Your first release is a big moment. It's also the moment when the most mistakes happen — not from lack of care, but from lack of experience. This checklist was built to cover every step in chronological order, so nothing slips through.
6–8 Weeks Before Release
Audio and Production
- The track is finished and definitively approved
- The mix is complete
- The master is complete (WAV 24-bit/44.1kHz or higher)
- You've checked the True Peak (max -1 dBTP)
- You've checked the LUFS level (target -14 integrated LUFS for Spotify/YouTube)
- The final file is exported as WAV (not MP3)
Artwork
- The cover is 3000×3000 pixels, RGB
- No URLs, third-party logos, or prices on the cover
- The title on the cover (if present) matches the metadata
- The cover reads well even at small size (100px thumbnail)
- JPEG or PNG file, under 20 MB
4–5 Weeks Before
Strategic Decisions
- You've chosen the release date (a Friday)
- You've decided the release type (single, EP, album)
- You've defined a promotional plan (even a basic one)
Legal Registrations and Credits
- You are registered with your collecting society (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, SIAE, etc.) as songwriter/composer (if applicable)
- You have registered or will register the track with your PRO
- You've defined the split with any collaborators (in writing)
- You've confirmed the audio contains no uncleared samples
Artist Profiles
- You have a Spotify for Artists account (or are ready to claim the profile after the first release)
- You have an Apple Music for Artists account (or have planned the claim)
- The artist name you'll use is final and deliberate
3 Weeks Before
Upload to Distributor
- You've uploaded the audio to your distributor (LightSound or another)
- You've uploaded the artwork
- You've filled in all the metadata:
- Release title and track title
- Artist name (identical to existing profile or creating a new one)
- Featured artists in the correct field
- Accurate genre and subgenre
- Language selected
- Explicit/Clean flag correct
- P-Line: "℗ 2026 Your Name"
- C-Line: "© 2026 Your Name"
- ISRC assigned (or generated by the distributor)
- UPC assigned (or generated by the distributor)
- Collaborator credits entered (producer, songwriter, etc.)
- The release date is set to the correct Friday
- You've selected worldwide distribution (or the specific territories you want)
- You've submitted the release for review/distribution
2 Weeks Before
Pre-Save
- The pre-save link (LightFollow on LightSound, or another tool) is available
- You've tested the pre-save link on mobile
- You've started sharing the pre-save on social media and in your bio
Spotify Pitch
- The release has appeared as "upcoming" on Spotify for Artists
- You've completed the pitch on Spotify for Artists (at least 7 business days before the release date)
- The pitch includes: genre, mood, real comparable artists, language, main instruments
1 Week Before
Pre-Release Promotion
- You've created at least 2–3 pieces of content to publish in the days before the release
- You've updated your Instagram/TikTok bio with the pre-save link
- You've sent a message to your network (friends, colleagues, fans)
- You've planned what to publish on release day
Final Checks
- The release is visible as "upcoming" on Spotify (confirmed)
- You've verified that the artwork and metadata are correct in the preview
- The pre-save link is working correctly
Release Day
- Confirm the release is live on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music
- Update the link in bio with the permanent link (smart link)
- Publish your launch content
- Share in stories
- Thank everyone who pre-saved or is listening
- Claim your artist profile on Spotify for Artists (if this is your first release)
- Claim on Apple Music for Artists
Weeks After
- Monitor data on Spotify for Artists (streams, saves, sources)
- Check which playlists the track has been added to
- Publish follow-up content in the 2–3 Fridays after release
- Contact relevant playlist curators with the link
- Update your artist profile (photo, bio, Artist Pick set to latest release)
- Register the track with your collecting society if you haven't yet
Final Note
This checklist looks long — and it is, but it's not hard. The first time requires a bit of learning. From the second release onward, half of these steps are already done (profiles, PRO registration, familiarity with the tools) and the process becomes much faster.
The point is: don't improvise. The difference between a release that works and one that disappears in the first 3 days is often just planning.
Related Reading
- The most common mistakes in music distribution
- Release metadata: how to fill them in correctly
- Uploading a release: fields, errors, and how to simplify the process
- Pre-save: why it matters and how to set it up right
- Pitching on Spotify: how to write a pitch that works
- Release date: when to publish and how to choose your timing