Releasing music is easy.

Releasing music properly takes planning.

A lot of artists finish the song, upload it quickly and hope something happens. The problem is that by the time the track is live, they have already missed some of the biggest opportunities to build momentum.

This checklist will help you plan your next single, EP or album properly.

6 weeks before release

Choose the right release date

Pick a date that gives you enough time to prepare. Avoid choosing a date just because you are excited to get the song out.

Think about:

  • Artwork
  • Distribution review time
  • Playlist pitching
  • Pre-save setup
  • Social content
  • Press outreach
  • Music video or visualiser
  • Email list promotion

If the song matters, give it time.

Finalise the master

Do not start your release campaign with an unfinished file.

Make sure the final master is approved, correctly exported and clearly named. Check the audio from start to finish before upload.

Prepare your artwork

Your cover art should be clean, clear and store-ready.

Avoid:

  • Blurry images
  • Social media handles
  • Website URLs
  • Brand logos you do not own
  • Text that does not match the release title
  • Poorly cropped images

Artwork is often the first thing a listener sees. Make it count.

4 weeks before release

Upload your music for distribution

This is the point where you should upload your release to your distributor.

With RouteNote, you can upload your music and choose the platforms you want to send it to, including major streaming services and social platforms.

Make sure your metadata is correct before submitting.

Check:

  • Artist name
  • Track title
  • Version information
  • Featured artists
  • Songwriters
  • Producers
  • Genre
  • Language
  • Explicit content
  • Release date

Set up your pre-save link

A pre-save link lets fans save your song before it goes live. It gives you one simple link to promote across socials, email, websites and bios.

Use your pre-save link in:

  • Instagram bio
  • TikTok bio
  • YouTube descriptions
  • Email newsletters
  • Link-in-bio pages
  • Short-form video captions
  • Pinned posts

3 weeks before release

Claim or update your artist profiles

Make sure your artist profiles are ready.

Update:

  • Spotify for Artists
  • Apple Music for Artists
  • YouTube Official Artist Channel
  • Deezer for Creators
  • Amazon Music for Artists
  • Social profiles

Your profiles should look active and current before new listeners arrive.

Build your content bank

Do not wait until release day to think of content.

Create:

  • Teaser clips
  • Behind-the-scenes footage
  • Artwork reveal
  • Lyric graphics
  • Studio clips
  • Acoustic snippets
  • Story posts
  • Short videos explaining the song

You do not need a huge budget. You need consistency.

2 weeks before release

Pitch to Spotify for Artists

If your release is delivered and visible inside Spotify for Artists, submit it for playlist consideration.

Make the pitch specific. Explain the sound, mood, genre, story and promotion plan.

Contact blogs, curators and creators

Start outreach to people who might care about the song.

This could include:

  • Playlist curators
  • Music blogs
  • Local press
  • Radio presenters
  • TikTok creators
  • YouTube channels
  • Newsletter writers
  • Genre communities

Personalise your pitch. A lazy copy-and-paste message is easy to ignore.

Release week

Increase posting

This is the week to raise the energy.

Post:

  • Countdown clips
  • Pre-save reminders
  • The story behind the song
  • Artwork
  • Lyrics
  • A short message about why the release matters
  • Snippets of the best hook

Make it easy for people to care.

Check all links

Before release day, check that every link works.

Make sure your pre-save, smart link, website, social bios and email links are correct.

Release day

Share the smart link

Once the song is live, switch your focus from pre-save to streaming.

Post your release link everywhere your audience already follows you.

Ask for specific actions

Do not just say “go stream my song.”

Ask fans to:

  • Save the track
  • Add it to a playlist
  • Share it with a friend
  • Use it in a video
  • Comment on your post
  • Follow your artist profile

Specific asks work better.

The first 30 days after release

Keep the campaign going

Your release does not die after 24 hours.

Keep posting new angles:

  • Meaning behind lyrics
  • Live version
  • Acoustic version
  • Fan videos
  • Reaction clips
  • Playlist adds
  • Press coverage
  • “How we made it” content

Watch your data

Look at where listeners are coming from.

Check:

  • Top cities
  • Top countries
  • Playlist activity
  • Saves
  • Repeat listens
  • Social engagement
  • Clicks on smart links

Use that information to plan your next release.

Final thoughts

A strong release campaign is not about doing one big thing. It is about doing the small things properly, in the right order, with enough time.

RouteNote helps independent artists distribute music worldwide and monetise their tracks across major platforms. Upload early, plan properly and give your music the release it deserves.