Releasing music as an independent artist means juggling a lot of moving pieces — mastering, distribution, artwork, pre-saves, smart links, ads, and analytics. This checklist keeps you organised so you can launch with confidence.
Six weeks before release
Start planning early. This gives you time to build campaigns, coordinate with streaming platforms, and create momentum.
Music & delivery
- Finalise your master and 3000×3000px artwork
- Write accurate metadata and credits
- Set your official release date with your distributor
Three weeks before
Build audience and momentum. Create your pre-save campaign and begin promotion.
- Set up a pre-save page in Playloudr with artwork and platform links.
- Share it on socials, in your email signature, and through early ads.
- Reach out to playlist curators and blog contacts.
Add your pre-save link to your email signature and bio. Make it effortless for existing fans to pre-save and share.
Release day
- Confirm your music is live on every platform
- Your pre-save auto-converts to a smart link — share it everywhere
- Post announcements and monitor your analytics through the day
After release
The first month matters most for streaming algorithms. Keep posting, scale the ads that work, and submit to playlists with rolling deadlines. Check your analytics weekly and adjust — then start planning the next release.
Build this campaign in Playloudr
Create a smart link, pre-save, or promo gate for your next release.
Keep the campaign alive long after release day — and track what's working.
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