In recent years, singles have become fashionable. Because it is a changing world, trends lean towards the speed of things. Instagram stories, TikTok videos, WhatsApp statuses and the list goes on, make us see that the world wants things fast. Therefore, launch a single goes in the same direction. It is something quick and short to listen to, which can generate a great impact with just three minutes of playing. In this article, I am going to give you 9 tips to launch a single in the best possible way and strategies that can improve your launch.
9 Tips for Releasing a Single
1. A single is the best option to start
Starting with a single is the best way to start distributing your music digitally. That is, if you are just starting out and want to release a single, you are on the right track. But not only is it a way to get started, but it is a great method to release music recurrently and stay more connected. The reasons behind this are several:
- A single is much easier to produce since you only have to concentrate all your recording, mixing and mastering efforts on one song.
- Releasing the single through distributors allows you to access all the tools of the streaming platforms .
- It’s a great way to start distributing your music and gain presence.
2. Make your song compatible with playlists
If you are following our complete production guide, then you will know that playlists are very, very important these days. Whether good or bad, playlists are the new way to listen to music. If you want your song to have more chances to be placed on playlists, then follow these tips:
- Your song should not be too long: Playlists often do not include 8-minute songs because they take up a lot of time. People want short songs of 3 or 4 minutes.
- Your intros should not be very long: Because the first 15 seconds are decisive to know whether to listen to the song or not, if you place a 20-second intro people will skip your song. There are exceptions such as instrumental, ambient music or similar.
3. Don’t announce it until you have finished it
Telling your audience that you are going to release a single soon, but not giving them any tools to follow it, is of no use. The correct idea is to announce the single once you have it mastered and with a release date. Upload it to your distributor and select a future release date, and once you have the link to share, promote it. This way, your audience can follow it. Pre-save, place pre-orders and receive a notification when it is released.
4. Stay updated
Staying updated is one of the keys so that your audience does not lose contact with you. Update your biography on streaming platforms, establish a good profile photo and link your social networks. You can also release images or short videos of the production of the single on Instagram, YouTube or the networks you use.
5. Register your song
Uploading your song with a digital music distributor does not mean that you are copyrighting it. Artists have to register their song in their respective country to ensure that they have all the rights. In reality, All works are protected by copyright at the time you record the song. But, registering your work in ensures total protection against any eventuality. (Ref) For example, in Spain it is in the SGAE, in Mexico it is Indautor or in Argentina now they are done through the TAD. In these organizations royalties are not collected, but only the song is registered to prove that it is yours.
6. Make good visuals
Having good visuals in the artwork, promotional images or posters is very key to having a complete professional production. The artwork is the featured image of the photo that people see on Spotify (or another streaming platform) when they listen to your song.So, it is one of the most important things to review.If you are not good with images like me, then you can pay someone to make it for you on Fiverr. You can check here people who make Artwork on Fiverr, some charge $10 or $15 per image, super cheap.
7. Distribute it in the media
If you have reached this point… you have your song produced, mixed, mastered and ready to upload, it is time to upload your song to the media. Decide which channels you will distribute your music through. To make it available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) you can do it through a digital music distributor. You can also determine if you want to upload it to networks such as YouTube, SoundCloud or Bandcamp.
8. Content ID, yes or no?
When you are uploading your works to a music distributor, they will ask you if you want to add Content ID. Content ID is a technology that identifies your song and claims anyone who uses it in a video on YouTube. This allows you to generate royalties (money) when people watch any video on YouTube that has your music in the background. This can be a good source of income for artists. Most famous musicians use Content ID to generate income. But… if you are new to music and don’t have a large audience, I have several reasons why it is not such a good idea.
- If you add Content ID, video creators on YouTube will not be able to use your background music since it will take away their profits (and everyone wants to monetize their videos).
- Playlist curators on YouTube will not want to use your music . That is, there are “whitelists” to remove the content ID of a particular video, but it complicates the process a bit.
I mean, it’s not bad to use Content ID… most use it to generate extra income, but it hinders the passive growth of your audience a little. If you don’t use it, make sure you use Creative Commons so that people can use it use by giving you the credits. Then, people will be happy because they can use your music by simply giving you credit that it is your song, and you will passively grow your audience.
9. Send it to playlists on Spotify and YouTube
Sending your songs to playlists is one of the best methods to grow your audience. In another article I explain how to send songs to Spotify playlists and get streaming views. But don’t forget YouTube, there are many channels that make playlists with a giant audience. Find a channel related to your style and send it.
Benefits of Simple
Uploading a single has many, many benefits. As I said at the beginning, nowadays everything happens very quickly and albums are quickly forgotten. It is one of the best ways to start, but also to stay active. Of course everything has its pros and cons.
Pros:
- It is easy to produce. You can focus all your effort on just one song.
- You can try without fail as much as you would with an album.
- It’s perfect for uploading often and encouraging Spotify’s algorithm to include your song in playlists.
- You can stay on track Contact your audience regularly.
Cons:
- Uploading many singles can make people lose their amazement. Don’t forget EPs or albums.
- They don’t generate as strong a profile as EPs or albums.
Final Thoughts: Releasing a Single
Releasing a single is a great way to get started and upload songs regularly. Make a checklist of everything you need to do, and get going!
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