HOW TO GET READY FOR YOUR NEXT RELEASE
Preparing to release new music can be an overwhelming process, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out our release checklist below for tips on how to make the most out of your next release .
Update Your Social Media Profiles, Streaming Profiles and Website.
Make sure that your social media and streaming profiles are up-to-date and reflect your current aesthetic and priorities. This includes updating your bio, profile images, and making sure that all of your profiles link back to your music on streaming services. Learn how to optimize your Spotify for Artists profile and YouTube channel here.
Tease your new music on social media.
Tease your music on social media so that your fans can get excited about the release and know when it will be available. You should be active on on social media heading before your song or project comes out so that if your release brings new people to your profiles, you have fresh content available for them to lean into.
Distribute your music to streaming services as far in advance as possible.
This will insure that your release reaches all digital stores without issue. With the UnitedMasters App, you can distribute your music to over all major platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, straight from your iOS or Android device.
Share your MasterLink pre-save with your fans.
Share your MasterLink on social media to drive song or album saves and drive engagement on your streaming profiles before your new music is released. Making sure your fans are actively engaging with your streaming profiles pre and post-release will help your music stay on editorial playlists for longer periods of time if your music is selected by playlist curators. Consider sharing your MasterLink directly with your core fans via DM, email, SMS or digital advertising. You can learn more about MasterLinks here.
Pitch your music to Spotify’s playlist editors in Spotify for Artists and to user playlist curators via .
You can use your Spotify for Artists profile to submit your music for editorial consideration. You must submit your pitch before your song is released, and Spotify recommends that you submit your song at least 3 weeks in advance. Make sure that your pitch is comprehensive and contextualizes the release by include information about the inspiration behind the song, its genre and mood, how it fits into a larger rollout, and a description of how you will be marketing it on and off-platform.
Make sure that you submit your pitch before your song goes live because this feature is only available for upcoming releases in Spotify for Artists.
You can also drive attention to your release on Spotify by pitching for placement on third-party playlists, which are curated by users outside of the Spotify editorial team. You can use tools like Chartmetric and the “Discovered On” section of Spotify Profiles to research which user playlists are featuring artists who are similar to you. Most of these playlists will include an email in the description; consider reaching out to them with a pitch and ask if they’re willing to feature your song.
Pitch your music to music journalists at press and social media outlets for consideration for editorial coverage.
Getting press and social media coverage for your release can help legitimize you among prospective audiences and lead to fan discovery moments. Research which publications, social media accounts and creators are covering your style of music, and which writers at those publications may be interested in your release. If they include their email address on their website or Twitter account, consider sending them an email with a strong pitch that includes a listening link to your music, a description of your release, high resolution press images that have not been used on other sites before, and links to your social media and streaming profiles. Make sure you are courteous and respectful with your outreach.
Share video content for the song on Social Media and YouTube.
Music videos and non-video content is a critical part of artist branding and discovery. Unique videos will help you differentiate yourself from other artists and make a lasting impression among new audiences by giving them something to talk about in addition to the music itself.
