Release Strategy — The 6-Week Rollout

Distribution is plumbing. Rollout is what makes the plumbing carry water.

Week -6: Lock the asset bundle

• Final master (WAV, -14 LUFS for streaming)
• Cover art at 3000×3000 px, RGB, JPG
• Vertical canvas video (Spotify, 9:16, 3–8s loop)
• Lyrics file (for Apple, Genius, MusicXMatch)
• Press photo + 100-word artist bio

Week -4: Submit to distributor

• Upload with a release date 4 weeks out (minimum). This unlocks editorial pitching.
• Spotify for Artists → Pitch to editorial within 7 days of upload.
• Apple Music for Artists → Submit "Up Next" pitch.
• Tag every collaborator and producer correctly.

Week -3: Pre-save / pre-add

• Generate a smart link (Linkfire, Feature.fm, or distributor's link).
• Pin it everywhere: bio, story highlight, email signature.

Week -2: Content runway

• Drop 1 teaser per week: snippet + behind-the-scenes + lyric reveal.
• Send a personal note to 25 humans who actually move the needle. Not a mass DM.

Release week

• Day 0: Story + post + email + thank-you to everyone who pre-saved.
• Day 1–3: Post listener reactions, duets, lyric breakdowns.
• Day 7: Sync request package goes out (see Module 06).

Week +2 to +6

• Pull stats from Spotify for Artists. Where did listeners come from? Which playlists picked it up?
• Run paid ads ONLY to lookalikes of saving listeners — not cold audiences.
• Submit to genre-specific blogs and Vocalo / Buzz Music (Chicago — Module 07).

Calendar reminder

A single song should generate marketing assets for at least 90 days. If you release a song and never speak of it again after week 1, you wasted 70% of its earning life.