outing

Hi,

He released his second/sophomore outing last month. (outing = album)

I hear this sometimes from native speakers. Is it correct? Yes, it's the kind of term used by eg journalists who write in the field of entertainment. It's not an expression commonly used by non-journalists.

I know

Thanks, Clive. Yes, these terms come up a lot in album reviews.

CliveI know that "sophomore" is usually said of university students (second year students). In American English, yes.

Second-year high-school students, too.

The phrase must be hybrid British/American.

I've never heard "outing" used in a journalistic sense; only as a kind of field trip, or revelation of a personal (usually embarrassing) secret

The children enjoyed their outing to the zoo.

He was outed.
The tabloids specialize in outing movie stars and politicians.

AlpheccaStarsI've never heard "outing" used in a journalistic sense

It's along the lines of a "foray" into politics. You see it in articles about pop music. It seems to have roots in sports: AHD def. 4 "An athletic competition or an appearance therein: The rookie pitcher threw a no-hitter in his first outing with the team."

I can see how it fits as a personal appearance in a performance, similar to a field trip.

But album, as someone's publication of songs or photographs, seems to be a stretch to me.
It comes too close to outing in the sense of revealing something about oneself, formally kept secret.
Is is meant as a combination of the two? Such as an album that is a personal outing (eg

AlpheccaStarsSuch as an album that is a personal outing (eg. of being gay)?

While what you say may be true in some isolated cases, "outing" is normally used in the sense of an album or a track (song). For instance,