Artist Tip: Don't Just Drop – Plan Your Release
You've invested hours, days, maybe weeks into your new track. It sounds fantastic. Now comes the most important step: the release. But simply uploading and waiting is not a plan – it's gambling. We'll show you how to approach your release strategically and achieve maximum visibility.
A Minimum of Four Weeks Lead Time is Mandatory
A successful music release takes time. Four weeks before the planned release date should be the absolute minimum for your planning. This may sound like a lot, but it's crucial to carefully execute all necessary steps. Two weeks, or even just a few days, are not enough to set the course for a successful launch. This lead time gives you the space you need for promotion, pitching, and preparing your digital footprint.
OGRECORDS™ helps you deliver your music on time to over 38 DSPs like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. The upload process is fast, but platforms need time for processing and verification. Always factor in a buffer for this. Find out more at /distribution.
Press and Promotion: Tell Your Story
Your music is more than just audio – it's a story. Use the four-week lead time to tell that story. Create a professional media kit with a biography, high-resolution photos, and a press release. Contact music blogs, online magazines, and influencers who fit your niche. A personalized pitch that highlights the uniqueness of your track increases your chances of coverage.
A Pre-Save link is indispensable here. It allows your fans to save the track before its release, which increases the chances of playlist placements and provides you with valuable data. OGRECORDS™ offers Pre-Save links and Smart Links included with every release. More information can be found at /smart-links. If you need support with playlist pitching, check out our add-ons at /playlist-pitching.
Your Digital Footprint: Ensure Visibility
A strong digital presence is crucial. Verify your artist profiles on Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists. Here you can customize your artist image, add a bio, and most importantly, pitch your music directly to editorial teams. Actively use these tools to maintain control over your presence and receive important analytics.
With OGRECORDS™, you receive daily detailed analytics on your streams and earnings. This data is invaluable for adjusting and optimizing your marketing strategy. Furthermore, ISRC and UPC codes are automatically assigned, saving you additional work.
Utilize All Tools Available to You
In addition to the essentials mentioned, there are other features that can boost your release. Think about YouTube Content ID to generate revenue from the use of your music on YouTube, or the possibility of Royalty Splits to share earnings fairly and transparently with your collaborators. At OGRECORDS™, unlimited Royalty Splits are included and enable real-time calculation and payout. Details can be found at /royalty-splits.
Also, download the free OGRECORDS™ app for iOS and Android. This way, you always have your statistics and releases at a glance. Use every tool available to you to not just drop your track, but to launch it strategically and make it a long-term success.
Plan your next release strategically and use the tools OGRECORDS™ offers to lead your sound to success.