A great song can still stumble on release day because of a missing credit, rejected artwork, or a late upload. Use this checklist for every single, EP, and album.
6+ weeks before release
- Final master approved (WAV, at least 16-bit / 44.1 kHz)
- Clean / radio edit made, if the song is explicit
- Samples, beats, and features cleared, with agreements in writing
- Split sheet signed by every writer, producer, and featured artist
- Release date chosen (Fridays are the global release day)
4 weeks before release
- Cover art finished: 3000 × 3000 px, square, JPG or PNG, no URLs or social handles
- Metadata double-checked:
- Exact song title and version (e.g., “Remix”, “Sped Up”)
- Primary and featured artist names spelled exactly as on existing profiles
- Songwriters and producers credited
- Genre and language
- Explicit / clean flag
- Release delivered to your distributor
- ISRC (per track) and UPC (per release) codes saved in a safe place
2–3 weeks before release
- Pitch the song to Spotify editors in Spotify for Artists (at least 7 days before release)
- Pre-save link live and shared
- Short-form content planned for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts
- Press and playlist outreach list ready
Release week
- Check every store link once the release is live
- Update link-in-bio, Spotify Canvas, and artist profile images
- Post on release day, then keep posting. Most streams come after week one.
After release
- Register songs with your performing rights organization (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR)
- Register with The MLC for U.S. mechanical royalties (or use a publishing administrator)
- Register with SoundExchange for digital performance royalties from services like satellite and internet radio
- Make sure YouTube Content ID is active for the release
- Review your first statements and confirm splits are paying out correctly
Asset Distro artists get help with every step of this list. Learn how our distribution works or request an invite.