Planning a music release is the most time-taking activity for a musician. The question is how to release an album independently? It requires music PR, music marketing, networking, sending emails, creating music formats, a single release strategy, and making multiple phone calls. This process can take from a few weeks to several months. It can get tiring and tire you out quickly, but the rewards will be worth it if done correctly. Whether you’re releasing a single, EP, album, mixtape, or compilation, there are a few things you should do to make the best way to release music. This blog will walk you through how to release music and a list of activities you need to do to make your music releasing process a success.
The sole rule in today’s music-making environment is that there are no rules at all. Make a recording of anything you wish to use as a sample. Effects can be automated in ways that have never been conceived before. Mixing rhythms and genres results in beats and melodies that go deeper and help establish whole new music categories on their terms. Today we will be talking about the music releasing process in 12 simple steps:
Music Releasing Process in 12 Steps
1. The Art of Songwriting
What does it mean to compose a song in this day and age? What is the single release strategy? When is so much of today’s music devoid of words? This is an excellent topic for another post to explore more in-depth. Songwriting basics, however, may be defined as the act of assembling musical ideas into a broader framework composed of cohesive melody, harmony, and rhythm.
2. Have your Music and Online Stuff Ready
Maybe you are here now. Finishing Tracks (or Want to Finish Them – Here are some tips for finishing). There’s not much to say here, except that you might want to put a few tracks together for an EP, album, or a string of singles. You’ll also want to have your social profiles and online presence in some order. I wrote about it here. One thing to note is that this whole process will take at least a month, but it will more than likely take a little longer if you want to do it properly. Be prepared to spend months and months supporting your music after it’s over because if it does well, you won’t be able to shake it off so quickly. It’s far easier to decide whether you want to forget or delete a track that hasn’t been released.
3. Mastering
Mastering is the process where a trained technician will tweak and polish a sound to make sure it sounds good on all systems and can involve various techniques. This is almost a sensible check for those happy with their mix.
4. Artwork and Music Release Info
Assuming you’re going to release your stuff (here are some reasons you might need more) and your goal for digital-only, somewhat you’ll need artwork for your music release. You’ll also want a release sheet that details the track, information about you or the release, and links to more information.
5. Figuring Up the Settings
Perhaps more than any other step of music creation, arranging is the one that is least understood and most undervalued. When a song starts with a strong rhythm and melody but becomes too repetitive after a time, it is typically due to an issue with its arrangement. It is the arrangement of a song that adds interest to the piece.
6. Tracking and Monitoring
Now it’s time to bring the equipment in. The term “tracking” will be used throughout this section since the recording process may refer to various things. The purpose is to capture a live performance of the song at this stage. There is a tune floating about in the ether. It’s simply a collection of musical concepts compiled into one place.
7. Revision and Editing
Because of digital editing capabilities, it is now simpler than ever to capture a fantastic performance. However, it is preferable to utilize these tools as a last resort rather than as a primary source of information. There are a few reasons why it’s vital to handle editing as a distinct step when it’s time to finish your manuscript.
8. Mixing and Changing
Knowing how to mix well is an art form that requires years of study and effort to master appropriately. For many, this is the point at which the real fun begins. Your song has been composed and recorded, and now it is time to sit back, relax, and transform this recording into a masterpiece.
9. Scheduling & Distribution
When you have access to information about your mastered tracks, artwork, and releases, you can schedule your release. To be more precise in the music release schedule, you will need to find what is known as a distributor (or digital aggregator). This company or website will take your tracks and information and “distribute” them to stores and streaming platforms. There are many digital distribution platforms but just beware of hidden charges and which stores are serviced.
10. Promotion, Press & PR
You will probably want to save/convert mp3 files from your mastered wave files to promote the release. (Of course, don’t rip the waves!) Often, you’ll want to send pre-release tracks to blogs, journalists, reviewers, YouTube channels, etc. Make sure your ways are up to the hype here.
You will also want to start building a list of people to promote because a press release provides many benefits for a music artist. As you start a blog and connect with other influencers, you’ll make a group of contacts interested in hearing more from you. Be sure to build your promotional list properly. The promotion and promotion game involves creating as much interest as possible in your releases and asking bloggers to review your releases and display your tracks on SoundCloud, YouTube, or playlists. This could mean paying for PR, which could result in some coverage, or it could be as simple as referring it on your social platforms if your interest is high enough.
11. Getting a Grip on Things
Mastering has long been considered a separate step in the production process. However, it has simply become the last element of the mixing process for many home producers. Although the latter is likely the case for most of those who read this, it is nevertheless beneficial to understand how it got about.
12. Release & the Future
Your music release date is nearing your last-minute reminder, and once it’s available in store, you’ll probably want to let us know about the release. You’ll want to collect and store sub-links wherever you are, as well as add them to your site, social, and about posts.
In general, it’s going to cover – start to finish. There is more to this process, and all the work is in the details, techniques, promo efforts, and more. It also does not account for the physical production and delivery of the actual stock, which usually adds a few months to the process. Ultimately, this should be a rough guide when you are in the music-releasing process. Costs can be kept low, and the things you’ll have to pay the price for our mastery, possibly artwork, distribution, and then any promo costs (Facebook ads, PR email-blasts, etc.).
Conclusion
Releasing a song can prove to be a hectic affair and can take a lot of your time duration. Therefore, the better you plan, the more likely you optimized. So, set the targets you want to achieve in releasing music independently and measure your success at the end of your release campaign. Write your release plan and incorporate the above activities into your project. You can also take a look at Instagram’s top music influencers; they follow the same process. We wish you success!