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 Infobox modules 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.
 * For Chinese-language singers, use Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor instead.



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 college marching band, Infobox school marching band
 * For Chinese-language musical groups, use Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor instead.



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 such as "Sir". e.g. Sir Paul McCartney

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., not   or.

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. Size for landscape images should be 250.

landscape
Set to  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  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.

Other values (e.g. "jazz trumpeter") 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

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 ) 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 ). For dead people, use Birth date (for example ). Also list the place of birth using the birth_place parameter (below). Year

birth_place
This field is only relevant for individuals. The artist's place of birth. 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 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. 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). 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.  rather than  ) and preferably use 2-4. Genres should be separated by using commas or flatlist. Genres should be wikilinked. Use piped links where needed, for example: Pop, rock. Note: 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.

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).

instrument
This field is only relevant for individuals. General class(es) of instrument(s) played by the artist, e.g.  or. Include,  ,   and/or   if relevant. Separate multiple entries by using commas or flatlist. 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 or flatlist to separate non-consecutive periods, and denote ranges with an unspaced en dash (e.g. 1993–2004, 2005–present). See WP:DATE and WP:MOS. For groups only use Start date.

label
The record label or labels to which the act has been signed, as a comma- or flatlist-separated list. Omit parenthetical dates; save that information for the main article as this degree of detail is better discussed in prose. Drop the word "Records" from the end of any label's name (e.g. use  rather than  .) Separate multiple entries by using commas or flatlist. 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 he or she has been a member
 * Other 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 or flatlist.

The following uses of this field should be avoided:
 * Association of groups with members' solo careers
 * 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, or on a single song
 * Groups that are merely similar

website
The single web address for the act's primary official website. Use URL as example.com.

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. Separate multiple entries using * list markup. For example, 
 * past_members =
 * Member 1
 * Member 2
 * Member 3

notable_instruments
This field is only relevant for individuals. Particularly noteworthy models or custom musical instruments with which the artist is strongly associated (e.g. Jimi Hendrix's Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Flying V guitars or Tori Amos's Bösendorfer piano). Separate multiple entries by using commas or flatlist.

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.

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



Microformat
The determination between  (for individuals) and   (for groups) and is made by Infobox musical artist/hCard class.

For individual musicians

 * The following template code produced the infobox above.



For groups or bands

 * The following template code produced the infobox above.



Examples of the template in use can be found at:
 * Elvis Presley
 * Madonna
 * Sly and the Family Stone

Supporting templates

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

Tracking categories
Hidden maintenance/tracking categories which may be added to articles using this infobox:
 * Category:Articles with hCards – all articles using this infobox
 * Category:Infobox musical artist with missing or invalid Background field – 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 – any articles using this infobox with unknown parameter names

TemplateData
{	"description": "An infobox for musical artists/groups.", "params": { "honorific_prefix": { "label": "Honorific prefix", "description": "titles such as Sir.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"name": { "label": "Name", "description": "Name of group/artist, plain text only.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Name" ],			"default": "The page name", "required": false },		"honorific_suffix": { "label": "Honorific suffix", "description": "Honours such as CBE, OBE.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"background": { "label": "Background", "description": "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).", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Background" ],			"required": true },		"image": { "label": "Image", "description": "Image to use in infobox Set to only the image name e.g. 'ABBA - TopPop 1974 5.png'.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Img" ],			"required": false },		"image_size": { "label": "Image size", "description": "Should only be specified if the image is smaller than 220 pixels width. Enter the width in pixels without 'px', for example '150'. Size for landscape images should be 250.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Img_size" ],			"required": false },		"landscape": { "label": "Landscape", "description": "Set to yes when using wide, short images.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Landscape" ],			"required": false },		"alt": { "label": "Image alt text", "description": "Alt text for the image, for visually impaired and other readers who cannot see the image.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Img_alt" ],			"required": false },		"caption": { "label": "Image caption", "description": "Caption for the image.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Img_capt" ],			"required": false },		"native_name": { "label": "Native name", "description": "The artist's name in their own language.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"native_name_lang": { "label": "Native name (language)", "description": "ISO 639-2 code e.g. 'fr' or 'fra' for French. If more than one, use for native_name instead", "type": "string", "required": false },		"birth_name": { "label": "Birth name", "description": "The person's name at birth.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Birth_name" ],			"required": false },		"alias": { "label": "Alias", "description": "Official stage names, legal names, or other officially authorized names. Not for nicknames.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Alias" ],			"required": false },		"birth_date": { "label": "Birth date", "description": "The artist's date of birth; it is preferable to use e.g. 'December 31, 1949'.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"birth_place": { "label": "Birth place", "description": "The artist's place of birth. e.g. 'Lubbock, Texas, U.S.'.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"origin": { "label": "Origin", "description": "The city from which the singer or group originated. e.g. 'Aston, Birmingham, England'", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Origin" ],			"required": false },		"death_date": { "label": "Death date", "description": "The artist's date of death use ", "type": "string", "required": false },		"death_place": { "label": "Death place", "description": "Place of death.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"genre": { "label": "Genre", "description": "The genre or genres of music performed by the act. Genres should be wikilinked and separated by using commas or flatlist.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Genre" ],			"required": false },		"occupation": { "label": "Occupation", "description": "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.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Occupation" ],			"required": false },		"instrument": { "label": "Instrument", "description": "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 flatlist. Instruments listed in the infobox should be limited to only those that the artist is primarily known for using.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Instrument" ],			"required": false },		"years_active": { "label": "Years active", "description": "Years artist/group was active e.g. '1993–2004, 2005–present'.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Years_active", "yearsactive" ],			"required": false },		"label": { "label": "Record label", "description": "The record label or labels to which the act has been signed, as a comma- or flatlist-separated list. Omit dates. e.g. 'Universal'.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Label" ],			"required": false },		"associated_acts": { "label": "Associated acts", "description": "Professional relationships with other musicians or bands that are significant and notable to this artist's career.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Associated_acts" ],			"required": false },		"website": { "label": "Website", "description": "The single web address for the act's primary official website. e.g. 'blacksabbath.com'.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "URL", "url" ],			"required": false },		"current_members": { "label": "Current members", "description": "Name of current members of the group, listed in order of joining. Separate multiple entries using * list markup, one per line.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Current_members" ],			"required": false },		"past_members": { "label": "Past members", "description": "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.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Past_members" ],			"required": false },		"notable_instruments": { "label": "Notable instruments", "description": "Particularly noteworthy models or custom musical instruments with which the artist is strongly associated. e.g. Jimi Hendrix's Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Flying V.", "type": "string", "aliases": [ "Notable_instruments" ],			"required": false },		"embed": { "label": "Embedded", "description": "Set to 'yes' if embedded in another infobox template.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"module": { "label": "Module", "description": "Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"module2": { "label": "Module 2", "description": "Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one.", "type": "string", "required": false },		"module3": { "label": "Module 3", "description": "Used for embedding other infoboxes into this one.", "type": "string", "required": false }	} }