What should I do before releasing a song?

At least 4 weeks before release: submit to Spotify editorial pitch, create DistroKid/TuneCore delivery, prepare marketing assets (artwork, video clips, bio). 2 weeks out: begin teaser campaign, reach out to playlist curators and press. Launch day: coordinate social posts, ask fans to save the track.

How early should I submit to Spotify editorial?

Submit at least 7 days before your release date — Spotify's editorial team needs this time to consider your track for editorial playlists. Submitting earlier (2-4 weeks) gives more time but Spotify only reviews close to release.

What is a pre-save campaign for music?

A pre-save campaign lets fans save your upcoming release to their Spotify library before it goes live. This triggers your release to appear in their Release Radar playlist and signals early engagement to Spotify's algorithm.

Blog

Tools YouTube Channel Audit Case Studies

Free Audit Get Started

Free Audit

Chartlex ToolsMusic Release Checklist 2026

Free · No Signup

Music Release Checklist 2026

Interactive timeline tool for independent artists. Filter by release type and track every step — from 4 weeks out to post-release. Built around Spotify's editorial and algorithmic windows.

4 Weeks Out

2 Weeks Out

1 Week Out

Day Before

Release Day

Post-Release

0 of 41 steps completed0%

📋

4 Weeks Out

T-28 to T-21Pre-release

Lay the groundwork before anything is public.

0/9

Timing tip: Artists who run streaming campaigns 2–4 weeks before release see 30–50% higher Day-1 save rates. Learn how →

Export final master (WAV 24-bit / 44.1kHz minimum)

Confirm artwork: 3000×3000px, RGB colour space, JPEG or PNG

Lock all metadata: title, ISRC, featuring credits, songwriter splits

Submit to distributor (allow 3–5 business days for processing)

Submit 3–4 weeks early. Late submissions miss the Spotify editorial window entirely.

Pitch to Spotify editorial via Spotify for Artists (must be 7+ days before release)

This is the #1 missed deadline. Spotify looks for: save/stream ratio, catalog depth, playlist history. Do it as early as possible.

Upload Canvas to Spotify for Artists (looping 3–8s video clip)

Plan your content calendar for the 4-week rollout

Algorithm favors release-day activity spikes. Plan 3–5 social posts for drop day.

Brief your playlist promotion campaign (Chartlex or other)

📣

2 Weeks Out

T-14 to T-8Pre-release

Start warming up your audience.

0/6

Confirm distributor has accepted your release (check dashboard status)

Create pre-save / pre-add link (feature.fm, Toneden, or DistroKid SmartLink)

Pre-saves directly boost Day-1 saves. Every pre-save = guaranteed algorithmic signal.

Send pre-save link to your email list

Add pre-save link to all bios (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, YouTube)

Shoot announcement content: Reel, TikTok, behind-the-scenes clip

Pitch to independent playlist curators (SubmitHub, Groover, direct email)

🔥

1 Week Out

T-7 to T-2Pre-release

Build anticipation and get your systems ready.

0/5

Post official announcement across all channels

Schedule all release day social posts in advance

Brief your core fans / Discord / community to save on day one

Day-one saves are the #1 algorithmic trigger. Saves in the first 24 hours determine algorithmic pickup.

Prepare thank-you story templates for when people share

Verify release appears correctly in Spotify for Artists preview

⚡

Day Before

T-1Pre-release

Final checks — no surprises on release day.

0/5

Confirm track is visible in Spotify for Artists (pre-release mode)

Verify all scheduled posts are correctly queued

Send teaser email to your list ("it drops tomorrow")

Prepare comment response templates for early listeners

Set alarm for midnight / 00:00 local time (Spotify goes live at midnight)

🚀

Release Day

Day 0Launch Day

Go live and stay active for the full 24 hours.

0/8

Publish all pre-scheduled posts at midnight / 00:00 local

Update all bios and Linktrees to the release link

Pin the release post on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X

Engage with every comment for the first 24 hours (key algorithm signal)

DM collaborators, features, and producers asking them to post today

Share to relevant Reddit communities and music forums

Send release-day email to your list with the streaming link

Monitor Spotify for Artists real-time stream counter

📈

Post-Release

Weeks 1–4Post-release

Keep the momentum alive and learn from the data.

0/8

Check save rate in Spotify for Artists (target: 5%+)

Save rate is the #1 signal that triggers Discover Weekly.

Monitor skip rate (flag if above 30%)

Watch for Discover Weekly and Release Radar appearances (Day 7+)

Post 2–3 pieces of content per week referencing the release

Reply to all playlist curator responses and thank placements

Share any press coverage or playlist adds on socials

Review audience data in Spotify for Artists (age, location, source)

Plan next release to maintain 4–8 week cadence

Want a personalized strategy? Get your free Spotify audit →

Release Progress0% (0/41)

💡 Insights

Playlist promotion amplifies everything on this checklist

Artists who combine organic release strategy with playlist promotion see 4x first-week streams. The best time to start a campaign is 2-4 weeks before release.

See campaign options →

🔗 Your Next Step

Release Date Optimizer

Find the best release date based on genre, season, and editorial windows

Marketing Plan Generator

Generate a week-by-week marketing plan tailored to your release

Save to Dashboard Export PDF