Template:Infobox musical artist/doc

{{Infobox musical artist}} is the standard infobox for musician articles, and is within the purview of WikiProject Musicians.

This template may also be used as a module (or sub-template) of {{Infobox person}}; see WikiProject Infoboxes/embed for guidance on such usage.

See also WikiProject Musicians/Infobox for more information.

Usage

One of the following two alternatives (one for individuals, one for groups) should be placed in an article at the top of the page, before the introduction.

For articles about individuals

• For dancers, use {{Infobox dancer}} instead.

{{{honorific_prefix}}} {{{name}}} {{{native_name}}} {{{honorific_suffix}}}
[[File:{{{image}}}|{{{image_size}}}|alt={{{alt}}}|upright={{{image_upright}}}|{{{caption}}}]] {{{caption}}}
Background information
Birth name	{{{birth_name}}}
Also known as	{{{alias}}}
Born	{{{birth_date}}} {{{birth_place}}}
Origin	{{{origin}}}
Died	{{{death_date}}} {{{death_place}}}
Genres	{{{genre}}}
Occupation(s)	{{{occupation}}}
Instruments	{{{instrument}}}
Years active	{{{years_active}}}
Labels	{{{label}}}
Associated acts	{{{associated_acts}}}
Website	{{{website}}}
{{{module}}}
{{{module2}}}
{{{module3}}}

{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix = 
| name             = 
| honorific_suffix = 
| image            = 
| image_upright    = 
| image_size       = 
| landscape        = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt              = 
| caption          = 
| background       = **Mandatory** Use one: solo_singer, non_vocal_instrumentalist, non_performing_personnel, or temporary
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| birth_name       = 
| alias            = 
| birth_date       = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per [[WP:DOB]] -->
| birth_place      = 
| origin           = 
| death_date       = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date first) -->
| death_place      = 
| genre            = 
| occupation       = 
| instrument       = 
| years_active     = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) -->
| label            = 
| associated_acts  = 
| website          = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} -->
| module           = 
| module2          = 
| module3          = 
}}

For articles about musical groups

• Some types of musical groups have their own dedicated infobox, which should be used instead: {{Infobox choir}}, {{Infobox orchestra}}, {{Infobox marching band}}

{{{name}}}
[[File:{{{image}}}|{{{image_size}}}|alt={{{alt}}}|upright={{{image_upright}}}|{{{caption}}}]] {{{caption}}}
Background information
Also known as	{{{alias}}}
Origin	{{{origin}}}
Genres	{{{genre}}}
Years active	{{{years_active}}}
Labels	{{{label}}}
Associated acts	{{{associated_acts}}}
Website	{{{website}}}
Members	{{{current_members}}}
Past members	{{{past_members}}}
{{{module}}}
{{{module2}}}
{{{module3}}}

{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = 
| image           = 
| image_size      = 
| image_upright   = 
| landscape       = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt             = 
| caption         = 
| background      = **Mandatory** Use one: group_or_band, classical_ensemble, or temporary
| alias           = 
| origin          = 
| genre           = 
| years_active    = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY}}–{{End date|YYYY}} (or –present) -->
| label           = 
| associated_acts = 
| website         = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} -->
| current_members = 
| past_members    = 
| module          = 
| module2         = 
| module3         = 
}}

Parameters

• Most fields are optional and the row will simply be omitted if no data is supplied.
• See WikiProject Musicians for more information about this template.

honorific_prefix

Titles or styles such as "The Right Honourable"

name

The name of the group or artist ("the act") in plain text only. Logos and other graphics are to be avoided in this field in accordance with WP:ACCESS, WP:FAIR, and in particular WP:LOGO. This field is mandatory.

honorific_suffix

Honours such as "CBE", "OBE" e.g. Cilla Black OBE

image

An image of the act, sufficiently clear for display at 220 pixels' width. Set to only the image name, e.g. Example.png, not Image:Example.png or [[File:Example.png|200px|abc]].

image_size

The image size should only be specified if the image is smaller than 220 pixels width. Enter the width in pixels without "px", for example 150.

image_upright

Scales the image thumbnail from its default size by the given factor. Values less than 1 scale the image down (0.9 = 90%) and values greater than 1 scale the image up (1.15 = 115%).

landscape

Set to yes when using wide, short images. The image height (rather than width) will be limited to 200 pixels.

alt

Alt text for the image, for visually impaired and other readers who cannot see the image. See WP:ALT.

caption

Caption for the image to be displayed.

background

The musical artist should be placed into one of seven categories by using one of the codes below in the background field. Each category is color-coded to provide a quick indication of the type of group/performer, e.g. solo artist, orchestra, etc. The color scheme is similar to the one used by WikiProject Albums and other projects. Please discuss additional types that need to be accounted for on the template's talk page. This field is mandatory.

Code	Display
solo_singer	Background information
non_vocal_instrumentalist	Background information
non_performing_personnel	Background information
group_or_band	Background information
classical_ensemble	Background information
temporary	Background information

solo_singer

Singular vocal performers (including lead and background singers, singer-songwriters, and singer-instrumentalists). This categorization is for any article about a singer, whether they perform solo, with a group or band, or both.

non_vocal_instrumentalist

Non-vocal instrumentalists.

non_performing_personnel

Composers, producers, songwriters, arrangers, DJs, engineers, and other non-performing personnel.

group_or_band

Groups, bands, crews, or other non-classical music ensembles. This categorization is for articles on group acts only; members of groups should be labeled with one of the codes above.

classical_ensemble

Orchestras and other classical music ensembles.

temporary

Temporary collaborative projects.

Other values (e.g. "jazz trumpeter") must not be used.

Pages with an invalid value in |background= can be found in Category:Infobox musical artist with missing or invalid Background field.

native_name

This field is only relevant for individuals. The artist's name in their own language. For Chinese-language individuals, use {{Infobox Chinese}} for |module= instead. For Korean-language individuals, use {{Infobox Korean name}} for |module= instead.

native_name_lang

This field is only relevant for individuals. ISO 639-2 code. E.g., "fre" or "fra" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} for |native_name= instead

birth_name

This field is only relevant for individuals. The person's name at birth

alias

For listing official stage names for the act or solo artist other than the name in the |name= parameter. Also for the solo artist's legal name(s), or other officially authorized names that differ from their birth name. This field is not for nicknames such as "The Godfather of Soul" (James Brown) or "Nippy" (Whitney Houston), which are not the artists' official names.

birth_date

This field is only relevant for individuals. The artist's date of birth; it is preferable to use {{Birth date and age}} (for example {{Birth date and age|1949|12|31}}) to display current age. If the artist's age is verified, but the date is not known, then use {{Birth based on age as of date}} (for example {{Birth based on age as of date|63|2012|08|30}}). For dead people, use {{Birth date}} (for example {{Birth date|1949|12|31}}). Also list the place of birth using the birth_place parameter (below).

{{Birth date and age|Year|Month|Day}}

birth_place

This field is only relevant for individuals. The artist's place of birth. For "United States" and "United Kingdom", it is preferred that they be abbreviated "U.S." and "UK", but political subdivisions should never be (never "MA" for "Massachusetts", "ON" for "Ontario", etc.). See Notes for details. Do not add a flag icon. (see field "origin" below).

[[City]], State/Province, Country

origin

The town, city etc., from which the group or musician originated (that is, the place where the group was founded, or where the individual performer started their career, should it not match the location of their birth). If the place is not known, specify at least the country. For "United States" and "United Kingdom", it is preferred that they be abbreviated "U.S." and "UK", but political subdivisions should never be (never "MA" for "Massachusetts", "ON" for "Ontario", etc.). See Notes for details. Do not add a flag icon. Omit the country if it does not differ from that specified at the field "birth_place".

[[City]], State/Province, Country

death_date

This field is only relevant for individuals. The artist's date of death (same format as birth_date; but use {{Death date and age}}).

death_place

This field is only relevant for individuals. The artist's place of death (same format as birth_place). For "United States" and "United Kingdom", it is preferred that they be abbreviated "U.S." and "UK", but political subdivisions should never be (never "MA" for "Massachusetts", "ON" for "Ontario", etc.). See Notes for details. Do not add a flag icon. Omit the country if it does not differ from that specified at the field "birth_place".

genre

The genre or genres of music performed by the act. Aim for generality (e.g. [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] rather than [[East Coast hip hop]]) and preferably use two to four. Genres should be separated by using commas, {{Flatlist}} or {{Hlist}}. Genres should be wikilinked. Use piped links where needed, for example: [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Rock music|rock]]. Most genres are not proper nouns and should not be capitalized. However, the first word in a list of multiple genres should be capitalized. Genres that are sourced in the article itself do not require a source in the infobox, but sometimes it can be useful to have the source listed again anyway, to help prevent edit warring. A hidden comment such as <!-- genres listed here are sourced in the article text --> can also be used to this end.

occupation

This field is only relevant for individuals. Roles the artist has fulfilled (e.g. musician, songwriter, producer). For artists who have participated in forms of entertainment outside of music (such as acting), these occupations can be included if notable. Please observe sentence case and capitalise only the first letter of the first item (e.g. Musician, actor, singer-songwriter). Multiple occupations should be ordered according to importance and separated by commas, {{Flatlist}} or {{Hlist}}.

instrument

This field is only relevant for individuals. General class(es) of instrument(s) played by the artist, e.g. guitar or violin. Include singing, rapping, beatboxing and/or scat singing if relevant. Separate multiple entries by using commas, {{Flatlist}} or {{Hlist}}. Instruments listed in the infobox should be limited to only those that the artist is primarily known for using. The instruments infobox parameter is not intended as a WP:COATRACK for every instrument the subject has ever used.

years_active

Period(s) during which the act was or has been active. Only calendar year ranges or a single calendar year should be listed; for example, do not distinguish between the period Paul McCartney was in the Beatles and his solo career. Use commas, {{Flatlist}}, or {{Hlist}}}. to separate non-consecutive periods, and denote ranges with an unspaced en dash (e.g. 1993–2004, 2005–present). See WP:DATE#Longer periods and WP:MOS#En dashes.

label

The record label or labels to which the act has been signed. Omit parenthetical dates; save that information for the main article as this degree of detail is better discussed in prose. Pipe out "Records", "Entertainment", "Music" or similar words from the end of any label's name. For example, use [[Universal Records|Universal]] rather than [[Universal Records]]. Separate multiple entries by using commas, {{Flatlist}}, or {{Hlist}}. Start with the oldest first.

associated_acts

This field is for professional relationships with other musicians or bands that are significant and notable to this artist's career.

This field can include, for example, any of the following:

• For individuals: groups of which they have been a member
• Acts with which this act has collaborated on multiple occasions, or on an album, or toured with as a single collaboration act playing together
• Groups which have spun off from this group
• A group from which this group has spun off

Separate multiple entries by using commas, {{Flatlist}}, or {{Hlist}}.

As per Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Lists and WP:Bandname, use sentence case for lists of band names. Example: The Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Who

The following uses of this field should be avoided:

• For groups: the solo careers of its members
• Groups with only one member in common
• Association of producers, managers, etc. (who are themselves acts) with other acts (unless the act essentially belongs to the producer, as in the case of a studio orchestra formed by and working exclusively with a producer)
• One-time collaboration for a single song
• Groups that have played or toured together as separate acts
• Groups that are merely similar

website

The single web address for the act's primary official website. Use {{URL}} as {{URL|www.example.com}} . {{Official URL}} can be used to automatically fetch the web address from Wikidata.

current_members

This field is only relevant for active groups. Current members of the group, listed in order of joining with no other notation than names. For multiple members joining concurrently (such as the formation of the band), list them according to alphabetical order. Separate multiple entries using * list markup. For example,

| current_members =
* Member 1
* Member 2
* Member 3

past_members

This field is only relevant for groups. Past members of the group, listed in order of joining with no other notation than names. If a group is inactive, all members should be listed here, and none in the "current_members" field. If membership of the group has varied over time, it should not be noted here, but may be discussed in the article body. Can also be given as |former_members=. Separate multiple entries using * list markup. For example,

| past_members = 
* Member 1
* Member 2
* Member 3

embed

Set to 'yes' if embedded in another infobox template.

module, module2, module3

Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one.

Use as a child template

The embed parameter is used when embedding this infobox into another.

This infobox may be used to create a genre-specific section within {{Infobox person}} (or similar biographical infobox templates) for cases where a person may be notable in more than one field; a generic example is shown below. For guidance on usage, see Wikipedia:Infobox modules. Also see the Template:Infobox documentation which explains embedding and subboxes.

{{Infobox person
| name = 
| image = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = 
| birth_place = 
| <!-- etc. -->
| module = 
  {{Infobox musical artist | embed=yes
  | background = 
  | parameter-2 = 
  | parameter-3 = 
  | parameter-4 = 
  | <!-- etc. -->
  }}
}}

Embedding other templates

The module parameters (module, module2, module3) are used for embedding other templates into this infobox.

{{Infobox musical artist
| name       = 
| background = 
| <!-- etc. -->
| module     = {{Infobox ABC
| embed      = yes <!-- or child=yes / subbox=yes -->
| <!-- etc. -->
}}
}}

Examples

For individual musicians

Mariah Carey
Carey performing in 1998
Background information
Birth name	Mariah Carey
Born	(1970-03-27) March 27, 1970 Huntington, New York, U.S.
Origin	New York City
Genres	Pop R&B Dance-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Columbia Virgin MonarC/Island
Website	mariahcarey.com

{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Mariah Carey
| image           = Mariah Carey13 Edwards Dec 1998.jpg
| alt             = Young woman singing into a hand mike with her eyes closed and a big smile
| caption         = Carey performing in 1998
| background      = solo_singer
| birth_name      = Mariah Carey
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1970|3|27}}
| birth_place     = [[Huntington, New York]], U.S.
| origin          = New York City
| genre           = {{Flatlist|
* [[Pop music|Pop]]
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[Dance-pop]]
}}
| associated_acts = 
| occupation      = Singer-songwriter, record producer
| years_active    = 1990–present
| label           = {{Flatlist|
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
* [[MonarC]]/[[Island Records|Island]]
}}
| website         = {{URL|mariahcarey.com}}
}}

For groups or bands

Audioslave
From left to right: Tim Commerford, Chris Cornell, Brad Wilk and Tom Morello, performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, 2005
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock alternative rock post-grunge
Years active	2001–2007
Labels	Epic Interscope
Associated acts	Soundgarden Rage Against the Machine Temple of the Dog The Nightwatchman
Website	audioslave.com
Past members	Chris Cornell Tom Morello Tim Commerford Brad Wilk

{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Audioslave
| image           = Audioslave 2005.jpg
| image_upright   = 1.15
| landscape       = yes
| alt             = Four-man rock group performing on stage, spotlit, with row of darkened fans in the foreground
| caption         = From left to right: [[Tim Commerford]], [[Chris Cornell]], [[Brad Wilk]] and [[Tom Morello]], performing at the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]], 2005
| background      = group_or_band
| origin          = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| genre           = {{Flatlist|
* [[Hard rock]]
* [[alternative rock]]
* [[post-grunge]]
}}
| years_active    = 2001–2007
| label           = {{Flatlist|
* [[Epic Records|Epic]]
* [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
}}
| associated_acts = {{Flatlist|
* [[Soundgarden]]
* [[Rage Against the Machine]]
* [[Temple of the Dog]]
* [[The Nightwatchman]]
}}
| website         = {{URL|audioslave.com}}
| current_members = 
| past_members    = 
* [[Chris Cornell]]
* [[Tom Morello]]
* [[Tim Commerford]]
* [[Brad Wilk]]
}}

Examples of the template in use can be found at:

• Elvis Presley
• Madonna
• Sly and the Family Stone

Tracking categories

Hidden maintenance/tracking categories which may be added to articles using this infobox:

• Category:Articles with hCards (1,531) – all articles using this infobox
• Category:Infobox musical artist with missing or invalid Background field (39) – if background parameter is missing or set to any value other than: solo_singer, non_vocal_instrumentalist, non_performing_personnel, group_or_band, classical_ensemble, temporary
• Category:Pages using Template:Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters (7) – any articles using this infobox with unknown parameter names

See also

Supporting templates

• Template:Infobox musical artist/color
• Template:Infobox musical artist/hCard class
• Template:Infobox musical artist/tracking

Similate templates

• Template:Infobox person

Microformat

The HTML markup produced by this template includes an hCard microformat, which makes the person's details parsable by computers, either acting automatically to catalogue articles across Wikipedia or via a browser tool operated by a reader, to (for example) add the subject to an address book or database. For more information about the use of microformats on Wikipedia, please see the microformat project.

Sub-templates

Date-of-birth ("bday") information will only be included in the microformat if {{birth date}}, or {{birth date and age}} are used in the infobox. (Do not use these if the date is before 1583). Be cautious about using these if the person is still living, per WP:DOB.

To include a URL, use {{URL}}.

Please do not remove instances of these sub-templates.

Classes

hCard uses HTML classes including:

• adr
• agent
• bday
• birthplace
• category
• country-name
• deathdate
• deathplace
• extended-address
• family-name
• fn (required)
• given-name
• honorific-prefix
• honorific-suffix
• label
• locality
• n
• nickname
• note
• org
• role
• url
• vcard

Please do not rename or remove these classes nor collapse nested elements which use them.

The determination between class="fn" (for individuals) and class="fn org" (for groups) and is made by {{Infobox musical artist/hCard class}}.

TemplateData

TemplateData documentation used by VisualEditor and other tools

See the monthly parameter usage report for this template. TemplateData for Infobox musical artist An infobox for musical artists/groups. Template parameters This template has custom formatting. Parameter Description Type Status Honorific prefix honorific_prefix titles such as Sir. String optional Name name Name Name of group/artist, plain text only. Default The page name String optional Honorific suffix honorific_suffix Honours such as CBE, OBE. String optional Background background Background Must be specified, sets to color used. Must be one of 'solo_singer', 'non_vocal_instrumentalist', 'non_performing_personnel', 'group_or_band', 'classical_ensemble', or 'temporary' (for temporary collaborative projects). String required Image image Img Image to use in infobox Set to only the image name e.g. 'ABBA - TopPop 1974 5.png'. String optional Image size image_size Img_size Should only be specified if the image is smaller than 220 pixels width. Enter the width in pixels without 'px', for example '150'. String optional Image upright image_upright Img_upright Scales the image thumbnail from its default size by the given factor. Values less than 1 scale the image down (0.9 = 90%) and values greater than 1 scale the image up (1.15 = 115%).. String optional Landscape landscape Landscape Set to yes when using wide, short images. String optional Image alt text alt Img_alt Alt text for the image, for visually impaired and other readers who cannot see the image. String optional Image caption caption Img_capt Caption for the image. String optional Native name native_name The artist's name in their own language. String optional Native name (language) native_name_lang ISO 639-2 code e.g. 'fr' or 'fra' for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} for native_name instead String optional Birth name birth_name Birth_name The person's name at birth. String optional Alias alias Alias Official stage names, legal names, or other officially authorized names. Not for nicknames. String optional Birth date birth_date The artist's date of birth; it is preferable to use {{Birth date and age}} e.g. '{{Birth date and age|1949|12|31}}'. String optional Birth place birth_place The artist's place of birth. e.g. '[[Lubbock, Texas]], U.S.'. String optional Origin origin Origin The city from which the singer or group originated. e.g. '[[Aston]], [[Birmingham]], England' String optional Death date death_date The artist's date of death use {{Death date and age}} String optional Death place death_place Place of death. String optional Genre genre Genre The genre or genres of music performed by the act. Genres should be wikilinked and separated by using commas or {{tl|Flatlist}}. String optional Occupation occupation Occupation Roles the artist has fulfilled (e.g. musician, songwriter, producer, etc). For artists who have participated in forms of entertainment outside of music (such as acting), these occupations can be included if notable. String optional Instrument instrument Instrument General classes of instruments played by the artist, e.g. guitar or violin. Include singing, rapping, beatboxing and/or scat singing if relevant. Separate multiple entries by using commas or {{tl|Flatlist}}. Instruments listed in the infobox should be limited to only those that the artist is primarily known for using. String optional Years active years_active Years_active yearsactive Years artist/group was active e.g. '1993–2004, 2005–present'. String optional Record label label Label The record label or labels to which the act has been signed, as a comma- or {{tl|Flatlist}}-separated list. Omit dates. e.g. '[[Universal Records|Universal]]'. String optional Associated acts associated_acts Associated_acts Professional relationships with other musicians or bands that are significant and notable to this artist's career. String optional Website website URL url The single web address for the act's primary official website. e.g. '{{URL|blacksabbath.com}}'. String optional Current members current_members Current_members Name of current members of the group, listed in order of joining. Separate multiple entries using * list markup, one per line. String optional Past members past_members Past_members Past members of the group, listed in order of joining. Separate multiple entries using * list markup, one per line. If a group is inactive, all members should be listed here, and none in the 'current_members' field. String optional Notable instruments notable_instruments Notable_instruments No longer used. String deprecated Embedded embed Set to 'yes' if embedded in another infobox template. String optional Module module Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one. String optional Module 2 module2 Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one. String optional Module 3 module3 Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one. String optional