs on a single disc, and the term was adapted for this new format. This marked the beginning of what is often called the “album era,” from the mid-1960s to the early 21st century, where the album became the dominant format for musical expression and a key part of an artist’s identity.
In Tanzania, the music album has evolved from a physical collection of songs to a major digital release format, especially in the dominant Bongo Flava genre. While singles and music videos often get more immediate attention, artists still release full albums and extended plays (EPs) to present a complete body of work and a cohesive artistic statement.
