Release plan: 6 weeks to one single

One finished single, released with a plan, does more for you than three tracks thrown out on a Friday with no one ready to hear them. This is a six-week runway you can reuse for every release. Adjust the dates to your life, but keep the order: finish, prepare, pitch, release, follow through.

Pick your release date first, then count back six weeks. Write the real dates into the table at the bottom before you start.

Week 6: Finish the music

This week is about locking the track so everything else can be built on it.

• Make your final mix decisions. Listen on at least three systems (studio monitors, headphones, a phone or car) and write down anything that bothers you.
• Send the track to mastering, or master it yourself with fresh ears on a different day from the mix.
• Export the final master in the format your distributor asks for (usually a WAV at 16 or 24 bit, 44.1 kHz). Also export an instrumental, a clean version if there are explicit lyrics, and a short radio edit if the track is long.
• Name your files clearly: ARTIST - TITLE (Original Mix) MASTER.wav.
• Agree the splits with every collaborator now, in writing, before anyone is excited or busy. A simple split sheet is enough.

Week 5: Artwork and metadata

• Create or commission the cover art. Most distributors want a square image at a large size (3000 x 3000 pixels is common) with no web addresses, social handles or blurry text; check your distributor's spec.
• Make square, portrait (9:16) and landscape (16:9) versions of the art for posts, stories and video.
• Write down your metadata in one document: title, artist name spelled exactly as on your other releases, featured artists, songwriters, producers, genre, release date, label name (your own name or imprint is fine), explicit or clean.
• Register the song with your performing rights organisation if you are a member, so the writing credits are ready when plays start.

Week 4: Upload and set up the release

• Upload to your distributor. Most distributors recommend uploading several weeks ahead of release so stores have time to process it; check yours and give yourself more time than the minimum.
• Once the release is delivered, it should appear in your Spotify for Artists account as an upcoming release. Claim your profiles on Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists and any other platform you use if you have not already.
• Set up a pre-save or pre-add link so people can commit to the track before it is out.
• Update your link page (the one in your bio) so the new release is at the top.

Week 3: Pitch and prepare content

• Pitch the track to Spotify's editorial team through Spotify for Artists. Spotify asks for pitches at least 7 days before release; doing it now gives you a comfortable margin. Fill in every field honestly: genre, mood, instruments, the story behind the track.
• Make a list of blogs, playlist curators, radio shows and DJs who actually play music like yours. Aim for relevance over volume.
• Plan your content for the next three weeks: a teaser clip, a behind-the-scenes look at the session, the story of the track, a short performance or DJ clip.
• Film and edit the teaser clips now so release week is about posting, not making.

Week 2: Outreach

• Send personal pitches to the blogs, curators and DJs on your list. One short email each, one private streaming link, a line on why the track suits them specifically.
• Send the track to DJ friends and fellow producers who might play it or share it.
• Post the first teaser and share the pre-save link.
• Tell your email list or close supporters the date. People who already like your music are your best first listeners.

Week 1: The week before release

• Send one polite follow-up to anyone who has not replied to your pitch.
• Schedule your release-day posts.
• Prepare a thank-you message for everyone who helped: collaborators, mastering engineer, artwork designer.
• Double-check that the release shows correctly as upcoming in your distributor and artist dashboards.

Release week

• On release day, post the track with a clear link. Share it in your stories, in your communities and with your email list.
• Message the people who pre-saved, reviewed or shared it and thank them personally.
• Add the track to your own playlists and your artist profile's pick, if the platform offers one.
• Play it in your DJ sets if that fits your style, and film the moment if the crowd reacts.
• Keep posting through the week. One post on release day is not a release campaign.

The week after

• Look at your artist dashboards: where listeners came from, which playlists added it, which cities are listening. Write down what you learn.
• Send thank-you notes to any blog, curator or DJ who supported the track.
• Share any press, playlist adds or DJ support as fresh posts.
• Write three lines for next time: what worked, what did not, what you will do earlier.
• Start the six weeks again for the next single. Consistency is what builds momentum.

Your plan