Stephanie G. Mathis You have worked hard to create this track. Your masterpiece is worthy of a pre-release plan that matches the effort you put into it. Remember that you are not just releasing a song to the public; you are creating an exciting, unique moment for your audience.
This moment demands meticulous planning. Plan your marketing strategy, start with your administrative tasks, consider the timing, and strategize distribution.
A good pre-release strategy will create the largest possible impact, reach the most people, and have a ripple effect that lasts for a long time. Let’s begin with the dull stuff.
Copyright your work
It would be a great idea if you could copyright your work by mailing it to yourself. Register your single at the U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright Office.
You should register all the relevant information regarding your song, including lyrics, annotations, split sheets, etc. By registering, you protect your work and ensure that you receive royalties if anyone wants to use it in the future.
The electronic registration process takes between three and five months. You’ll want to start the process as soon as your song is finished.
The timing is everything.
You decide when to release the product.
It’s not a particular month that is the money-maker. However, I suggest avoiding the last two months of the calendar year. Major artists usually release singles during October, November, and December to capitalize on the holiday shopping rush. If you are not them, you should avoid the massive shadows of Taylor Swift and The Foo Fighters.
Release your single on Friday. Fridays are a great day for people because they anticipate the weekend. Spotify’s top playlist, New Music Friday, is a result of this. If you release your single towards the end of the work week, it is more likely to be associated with good memories and excitement (like Susan’s first date with Sexy Steve).
Get your distribution in order.
Your marketing playground is the Internet. Create accounts on all the music distribution channels and upload your songs. Why is this necessary? You want to cater to every possible listener.
Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music are just a few of the many online platforms available. There’s also Google Play, Deezer, Amazon Prime Music, Tidal Primephonic, Google Play, iTunes, and Google Play. Music distribution services such as CDBaby cover the majority of these channels, but each channel has its own processing time, so you should upload and register your tracks in advance.
Users created both Bandcamp and Soundcloud, so you will have to make them manually. Spotify is the most popular audio streaming service, both in terms of catalog size and users. If you can, put in some extra work on your Spotify distribution. Also, create a Spotify account for artists to keep track of your analytics.
Second, consider adding your single to Spotify’s playlist. Your song will be included in your fans’ Release Radar, and you will also have the chance to appear on other playlists once the release date arrives.
Killer marketing to create buzz
Create a Marketing Plan for the three months before your big release. This will create excitement leading up to it. A marketing plan could include a digital calendar for your blog, website, and social media platforms. It might also include a press campaign that will get you early and late reviews.
You’ll need content to create the calendar.
You can generate new, targeted content by coming up with a few more creative ideas than just posting random pictures with the caption “New single soon to be released.”
Your cover art: Variations on the single image on your cover can be used to create visual content for streaming platforms, posters, flyers, merchandise, and ads. Add them to your Press Kit.
A photoshoot for a band: Arrange the shoot and align it with your artwork. For example, use the same subject and create an overall theme.
Video clips: Combine audio, preferably the hook of your song, with animation graphics, performance footage, or a photo montage—once more, incorporating the desired aesthetic. These videos are teasers and should be between 15 and 30 seconds.
Plan these abstract posts into your content calendar to be released in the first and second months. They should be arranged in a way that builds momentum.
You can post content in the third month that will make it seem more “real” and create more anticipation. Videos of the band discussing the song might be an idea. Photos or videos from the studio and release dates, such as a counting down, are also good ideas.
Rotate the content you have listed above across your digital platforms, including all your social media platforms. Both organic and paid advertising should be considered. Paid social media advertising can reach more people. You can choose to target users who have expressed an interest in similar music.
Make sure you hit hard with your hits.
The moment of release, as mentioned above, should be memorable and massive. To increase the impact, you can often arrange for the following to happen as soon as the song drops.
A blog premiere: Schedule a premier with a blogger you know or an editor to be released the day before. If that’s not possible, you can do it yourself on your blog. Invite your newsletter subscribers, DJs, music critics, and others to an exclusive music experience.
Radio Play: Select radio stations you think would be a good match for your song. Follow the proper submission process for each station. Send your updated electronic press kit, which includes news, images, and reviews, as well as concert dates and other pertinent information, along with your song.
Interviews: Schedule an interview with a blogger or journalist moments after your song drops. You can use this space to talk about your inspiration, the creative process behind the song, what the lyrics are, and the recording.
Q&A: Start a social media conversation in which your fans can ask you questions and get answers live. Announce the Q&A to get your listeners interested.
Keep the hype going
You need to continue promoting your song for a few weeks after it has been released. This is important because your single will likely be linked to an album or EP in the future. Use the hype to promote new merchandise and upcoming concerts.
Bonus content can help you to keep your listeners’ attention. The following are examples of bonus content.
Acoustic version: The stripped-down, or unplugged, version of a song has an intimate feel. This allows the listener to better understand the lyrics, and the musician appears more vulnerable.
A remix Many musicians have their songs remixed in a genre completely different from their own. This can give the song a new spin and increase its popularity.
Collaboration: Getting a guest musician to sing or perform your song will not only give it new life but also allow you to reach a new audience–the collaborators.
Live version: Although a live recording may not sound as good as a studio recording, fans still love it. You can release high-quality footage of your band performing a song at a live show.
Make it work
You’ll save time by having all the components lined up and ready before you release your single. Your pre-release strategy revolves around “momentum.” If you’re prepared, it will be easier to create, manage, and maintain momentum for your release.
