There are many factors to consider when releasing new music. Choosing a release date for new music is an important decision to make. However, it’s easy for artists and labels to forget to consider is what release date they should pick when releasing music. More specifically, how much lead time should they allow for between uploading the music for distribution, and the actual global release date.
When you work with My Client Zone for your distribution white label solutions, we are fortunate to provide a custom-built client system and direct delivery feeds to major global music download and streaming platforms. For example, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, TIDAL, Deezer, Audiomack, JioSaavn and many more.
Because we have built direct music delivery feeds, this means our system can instantly send releases to our DSP partners. Once our quality control teams have approved your client’s release for distribution, it includes audio files, artwork, and metadata.
Although our team can deliver your releases to streaming platforms within one working day, several factors can affect timing. Your artist and label clients should consider these factors when planning how much time to leave for distribution and marketing.
Lead Time for Music Distribution:
A quick turnaround might seem ideal if you’re aiming for a fast release, but timely publication isn’t always guaranteed. Our team recommends artists and labels submit their tracks for distribution at least two weeks before the release date.
This allows enough time to complete any necessary metadata amendments before the release is distributed to DSPs. It also ensures that DSPs have sufficient time to fully ingest the releases into their systems, ready for the chosen release date.
Each of our DSP partners processes releases differently, with some being faster than others. If your client only allows one or two days from submission to release, some platforms may meet the chosen date. However, others with slower processing times may not be able to release it on schedule.
Choosing a release date at least two weeks from distribution will provide you with enough lead time for a smooth distribution process. Avoiding the disappointment of your release missing your live date.
Lead Time for Music Promotion:
Although we advise two weeks for distribution, for marketing you may need to allow more time.
Spotify recommends submitting music through their Spotify for Artists pitch tool for editorial playlists at least two weeks before release. Distribution to Spotify must be completed before the pitch tool becomes available in the app, so additional time is necessary.
If you are implementing a full marketing campaign for your release, we advise submitting your music for distribution six weeks in advance.
Many marketing campaigns require your music to have cleared the submission process for successful execution. It’s essential that your clients plan release and marketing schedules in advance. Obtaining pre-order and pre-save links early provides more time for artists to share and engage with their fans.
For My Client Zone users, lead times are essential for the pre-release marketing campaigns we offer. Services like radio plugging, digital PR, and editorial pitching, require music submission at least six weeks before the release date. This allows our team enough time to review the submission and, if accepted, gather necessary assets before the campaign begins.
Many artists submit their music for consideration for pre-release promotion services a few days before their release date. Regardless of how good the music is, we cannot take on campaigns that do not fit with the required time guidelines. This is why it is incredibly important to consider lead times when submitting music to our team.
Successful marketing campaigns don’t happen overnight. So, whether your clients are looking to utilise My Client Zone’s offerings, work with other promotion services, or go DIY with their release marketing, it’s important to remember the importance of lead times when devising release strategies. Choosing a release date that allows for strategies to be properly implemented will help.
Picking a Day of the Week:
In more modern times, there isn’t as much need to release on a specific day of the week. Through our delivery to DSPs, your clients can pick any day of the week they desire to release their music.
Traditionally (in the UK and US) releasing music on a Friday was key. For official sales charts companies (i.e. The Official UK Charts Company, Billboard Music Charts) their different charts are updated every Friday. In many ways, Friday is still an important date to consider releasing your music on. For platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, they tend to update their main editorial playlists every Friday.
However, if your artists and labels are not focused on chart positions or editorial playlists, and artist may want to consider releasing on a day that works for maximum engagement (i.e. the same day as a release party/show).
At My Client Zone we are here to assist our distribution white label clients through the release process and offer advice for their clients.
Get in touch today to get your own distribution service set up.
If you already have an account and wish to discuss the above process, please contact your account manager.