This music release checklist walks you through every step from finished master to release day, so nothing slips through the cracks. Whether you are putting out a single, an EP or an album, work through it in order. The biggest mistakes — missing the playlist-pitch deadline, wrong metadata, no pre-save — are all avoidable with a list.
Quick answer
The essentials: finish and master the audio, choose a distributor, prep square artwork and accurate metadata, set a date at least three to four weeks out, pitch to Spotify editorial, open a pre-save, then promote on release day and the weeks after. The detailed version follows.
4–6 weeks before release
- Confirm the track is fully mixed and mastered for streaming — check loudness with our LUFS guide.
- Choose your distributor (compare options in the best music distribution services guide).
- Finalise square cover art: at least 3000 x 3000 pixels, RGB, no logos, URLs or prices.
- Write your metadata sheet: exact artist name, title, featured artists, songwriter/producer credits, genre, language.
3–4 weeks before release
- Upload to your distributor and set the release date (Friday is the standard).
- Confirm your ISRC (per track) and UPC (per release) are assigned.
- Pitch the track in Spotify for Artists — editorial wants roughly four weeks’ notice. See exactly how to get on Spotify playlists before you submit.
- Set up a Spotify pre-save and create your smart link.
2 weeks before release
- Prepare promo assets: social posts, video clips, canvas, lyric snippets.
- Submit to relevant blogs and curators, and prepare your EPK if pitching press.
- Tease the release on social and email your list a heads-up.
- Schedule announcement posts and pre-save reminders.
Release week
- Double-check all tracks are scheduled and metadata is correct.
- Line up your release-day posts across every platform.
- Prepare to add the song to your own profile playlists.
Release day
- Confirm the song is live on your main platforms.
- Share your smart link everywhere — stories, posts, email, bio.
- Thank everyone who pre-saved and engage with comments.
- Add the track to your artist profile and any relevant playlists you control.
After release
- Keep posting for weeks — early activity signals the algorithm to keep surfacing your track. See how to get more streams on Spotify.
- Check your stats in Spotify for Artists and note what worked.
- Keep building with ongoing promotion and plan your next release.
Why the timeline matters
A release is not one event, it is a sequence of deadlines that depend on each other, and most of them are set by third parties you cannot rush. Distributors need time to deliver your files to every store and have them processed; Spotify’s editorial team needs your pitch in well before the song goes live; and a pre-save campaign only works if it exists for long enough to gather saves before release day. Compress the timeline and you do not just feel rushed — you forfeit the parts of the rollout that move the needle. Working backwards from a fixed Friday release date is the single habit that keeps a campaign on track.
The other reason to start early is that audio and artwork problems surface late. A master that sounds fine on headphones can be too loud or too quiet for streaming, and cover art that looks good on your screen can get rejected for containing text, a logo or the wrong colour space. Leaving a buffer means you can fix these without moving the date.
How to prepare your metadata correctly
Metadata is the information stores use to display, credit and pay for your music, and it is one of the hardest things to change once a release is live. Decide on the exact spelling and capitalisation of your artist name and stick to it on every platform — inconsistency splits your streams across duplicate profiles. Match each featured artist exactly as their profile is spelled, and list songwriter and producer credits in full so royalties route to the right people.
Keep your track titles clean. Streaming stores reject or auto-correct titles that shout in all caps, repeat the featured artist in brackets when the field already captures it, or stuff in promotional words. If your song has explicit lyrics, flag it as explicit; mislabelling can get a release pulled from editorial consideration. Finally, double-check the language and genre fields, because these feed the algorithms that decide where your music gets recommended.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Setting the date too close. Uploading a week out means you miss the Spotify editorial window entirely and have no time for a pre-save to gather momentum.
- Inconsistent artist names. A different spelling on one platform creates a second, empty profile and divides your listener data.
- Artwork that breaks the rules. Logos, web addresses, prices or low resolution all cause rejections that cost you days.
- Forgetting the post-release window. Many artists stop promoting on day one. The weeks after release are when sustained activity tells the algorithm your track is worth surfacing.
- No plan for the smart link. Sharing a bare Spotify URL loses every listener who uses a different service — a single smart link sends each person to their own platform.
For the strategy behind the timeline, read how to plan a music release, and for the mechanics of a first single, see how to release a song independently.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start a release campaign?
Begin four to six weeks before release day. That window covers Spotify’s editorial pitch deadline (about four weeks), pre-save setup, asset prep and store processing, so everything is ready when the song goes live.
What is the most commonly missed step?
Pitching to Spotify editorial in time. The pitch must go in before the release date, so artists who upload too late lose the chance entirely. Setting the date with enough lead time solves it.
Does this checklist work for singles, EPs and albums?
Yes. The steps are the same; longer releases just need more lead time and more promotional assets. For multi-track projects, allow six to eight weeks and consider releasing a lead single first.
Can I change my release date after uploading?
Usually yes, as long as you move it earlier than the original or push it further out before stores lock the delivery. Bringing a date forward at the last minute often cancels your editorial pitch and any scheduled pre-save, so treat the date as fixed once you have pitched.
Do I need both an ISRC and a UPC?
Yes. An ISRC identifies each individual recording and follows the track wherever it is played, while a UPC identifies the overall release — single, EP or album — as a product. Your distributor normally assigns both automatically, but confirm they are present before you finalise.
