Releasing a song, an EP or an Album is an exciting project for any artist. Months of work finally ready to be shared with the world! To make the most out of this venture, I have prepared a little checklist on things to do pre- release and post-release. Good preparation saves you a lot of trouble! So let´s dive right in:
Pre-Release preparations
In order to reach as many potential fans as possible, you will want to develop measurements to help:
– grow followers on social media
– get reviews on blogs and in magazines
– get played on the radio and on podcasts
Let´s break down a strategy for each of these goals:
1) Growing followers:
Growing followers, aka potential fans, is keys if you want to be a successful artist in today´s market! By no means will you have to attract 100.000 + fans, but opting for 10.000 loyal followers or more can be crucial in securing your monthly paycheck. So make sure to tailor some engaging campaigns to be shared on Instagram, YouTube Facebook and the likes. Here are some ideas for you:
Instagram: Go Live and play acoustic versions of your songs + + share a behind the scenes videos, ++ give people background information on your songs ++ share lyric excerpts ++ share album artwork
Youtube: Post lyric videos or snippets of the songs you´re about to release to get people interested! + + Share behind the scenes videos or tell your fans how your songs come to live and how you usually write them!
Facebook: Go Live ++ post blogposts with your view on music + + share playlist recommendations ++ share pictures and post upcoming gigs!
You could also give away CD´s or vinyls in a lottery like manner…asking for e-mail sign ups in return.
2) Music Blog /Magazine Coverage:
In order to get heard by music bloggers and journalists, it is important not only to provide streaming links to your song/EP/Album pre-release (We recommend Soundcloud, which allows to share private links), but also to set up a so-called EPK (short for Electronic Press Kit). Your EPK should include a press release, an artist bio, pictures that are free to use (check with your photographer if they require their name to be mentioned. ) If you do not know what a press release looks like, make sure to check our “The Musician Press Kit” post .
When pitching to bloggers and magazines, make sure to check their sites thoroughly. Find out what genres they write about usually and if your music fits in. Go look for “about sections” on the sites to be able to directly pitch to the name of an editor and be efficient in your e-mail copy. Make sure to mention all that´s important, but do not start “twaddling”. Everyone is short on time!
3) Radio Promotion
Radio pitches pretty much work similarly to press pitches. Provide streaming links, but make sure to have mp3s and WAV files of your songs at hands, in case someone requests for those to be sent!
A lot of internet stations use MP3s now, whereas traditional radio stations will often accept WAV or AAC files or use MP2 files. Those all require certain standards with regard to loudness and resolution. The more file formats you have at hand, the better! Make sure to get your tracks mastered professionally. Your mastering engineer should know the requirements that today´s music outlets call for. Also make sure to check back very soon for our upcoming blogpost on “how to get your music on the radio” with Radio host Sarah Scott!
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Post-Release preparations
Alright, now that you´ve put in the work to get as much buzz pre-release, let´s see what you can do, once your song(s) are out.
1) Keep control over your music accounts
If you release your music on the standard streaming platforms, make sure to create a Spotify for Artists account and claim your profile. The Spotify Artist allows you to upload new profile pictures and imagery, add an Artist bio and most importantly, provides you with stats on when, where and how listeners consume your music. This will help you push your tracks and create targeted campaigns for your music.
2) Pitch Playlists
Streaming playlists are both a great Marketing and Sales tool, that can help you gain new fans depending on the reach of each playlist. People get to discover you by recommendation so to say!
Likewise streaming is an income generator as well. So you will want to land your songs on playlists with a massive followership, to make sure your songs get played a lot!
Depending on the platform, streaming revenues range from 0,003 to 0,007 cents per stream. So it is all a numbers game.
Pitching playlists is a full time job for people, so don´t be sad if you get neglected a lot! Learning to deal with rejection is keys in this business! Focus on the few “yes”es and keep pushing forward!
3) Promote your music on Social Media
This is a no brainer really. But we want to mention it for the sake of completeness. Post your streaming and download links out on all your platforms. Keep creating engaging videos and images and build a sustainable relationship with your fans!
The tools you´ll need
We are well aware, that taking care of all these measurements can feel overwhelming! It is a lot of work for sure. To not lose things out of sight and to have everything at hands at all times, I recommend you download/ use the following services:
For pitching music: Soundcloud
For pitching press releases, pictures and bio: Dropbox
For selling music: Bandcamp
For generating income: Patreon
For gaining followers: Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok
For E-Mail Marketing: Mailchimp, Active Campaign
Please note: We are not affiliated with any of these services. Those are just personal preferences we recommend.
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