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Music Marketing

Release Day Checklist: Everything to Do When Your Music Drops

The Week Before Release

  • ☐ Confirm your music is live and approved on all DSPs
  • ☐ Test your Smart Link — click through to Spotify, Apple Music, and at least 2 other platforms
  • ☐ Verify your pre-save link has been promoted and that it redirects properly to the Smart Link after release
  • ☐ Prepare all social media posts (images, videos, captions) in advance
  • ☐ Draft your launch day email to your fan email list
  • ☐ Reach out to blogs, playlist curators, and press contacts with your Smart Link and press release
  • ☐ Confirm your Spotify for Artists editorial pitch has been submitted (do this 7+ days before release)

Release Day Morning

  • ☐ Send your launch email to your fan list with direct streaming links and a personal message
  • ☐ Post on Instagram — feed post + stories with link-in-bio directing to your Smart Link
  • ☐ Post on TikTok — use your song as the audio, create content that shows the story or vibe
  • ☐ Post on Twitter/X — include the Smart Link and a short, punchy message
  • ☐ Post on Facebook — share the Smart Link
  • ☐ Update your YouTube community post or post a teaser/lyric video
  • ☐ Update your Bio Link — ensure the new release is at the top
  • ☐ Pin the Smart Link tweet/post if possible

Release Day Afternoon / Evening

  • ☐ Engage with every comment, DM, and mention — this signals relevance to algorithms
  • ☐ Post a "thank you" story to fans who saved, streamed, or shared
  • ☐ Reach out personally to your top superfans — artists who make fans feel seen create long-term loyalty
  • ☐ Share user reactions/screenshots in your stories
  • ☐ Check your Smart Link analytics — where is traffic coming from? Which platforms are getting the most clicks?

The Week After Release

  • ☐ Monitor your Spotify for Artists stats — are you being added to user-created playlists? Is your save rate healthy?
  • ☐ Post at least 3 additional pieces of content using the release (lyric quote, making-of video, live performance clip)
  • ☐ Ask fans to add the song to a playlist — a specific, easy call to action converts better than a generic "stream my song"
  • ☐ Send a follow-up email if you have new fan emails from post-release sign-ups
  • ☐ Check if any blogs, playlists, or influencers have picked up the release organically — engage with and amplify those

Two Weeks After Release

  • ☐ Review your first royalty data (if available) or streaming dashboard data
  • ☐ Identify which traffic sources converted best — double down on what worked
  • ☐ Plan your next piece of content or next release with the momentum you have built