When and How to Schedule your next release…

So you’ve just finished a track, an EP or maybe even a whole album. You’re excited and eager to get it into the hands, or more likely the ears of many. But then reality sets in and you think, when is this right time to do this, and even more daunting , HOW do I do this?
Many artists have all of the creativity and talent in the world behind them in the production and songwriting world, but distribution, marketing, and business strategy may not be their strong suit. That’s when you turn to the internet and try to piece together a plan on your own, but not to worry here’s a few tips that may help you out.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the “when” question, especially in regards to Spotify, there isn’t really a concrete calendar date that works for everything. Luckily, CD Baby came up with a tool to help artists customize a release plan. They developed a software to help generate hypothetical release plans for artists based on an estimated release date you want to shoot for. Whether you use CD Baby for distribution or not, this software is free to use.
What To Do Before Your Release
Prepare To Tell The Story of Your Release
Getting ready to tell the story includes things like gathering and creating assets. This can include things like promo material: artist bios, press photos etc. You should also prepare a pitch or press release dependent on your personal strategy. Many also schedule a release part or celebration, cheers to you!
Prepare to Distribute Your Music
Getting your music release ready takes a few more steps than just downloading that completed file. Ensure your music is mixed and mastered professionally, check out our article on :“Mixing and Mastering: Why Both Are Important!” Some prefer to mix and master their own tracks, others outsource this work to a professional. Diffusion Masters helps you unlock your best sound through their services, if you’re looking for professional quality work check them out. Prep also includes finalizing artwork, entering metadata, and delivering music to DSPs.
Prepare to Promote Your Music

Promotion is key when releasing music. This is how to expand your reach, build a loyal fanbase, and get your music heard by everyone. If you don’t think you need a music marketing agency, you should take a look at another article, 4 Reasons You Need a Music Marketing Agency. Be sure you also have your artist profiles claimed, set up a Spotify pre-save, pitch your song to Spotify Editorial Playlists, and create a smart link. At PlaylistStreams, we can help you with a lot of this. No matter what size artist you are, or what genre, through our established network of curators we work to get your music on Spotify playlists and build organic streams. We cal also help you pitch your song to Spotify Editorial Playlists. Learn more on our website about how it works.
Although that’s not everything you need to consider before a release, we are happy to share these highlights to help you set your music up for success.
Check out CD Baby’s free release plan generator here.