# data[].attributes.body
2 x Demo tracks (17 and Messy Nights)

Photo's & Logo - to show emerging identity/branding

Research release strategies for singles (first one being released as part of FMP) to deliver a release strategy with first mixed and mastered single for FMO

Create a and experiment with social media content to support my release

# data[].attributes.body
these have been uploaded to studio

# data[].attributes.body
Marketing and Promotions - begin research and development of content (physical and digital) - November 2023

Distributor research - find the right one November / December 2023

Playlist and PR Research (aligned with my audience) December 2023

Complete artwork, logo, press shots and bio January 2024

Choose distributor and assign works, action pre save link January 2024

Get stickers with logo to promote and share January 2024

Create an EPK January 2024

Network - freshers, music nights etc - promote single (Word of Mouth) January / February 2024

Approach bloggers, bloggers, radio inc. BBC Intro and Fresh on the Net fro any coverage and pre play leading to release Jan / Feb 2024

Share pre save, post content to social media (develop a content release plan separately) Feb / March 2024

Release party announcement Feb 2024

Promote incentives for release party and single pre save (QR codes on stickers and posters) Feb / March 2024

Line up content for socials for week lading up and after to engage listeners  March 2024

Release single and host party March 2024

# data[].attributes.body
I came up with this logo, I decided to do cow print design as it is fun and uses 3 colours which is perfect for logos, I am working with a lady called grace who works closely with my producer who helps brand artists so this may change at a later date as i don't want people to think i am a country singer but i also want to keep it fun. Grace is going to help me out with branding and logos and she will give me homework a few times a month, we spoke today 24.10.23 and spoke about why I make the music i make and what my message is and artists who i am inspired by and what outfits i may want to wear and is going help get it all down on a board so i can keep going back and get ideas from it.

# data[].attributes.body
https://personalised.clothing/quote2/quote.aspx?guid=D7C633D47EFD441986E1B92B108BDC38

# data[].attributes.headline
Primary Research - Case Study 1 (Georgia Carter)

# data[].attributes.subject
Primary Research - Case Study 1 (Georgia Carter)

# data[].attributes.body
What distribution platform to you use and why? Did you research if before and does it work well for you? What social media platforms do you use and which one do you think works best to grow your fan base? Did you get any funding for these projects if you didn’t will you in the future? What have you found to be the best way to promote your music? Do you want to be a signed artists or carry on as a diy artist and why? Do you think videos or photos do better? Do you speak to your fan base and how do you contact them? Has anyone or an organisation helped you along the way?

# data[].attributes.headline
Primary Research - Case Study 2 (Lily Knott)

# data[].attributes.subject
Primary Research - Case Study 2 (Lily Knott)

# data[].attributes.body
Will upload through studio due to her replying on voice notes!

# data[].attributes.headline
Primary Research - Case Study 3 (ledbyher)

# data[].attributes.subject
Primary Research - Case Study 3 (ledbyher)

# data[].attributes.headline
Primary Research Discussion - Case studies -Lily Knot, Georgia Garter, ledbyher (used as primary research in WB09)

# data[].attributes.subject
Primary Research Discussion - Case studies -Lily Knot, Georgia Garter, ledbyher (used as primary research in WB09)

# data[].attributes.body
My case studies have all said that instagram is the best app to keep a fan base, although TikTok is a good one to find new fans but they don’t always stay. They have all said that videos do better than photos but you will need photos to promote gigs. Having a linktree will make it easy for your fans to find your music and videos and also merchandise so this is something I am keen on doing. They all speak to there followers by messaging them and replying to comments as this help keeps your fans.

# data[].attributes.body
When recording only 17 I had recorded some vocals at home and took it to the producer Matthew parisi and we decided to make a dance track of the song, which we will then make into a ska track later on so we have multiple versions of the song. We decided to make the track a dance track so that I can pitch to different gigs and also play my song in the club. I think this works well as it makes the song sound upbeat and happy but the lyrics are about a darker subject. This will also help me push my music to a wider audience.

# data[].attributes.body
messy nights needs a trumpet solo recorded and the bass line to be changed in the pre chorus and in parts throughout the song i am also going to get the song mixed and mastered

in only 17 i need to mi the tracks and take the vocals from one of the versions and bring it to the first recording i did (the dance version) and then build on the instruments and add trumpets as this is only the start of it. I also will add some harmonies and some call and response and backing vocals.

# data[].attributes.body
For my release party I am going to look at booking the waterbear venue and sell tickets for £5 to get my money back I will have to sell 20 tickets which is something I am hoping to do. There I will have a qr code which you can scan to pre save my single anyone who pre saves will get a free shot which will hopefully encourage people to pre save which will help me get on playlists. I will also be doing competitions there where you can win some prizes pick out by me which will make people feel included. The competitions will include the best video made to my song on social media and also I’ll be picking someone who pre saves my song to win something. I’ll also look into going into my old school to perform and gain more fans, I am keen on getting other bands involved in this night to help spread the word even more.

# data[].attributes.headline
Photo shoot for messy nights -single cover

# data[].attributes.subject
Photo shoot for messy nights -single cover

# data[].attributes.body
For the photo shoot I’ve had to buy a backdrop and stand
I’ve brought a silver dress for the photos
And 5 disco balls all different sizes
And a pink backdrop
I also will be buying foil balloons in the shape of wine bottles
I’ve brought two studio lights that fold down that I can then re use for each release

I was thinking of having a pink backdrop with a silver dress so that it stands out and then disco balls on the floor next to me and wine balloons in the background with a few bottles of wine next to me

I’ve not managed to do the photoshoot yet as I’ve had to wait for everything to be delivered, but I am hoping to do it early in the new year or late in December.

https://www.quizclothing.co.uk/clothes/00100040070.html?pk_cid=1&pk_keyword=001000400706&pk_medium=multifeeds&pk_campaign=Google&pk_source=Google&pk_content=ClothingAccessoriesClothingDresses&utm_source=Google&tlk=(CID-G19703841489)_(AGID-G)&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjrarBhAWEiwA2qWdCHOlMHf6w-JfxxnjwpiYv8t64psgkN91lh8mx0TIN_Z2VjfNJ8GSPRoCsVYQAvD_BwE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Giant-Silver-Champagne-Bottle-Balloon/dp/B08JZDHG2W/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?crid=2HMUWXZU9P23L&keywords=foil+balloons+wine+bottles+pink+and+silver&qid=1701707078&sprefix=foil+balloons+wine+bottles+pink+and+s%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-17

# data[].attributes.body
I did a mini mock photoshoot so I could get used to being in front of a camera but will get professional photos done for the release

# data[].attributes.body
I’ve messaged the lovely Ines Rae on TikTok who has nearly 100k followers to see if I can be a support act when she comes to Brighton and she is hopefully going to book me. This will be a good opportunity for me and she’s someone I look up to!

# data[].attributes.headline
I’ve had a brand reach out to me about writing them a song for there company which I am having a meeting for, this could bring me exposure ready for when I release my songs next year! 

# data[].attributes.subject
I’ve had a brand reach out to me about writing them a song for there company which I am having a meeting for, this could bring me exposure ready for when I release my songs next year! 

# data[].attributes.body
I’m looking at finding a double denim outfit as I talk about wearing denim in the song
With a blue back drop I want all of my photos to be bright and in your face so they stand out

# data[].attributes.body
What I have already paid for
Sm58, rode nt1a
2 accoustic guitars and one electric guitar
Recording headphones
Interface
MIDI keyboard,
Full size keyboard, bongos, tambourine, ring light for photos and videos and a ukulele

Things I need to still pay for
£200 per 8 hour studio sessions
£250 per mix
£30 roughly for photos
£200 for merchandise but hopefully will get the money back if I charge £15/20 per top

I get paid £50 per gig at the moment and my sets are about 10/15 minutes long so this goes back into studio time
I also work part time and the money is what I spent on living each month and then I use my student loan on studio sessions.

# data[].attributes.body
i was hoping to use spinnup but in the last few years they have changed the rules so you have to be invited to upload your music on there now so i am going to look into distrokid and other platforms to find the right one for me. This is due to my case studies (lily knot, Georgia carter, ledbyher) choosing distrokid and it working well for them I believe this could be a good platform for me to release. It is £17.99 per year to upload unlimited songs and albums (distrokid, 2023) although distrokid is what I will use for my first release I may change distribution platforms in the future as I want to look into awol and see what they can offer.

https://distrokid.com/spotify/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20482149323&utm_adgroup=154341802764&utm_term=distrokid&utm_content=670848033317&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACcI0SOzjciYlHFskm7jn2xZdjJjY&gclid=CjwKCAiA98WrBhAYEiwA2WvhOl-0GDE6BCjTSnP1nVubcuhHrefsyfoqm4sYwj1skXZUCyI_0XxqfhoCu_gQAvD_BwE

# data[].attributes.body
How to engage an audience on social media as an emerging artist?
it is important to create a business Facebook page to help promote your songs and you as an artist. It’s important to upload daily or every couple of days. It’s also important to keep up with the algorithm changes this will help you reach a larger audience. It’s good to keep up with feature changes such as reels as this can be used to boost your posts and can be a new way of replying to fans. (Down,2023) although saying this if your fans are gen z Facebook shouldn’t be the main way of promoting your songs due to gen z using apps such as TikTok and instagram.

Instagram can be a great app to show unreleased music using the reels and also behind the scene videos so people get a taste of who you are as an artist, it’s got to fit your aesthetics that you are going for and the branding. This is due to instagram having short reels. You should know who you target audiences are so that you can promote the music to them helping you reach a wider audience. (Nelson, 2023)

You tube is a massive platform to help up and coming artists breakthrough, especially with YouTube shorts being so popular at the moment. Using tags can really help push your videos to the right people. (Nelson,2023)

https://artsartistsartwork.com/mastering-social-media-for-visual-artists-a-focused-guide/ (dawn,2023)

https://pirate.com/en/blog/how-to-promote-music-social-media/ (Nelson,2023)

when are the best times to post for my audience?

The best time to post videos are from 6pm-9pm and 12pm-3pm (needle,2023) as I’ll be marketing my songs to gen z the best time for me to post may be around 3pm-4pm as school kids go on their phones when they leave school so it will be quite high in the algorithms and hopefully will reach my target audience. This works well across all of the social media platforms.

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-times-post-pin-tweet-social-media-infographic (Needle,2023)

How to find promoters for local and national gigs?

The best way to find local promoters is to look at posters to see who there promoters are. It’s also easy to network with other bands and see who they use. It’s a good idea to look at festivals as they normally are put on by similar promoters. (Ditto music,2023)

https://dittomusic.com/en/blog/how-to-approach-promoters-venue-bookers-for-gigs

# data[].attributes.body
Lovethyneighbour: https://lovethyneighbourmusic.co.uk/

Lovethyneighbour is a very popular promoter and has a good track record! This maybe someone id work with in the future when my songs are coming out!

Loutproductions: https://www.loutpromotions.co.uk/

loutproduction are also great promoters but maybe wouldn't be someone I would use as they mainly promote other genres.

Libertymusic: https://www.libertymusicpr.com/

Liberty music reached out to me about promoting my music so I would love to set up a meeting with them and see what they can offer me to see if it would be worth using them when I release my tracks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Love Thy Neighbour: Live Music | Artist Management | Record Label

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Love Thy Neighbour are a live music promotions, artist management company and record label based in Brighton, UK.

# data[].attributes.headline
Distribution Research & pre Save Campaign

# data[].attributes.subject
Distribution Research & pre Save Campaign

# data[].attributes.body
AWAL: https://www.awal.com/

Distrokid: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/2912860?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjfyqBhAsEiwA-UdzJOegZjy4EZsTahz5lNyHcbAtNzvom-gay9HwbuNtE5Z_g70xt6lc6xoCJwUQAvD_BwE

Spinnup: https://spinnup.com/

After researching these platforms I’ve decided to go with distrokidd for my release but this may change in the future after releasing a few songs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
AWAL offers a modern approach to the traditional recording business, providing artists all the resources and expertise of a global label, while allowing them to retain ownership and control of their music.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Submit music to Pop / Commercial Spotify Playlists * Soundplate.com

# data[].attributes.body
these will be good to find out the different playlists you can get on, ready for when my songs are ready to come out! As I don’t use Spotify I will use websites to find out playlists that I think my music will work on.

https://soundplate.com/new-spotify-playlists/pop/

https://www.submithub.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Tier-1&utm_content=Tier-1-Ad&utm_term=music%20sharing%20websites&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjfyqBhAsEiwA-UdzJHHvlGWr7q9xr8wd7yZSW9eVA88ifvehjDZbrOU8p0G-vd9JwUvDWBoCBRUQAvD_BwE

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Soundplate.com - Record Label & Music Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Submit music to Pop / Commercial Spotify Playlists * Soundplate.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Submit music to pop / commercial Spotify playlists for free.

# data[].attributes.body
https://dittomusic.com/en/blog/how-to-release-a-single-in-2022-11-steps-for-artists

https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-promotion/10-strategies-for-releasing-a-single/

https://www.anrfactory.com/perfect-your-release-strategy-in-2023-the-ultimate-checklist-for-independent-artists/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Release a Single in 2024: 11 Steps for Artists

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Releasing a song in 2024? Here’s what you need to know!

# data[].attributes.headline
Meeting with Grace - Marketing and Promo Development

# data[].attributes.subject
Meeting with Grace - Marketing and Promo Development

# data[].attributes.body
I had a meeting with grace and we discussed me doing weekly tasks the first task that was set was to find a drummer and a bass player or guitarist which I have then found. Find local promoters and make a list -love thy neighbour is a good one in Brighton that I should look into also to reach out to waterbear to see if I can record a video of an original that I can then send to festivals in hope of booking some slots this summer.

We also went over some goals
Dream goals

Play big festivals

Radio 1

The charts

Realistic goals
To release 4/5 singles next year with acoustic versions and remixes or dance versions
To play great escape
Get on bbc introducing
Book support slots

Next weeks meeting we will look at making a moodboard of studio photo ideas and talk about messy nights album artwork, go through creative campaign. Ready to help me out with the release.

# data[].attributes.body
With the state of the music industry as it is the best way to promote yourself now is through social media platforms such as TikTok and instagram to gain streams unfortunately you don’t make a lot of money from streams so you have to make merchandise and play gigs to get paid which is something I am planning on doing.

if i was to get 1000 streams i would make about $4 dollers which is crazy and shows that doing shows and selling merch is important as a DIY artist to make money.

https://soundcamps.com/tiktok-royalties-calculator/

you can make money from tiktok but you have to have 1000 followers and it would take you ages to earn a steady income as you can make £30 from 1000 videos featuring your music.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Founder & CEO at SoundCampaign

Hi! I'm Nadav, a former music producer with a passion for marketing and music tech.
I have a love for data and all the analytics behind their numbers. When I founded SoundCampaign, I invested a lot of effort and time in order to bring to life this advertising platform that focuses on helping artists get the real exposure they deserve.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Spotify Royalties Calculator: Streams to Money

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Want to know how much money you can earn on Spotify? Use our Spotify Royalties Calculator now on SoundCampaign.

# data[].attributes.headline
Artist Demographic Case Study - Caity Baser - Viberate data (Social Media)

# data[].attributes.subject
Artist Demographic Case Study - Caity Baser - Viberate data (Social Media)

# data[].attributes.body
This shows a younger audience as her fan base are mainly on TikTok and instagram, you can see that both artists use Spotify so this is something I should be using.

# data[].attributes.headline
Artist Demographic Case Study - Lily Allen - Viberate data (Social Media)

# data[].attributes.subject
Artist Demographic Case Study - Lily Allen - Viberate data (Social Media)

# data[].attributes.body
This shows that twitter was her main platform to connect with her fan base this would show a older audience fan base as the younger generation use TikTok and instagram more.

# data[].attributes.headline
Research - Social Media Platforms and Demographic

# data[].attributes.subject
Research - Social Media Platforms and Demographic

# data[].attributes.body
Research - what is the best platform aligned with audience - TiKToK (Why?)

TikTok appears to align with my intended audience as the most popular age range for us is 18-34 (Oberlo, 2023)

I then began looking at two similar artists that I am inspired by, Caity Baser and Lily Allen. Looking at Lily's audience, research suggests her audience spans a wide age range from 16 to 40+, looking at data on viberate we can see platforms engaged mostly are twitter and facebook, which suggests an older audience, however, it is difficult to find the defined age range here.

(Viberate, 2023)

Looking on Viberate at Caity Baser's use of social media, we can see that she primarily uses TikTok. The platform allows her to build her fanbase easier, using hashtags and other people posting with her music a lot. As seen from the data introduced at the top of this post, this is arguably where her primary fanbase interact. Her label also pays influencers on the platform to dance along and / or make content using her music, this is a trend a seen by many emerging artists on this platform working labels (Doran, 2023).

Doran (2023) TIKTOK: INFLUENCING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. Student Pocket Guide. https://www.thestudentpocketguide.com/2021/03/entertainment/music/social-media-platform/ (Date accessed 01.11.23)

Oberlo (2023) TIKTOK AGE DEMOGRAPHICS. Oberlo. https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/tiktok-age-demographics#:~:text=According%20to%20recent%20research%20studying,700%20million%20TikTok%20users%20worldwide. (date accessed 01.11.23)

Viberate (2023) Lily Allen. Viberate. https://app.viberate.com/artist/lily-allen/overview/ (Date accessed 01.11.23)

# data[].attributes.body
risk assesment for live and studio!

Studio - bottle water, ear protection, checking levels so you don’t damage your voice and ears by straining and playing too loud as this can give you Tinnitus and will effect your playing, also to make sure wires are taped down so you don’t trip up. Make sure all the equipment has been pat tested, warm up your vocals and body so you can perform to your best.

Live- make sure you don’t have drinks on stage near the equipment, also make sure the levels are right so you don’t damage your ears or strain, make sure the stage is clear so you don’t fall over, also make sure the lights aren’t too bright so you can still see, warm up to help your vocals and body when performing, make sure your using the correct techniques, make sure there’s no water or drinks on stage, also make sure equipment has been pat tested

# data[].attributes.body
short term goals - play great escape,brunswick festival, kemptown carnival, brighton fringe,foodies,burnning of the clocks, brighton jazz festival, pride, foodies, tarner park festival(brighton family festival), beach dreams(shoreham by sea), green dreams (worthing) christmas markets, seaford pride, worthing pride, brighton pride. moon and stars festival, the national entertainment awards. Get my song on latest tv to help promote it and work my way up getting interviews on tv around the world.

long term goals- play barn on the farm, glastonbury, reading, summer/wintertime ball, on the beach, love supreme fest, boomtown, great escape, wireless festival,park life, radio 1’s big weekend, bbc introducing stages, creamfields, boardmasters, isle of white festival, secret garden party. Get my songs on multiple radio shows around the world.

venues in brighton, prince albert, waterbear venue, beesmouth, the greendoor store, the actors, audio active bottega rooms, chalk, the clarendon centre, the rose hill. The Walrus, Brighton dome, iron works studio, Brighton town hall, patterns, zahara bar, brighthelm centre

# data[].attributes.body
I write feel good songs with a juxtaposition, i plan on making people happy with the music i make but also music people can relate to.

# data[].attributes.body
I will need 2 guitarists a bass player, keys and drums and multiple brass players, maybe backing singers.

So far I’ve found a drummer, Tom from my year playing drums and Leon from the masters playing guitar for me, I will also play to a track so I can still play live without having a full band but this is something I will be keen on changing in the future.

# data[].attributes.body
Before releasing music sign up to prs, musicians union, mcps, ppl. This will cover me and my royalties and mean if a venue is Prs licenced I will make money back from playing my original music. Without this people can take your royalties away from you it is also very good to sign up to musicians union as they can help you with the legal side of things.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Release Guide: Reflecting on Your Release - Spotify for Artists

# data[].attributes.body
After reading this I found it is important to collect all of the data you can about your fan base to make sure you are promoting your music to the right people and to check if you are reaching your goals you set. It’s very important to get your visual identity correct and to make sure it looks good across all social media platforms. It’s also important to look to see if you sound matches your audience you intended to reach.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The act of creation is a process. It involves digging deep and busting your ass. It'll inspire emotions that volley between extreme self-doubt, pure joy, and every feeling in between. Sometimes this process can take forever. It's often tough to know when your music-be it a song, EP, or album-is finished. And then when you deem your project complete, you have to apply yourself to a new kind of hustle. After prepping for your release , and engaging with your fans and promoting your work through a multitude of channels and strategies, you're probably pretty wiped. Give yourself a moment. Don't get overwhelmed. And then take a breath: this is a good time to reflect.

Below, we break it down so you can ask yourself the key questions to gauge what worked well, what could have gone better, and what you'll do differently next time. Just like your art, you can evolve and tweak things the next time round, because this is also all part of the process.
1. Did all your potential fans get to hear your music?
Each release brings with it new lessons and opportunities to improve and expand your reach. Take time to think about your release schedule. Whether you dropped a new track every day or released the entire album on a Friday, consider how well the approach you chose worked to meet your goals. Did you apply the data available to you to inform your decisions? To see how others have approached their releases, take a peek .
2. How was your visual identity presented?
Making the world aware of your brand is a must for any artist and defining your aesthetic is a good place to start. This encompasses everything from album art to press photos to stage setup and outfits. If you're not sure how to go about this, there are people who do branding for a living who can help. Whether you've enlisted professionals or gone the DIY route, it's all about finding a way- beyond your music-to help your audience and the industry understand who you are and where you're coming from.
3. Did your sound match your audience strategy?
With every new release comes the opportunity to deepen your relationship with your existing audience and expand to new fans. Consider how your sound aided in that goal. What was your path? Did you stick to your vision? Experiment with changes? See what advice composer Kelly Moran has for creating your definitive sound.
4. Have you incorporated all your talents into your process?
Do you draw, paint, or sculpt? Write poetry? Make films? Dance? Whatever other talents you have, there are ways you can integrate them into different aspects of your release. Check out this interview with Cate Le Bon, who did just that with an unlikely extracurricular ability. When you feel like you've exhausted your own resources, make the most of your creative network by tapping friends to help with details like the packaging and promotion of your new album.
5. Are you treating your music like a business?
Once you release your music, like it or not, you're now in the music business. Building a strong foundation as a business is the first step; it starts with having a financial plan, getting the right insurance, and potentially incorporating yourself. Take a look at to see how you did and what to know.
6. Are you making time for yourself?
It can be a challenge to always bring the best version of yourself to the table. Everything from social media burnout to the tolls of touring can drain your brain, body, and spirit, sapping your creative powers in the process. Are you practicing your form of self-care? Be it meditation, regular exercise, or cooking and eating good food, it's crucial you look out for your biggest asset-yourself. Consult and this article for pro tips on the topics of mental health and wellness.
7. Did you have a team in place?
Managers, publicists, booking agents, lawyers, producers and collaborators -- these are just some of the positions that exist to support you in your music career. Depending on your goals for your release, you may or may not have needed one or more of those folks on your team. Think through how things went and who you might want to approach for your next release.
8. Put it all together.
Once you've asked yourself the questions above, take a close look at your answers. Compare your results against your expectations and set new goals for yourself with the lessons you've learned. Double down on what's working and revamp anything that isn't. And don't be afraid to think big-the only limits are the ones you set for yourself.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Release Guide: Reflecting on Your Release - Spotify for Artists

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn how to look back, assess your process, and acknowledge your progress.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Perfect Your Release Strategy in 2023: The Ultimate Checklist for Independent Artists

# data[].attributes.body
After looking at this website I have found that it is very important to create a release plan 3 months before a release you should start with creating a marketing plan and then look at playlists you wish to get on, two months before the release you should finish the artwork for release such as posters and sort out photo shoots and videos ready for the release. You should also find a distribution platform you wish to use. In this time it is a good idea to network with more artists and get a plan ready for posts so that when you are ready to release you don’t have to stress about making posts. You should send your music singles to Spotify playlists ready for the release date. In this time try and get your followers to your artists page.

Two weeks before the release you should announce a release party to create a hype around the release and send out messages to people to get them to pre save your song. It will also be a good idea to contact radio stations and magazines company’s to talk about the release and create even more hype.

On the day of release you should create as many story’s as you can and also post on all social media platforms to remind people that the song is out.

Vandergast (2023)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you are planning a debut release for 2023 or looking for your new music to pick up more traction than your 2022 releases, we've compiled the ultimate step-by-step release strategy to follow through your music release campaign.

All too often, we see independent artists scramble around trying to promote their new singles, EPs, and albums immediately before or after their music has hit the airwaves. While this is fine if you are releasing your music for fun, any artist wanting to make the maximum impact with their music will want to ensure that the hours spent in the studio don't go to waste due to a lacklustre release strategy.

In 2022, 22 million new singles hit Spotify. That is a new song every 1.4 seconds! Standing out in this increasingly competitive industry will only get more difficult. However, for artists willing to do the heavy lifting with the promotional work, there is still a shot at success.

While sitting on your new releases for the recommended duration of three months may be frustrating, it is the recommended timeframe to build an effective campaign and get everything into place with time to spare. This timeframe goes for artists using a DIY approach to promotion or artists with enough of a budget to enlist PR help.

NEVER be the kind of artist who springs a release on a PR company on the date of release, or after, then complain about the lack of attention! Once you have tied up all the copyrights and other legal matters to protect your music and royalties, you can start to build anticipation around your release.

Start Promoting Your Music During the Creation Process

Keep promotion in mind while you are creating your new releases. Creation-journey videos and other content is vital promo material for social media. Not only does it tease what is to come, but it also helps build connections with fans who enjoy feeling like they are part of the process with you. To increase engagement on your posts, you can also run polls and ask for opinions on anything from track names to cover art.

Three Months Before the Release

Create a Marketing Plan

Once your music is recorded, mixed, and mastered, decide whether you will hire a PR team or use the DIY promo approach. The existing connections of PR agencies can be highly beneficial to your campaign. If your budget won't stretch that far, if you do enough research and practice your pitches, you can still make some great connections.

Start Playlist Research

Getting your music on a popular or official playlist is one of the best ways to boost the reach of your new releases as an independent artist. Your playlist plan should consist of

Preparing your best songs to submit to Spotify Editors after creating a detailed description of your best tracks.

Building personal playlists before releasing your new music to build up play and a following by using similar tracks to attract fans.

Finding contact details for independent playlist curators through the help of services such as Submit Hub.

Two Months Before the Release

Finalise Your Artwork

In the digital era of music, image is everything. Never leave your artwork as an afterthought or try to knock something up on Photoshop if you have no idea how to use it! Pay a designer to design artwork that is as eye-catching as it is on-brand. These images can be plastered across your socials, be a part of your EPK and work as cover art for all your artist profiles.

Find a Third-Party Distro Site for Your Spotify Pre-Saves

Once you are equipped with on-brand artwork and alternative artist/band images, scout for a distribution platform for your Spotify pre-saves. We highly recommend Ditto and CD Baby for these services. By getting your fans to pre-save your Spotify release, you will increase the chances of your new releases appearing on New Music and Discover Weekly playlists.

Widen Your Net & Fill Your Social Media Content Calendar

At this point in the campaign, you should also be looking to increase your audience and fill your social media calendar. To widen the reach of your posts, use your time on social media wisely by friending and following bloggers who would be interested in covering your music, local music venues, and any other figures in the industry who you can turn into warm contacts. Also, be on the lookout for music fans to connect with who are in your target audience!

Ideally, your content calendar should be filled to the point of release. It should include countdowns, artwork unveilings, invitations to listening parties, live launch invitations, Spotify pre-save link promotions etc. To make posting across all the relevant platforms less time-consuming, use a social media marketing organiser, and schedule the posts to prepare for the coming weeks.

6 Weeks Before Your Release

Release Standout Singles from EPs and Albums

If you are releasing an EP or an album, six weeks before the launch is the prime time to release a single or two with the help of a distributor. The distributor should also be used to distribute your full album or EP across all of the popular music platforms, including Spotify, Bandcamp, Deezer, Tidal, iTunes, Amazon Music and Google Play.

Send Your Single Submissions to Spotify Curators

Using your previous research on Spotify playlist curators, utilising the Spotify for Artists feature and firing off your submissions should ideally happen six weeks before your music will land on the platforms. Spotify playlist curators get inundated with requests, which is just one of the reasons to send them early. For more information on how to go about your Spotify playlist submissions read our guide here.

Drive Your Social Media Followers to Your Artist/Band Page

If it has been a while since you went through your personal Facebook contact list, now is the perfect opportunity to send a fresh invitation to your artist/band page. While some artists only choose to do this when they get a new friend connection, the process is far more effective once you have been connected with them for a while. While this might not seem a big deal, industry figures, such as promoters, radio stations and bloggers, still notice your following numbers!

One Month Before the Release

Announce a Launch Show or Listening Party

Playing your new release live is a great way to increase sales and attention around the release and bolster your release strategy. Ideally, the launch show should happen on the day or shortly after the official release date. If you don't play live, you can always opt for a listening party or live stream on social media. Always think outside the box with these events and make them as unmissable as possible!

Two Weeks Before the Release

Prepare Your Website for Release Day & Send Newsletters

If you already have an email list for your marketing, enlist the help of your superfans to spread the word about your release. Rather than expecting them to do your promo for free, give them an incentive to do so. Allow them to win a free signed vinyl or CD copy, a free piece of merch, or tickets to your launch show. At this point, your website should contain a digital EPK with news and info about your new release.

Contact Music Reviewers, Bloggers, and Radio Stations

Music media sites love exclusive content. Always give your favourite blogs, websites and radio stations the opportunity to give their audience an exclusive premiere of your new music in addition to contacting all of the media outlets that are a good fit for your music. The more positive press and critical acclaim you have amassed around your new music, the higher the chances of music fans checking it out!

On the Day of the Release

If you thought that the hard work was finally over, think again! During the release day, skin all your socials with an OUT NOW message. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. Always use Canva to create unique graphics for each post.

If you are a newsletter user, make another announcement to your avid mailing list as a part of your release strategy. Even if your mailing list is infinitely smaller than your social media following, there is a greater chance of your contacts seeing the newsletter when it drops into their inbox.

On Instagram, update your bio, create a story and a post, and ask for feedback when you go live!

On Facebook, pay for a sponsored ad sharing the release info, edit your About Me section, ad a story, or go live.

On Twitter, tweet about your new release and pin it to the top of your page.

On Spotify, update the profile photo and header with your artwork, update your bio and add your new release as the Artist's Pick.

-

If you are looking for professional promotional help for your new release strategy or campaign, our A&R team is always on standby. A&R Factory's music development services help independent artists gain more exposure, plays, fans, and placements! Enquire about our services via this link. Or submit your independent music for review on our award-winning blog.

Article by Amelia Vandergast

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Perfect Your Release Strategy in 2023: The Ultimate Checklist for Independent Artists

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you are planning a debut release for 2023 or looking for your new music to pick up more traction than your 2022 releases, we've compiled the ultimate step-by-step release strategy to follow through your music release campaign.All too often, we see independent artists scramble around trying to promote their new singles, EPs, and albums immediately before or after their music has hit the airwaves.

# data[].attributes.body
week one i looked over a few songs i have an the demos to see which one i wanted to record first to get ready to release. i decided i wanted to re produce my 'messy nights' song as this is mainly finished which will then help me when recording my other songs as i will have my sound down. I then looked at songs i like which i can take ideas from such as breakfast on the roof Ellie Evans, Caity basers songs, Lily Allen's songs and Kate Nash. I also looked at artists who i like who don't make similar music to me such as Lily Moore and Lola young and Amy Winehouse as i grew up listening to them which then helped me find my sound.
This week i also looked at peoples social media platforms for inspiration I looked at Caity Basers tiktok and Young Blud's social media and both of them were amazing at how they promote there music which has given me loads of ideas.

# data[].attributes.body
'How to get the most out of social media as a DIY artist releasing new music’

The reason i have picked this subject is because i am hoping to release original music next year as a DIY artist, my long term is to play festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading i'm hoping to do this is in 2025 as I need to get my branding and socials sorted before that and have a whole set of originals for it. So therefore I need a good social media presence to help me book festivals, I need to learn how to make a good social media page!

My aim is to get originals out by easter 2024 I want to release an acoustic and remix version of every song, I do so that i can get my music out in different places such as clubs and shops and tv and festivals. This will hopefully get me more gigs and get me a bigger fan base.

My method is to get pres photos and a showreel ready for when my music comes out along with bios. I am going to work backwards get the music finished then do the music video and sort out a remix before creating hype on social media and bulk film so when everything is ready i can post multiple times a week. This will then help grow a fanbase, I also would like to do a speedup version of my song for Tiktok as speedup versions have been doing very well on social media at the moment.

I plan on making my music video in different pubs and clubs so that it shows me out on a bender over different days, as this is what my song is about. I will be able to use the videos and post them as teasers on social media which will help me create a hype leading up to the release.

# data[].attributes.headline
Gig and getting ready for the studio and emailing festivals

# data[].attributes.subject
Gig and getting ready for the studio and emailing festivals

# data[].attributes.body
this week i had a gig on the pier which was good i got to network with the people who run love supreme and got invited on the radio by the owner of radio reverb from my performance. Which i am going to book in once my single is ready to come out, i may even perform on there before my songs out to help get my name out there. This week i mainly focused on my gig and getting ready for my studio session on Monday with Matthew Parisi. I have also been emailing some festivals i would love to book for next summer such as Foodies festival, Brunswick fest and Pub in the park. I have also been messaging a photographer to get some pictures done ready for when i release my music, i want to get some photos of me "before a nightout" and after as my songs about drinking and getting messed up from it!

# data[].attributes.body
I want photos that look like I’m ready for a night out and ones that look like I’ve just left the club after drinking ready for when I release my music so these are just inspiration pictures.

# data[].attributes.body
I met John at a gig I did for Brighton jazz festival who then invited me onto the radio show so when my tracks are finished and coming out I’ll be looking at booking a radio slot.

# data[].attributes.body
This week i had a studio session with Matthew Parisi who helped me re record my song messy nights i chose to record this one first as i already had the chords and melody from being in the studio with another producer which made it easy to record a version of it and change parts to make it sound how i wanted it. He gave me a bunch of ideas that then helped me come up with other ideas. we recorded the bass first and then changed the drums, i wanted sticcato keys kinda like kate Nash's foundations. He then asked me if i wanted them in a low or high key but as the guitar was quite low i thought it would be best to have in a higher key to help build the sound and to stop it sounding muddy. I already had the stems of me singing so we just copied these over and recorded around it. We will then book another session to re record the vocals. i then need to find someone who can make a remix of the song i am also going to do a acoustic version, I also want to do a sped up version for Tiktok as they are doing well at the moment. As i recorded this song i now have a demo of what my sound is like which will help me when recording my next song.

notes for the next session
change the keys to a softer tone
add a rythm guitar in all of the verses
add claps and clicks
Bring the drums up a little in the pre chorus
re record the vocals and harmonies and backing vocals

# data[].attributes.headline
I was thinking of getting shoes like this to go with my logo with my user name on it. 

# data[].attributes.subject
I was thinking of getting shoes like this to go with my logo with my user name on it. 

# data[].attributes.body
I was also thinking of wearing Pink and Black to go with.

# data[].attributes.body
I plan to put out teasers leading up to my release to create a hype. I will also tease behind the scenes videos and do day in life videos so people know who i am as well as the music i make. I plan on archiving my posts on social media and re starting when my music comes out so all the posts look good together and the colours all match up. I want to have all bright photos and videos so they stand out. I will also put on competitions to get people involved and so they re share my songs, i was thinking of getting people to do a video to my song and ill pick the best video and give them a voucher, ill also do this for pre saving and pick a winner for someone saving it. I was also thinking of going into my old school and performing and doing competitions there as they are in the age range of my audiences, this will also help build my following and hopefully inspire young people to do something they love. I will hopefully do this the week my song comes out. I am also hoping to do a release party before my songs out and give away free shots to everyone who pre saves my song, ill do this on the door get a QR code and anyone who scans it gets a ticket to a shot that they can take then to the bar, this will depend on licensing. I will also posts get ready's with me and get to know me's.

# data[].attributes.body
This along with Lily Allen and Caity Basers songs was my reference track for my song in the studio.

# data[].attributes.headline
Pre - Production (Reflection - track development)

# data[].attributes.subject
Pre - Production (Reflection - track development)

# data[].attributes.body
This week I have had multiple meetings to talk about changes to my song and how i plan on marketing myself, I had a meeting with kieron pepper who mentioned putting in a late cup in my song to help give it a little movement and keep it upbeat we also spoke about recording live trumpets in my songs, we also spoke about moving the bass on in the chorus and in the bridge as it stays the same throughout the song. I also showed him tracks im inspired by and he suggested adding a retro synth noise which will really help get my sound down and it is something I enjoy on Lily Allens tracks,

# data[].attributes.body
when my music is coming out ill reach out to JCDECAUX who have billboards around brighton to see if i can advertise my music! This would be good as they have a billboard at the train station which can help me reach a load of people!