Maxi single

[1] Maxi singles are often mistaken for extended plays (EPs), especially in the digital era such as the categorization on iTunes, Apple Music, or Spotify.

The 1975 reissue of David Bowie's "Space Oddity", where the featured song is coupled with "Changes" and "Velvet Goldmine", is a typical example.

Examples of such promos—released at almost the same time in 1975—are Gary Toms Empire  – "Drive My Car", Don Downing – "Dream World", Barrabas – "Mellow Blow", The Trammps – "Hooked for Life", Ace Spectrum – "Keep Holdin' On", South Shore Commission – "Train Called Freedom", The Chequers – "Undecided Love", Ernie Bush – "Breakaway", Ralph Carter – "When You're Young and in Love", Michael Zager & The Moon Band Feat.

Peabo Bryson – "Do It with Feeling", Monday After – "Merry-Go-Round", The Ritchie Family – "I Want to Dance" and Frankie Valli – "Swearin' to God".

Single releases in the US and elsewhere still included many tracks (primarily remixes) and called themselves maxi-singles to differentiate from the three-track UK versions.

Another extensive example is the collection of singles released for the award-winning Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins.

This increased demand for imported European & American CD maxi singles in the UK, especially amongst DJs who required full-length tracks.

[6] With music stores in the US devoting significantly less shelf space to singles, the format's future in the US remains in doubt.

In the UK, having watched sales of CDs drop since the previous rule change, and amid allegations that the consumer no longer felt that UK-issued singles were good value for money, the Chart Supervisory Committee once again changed the rules governing the formats of singles released in the UK.

From early 2003, a format described as a "Maxi-CD" was reintroduced, alongside a new two-track CD single with a lower retail price.

Madonna and Lady Gaga are the rare examples of popular American artists who still released maxi-singles on physical formats into the 2010s.