The term broadside refers to the ancient tradition of sharing and creating popular music through the written word with often appropriated (though occasionally original) melodies. The term refers specifically to lyric sheets printed during and after the Renaissance (when the printing press with movable type was invented) on a single side, the broadside, of a piece of paper. These lyric sheets were usually meant to be sung to a well known melody which would be noted on the sheet. In some instances the broadside titles might even become more locally famous than the original name of a tune, replacing the title on subsequent different broadsides using the same melody.
Musical artists in this category are usually known for their use of traditional or historical source material and/or their mixing and matching of melodies and meter. Some versions of this genre may also be identified as Filk. .
