A Hitchhiker’s Information To Releasing an EP

[Editors Note: This blog was written by Rich Nardo. Rich is a freelance writer and editor, and is the Director of Public Relations and Creative at NGAGE.]

A Fast Have a look at the Belongings Wanted and Instructed Timeline for Releasing An EP as an Unbiased Artist

One of many hardest factor for an artist to do is wait. Good musicians will spend a 12 months or extra writing and recording 5 or 6 meticulously organized tracks. They know when to subtly sneak a guitar solo or drum fill on stage and what number of bars to spend vamping on it. However when the time involves share the music they’ve poured their life’s blood into, launch day can’t come quickly sufficient.

Very similar to the journey shared by Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, placing out music needs to be skilled in volumes. That they had the Hitchhiker’s Information To The Galaxy to assist them plan. The objective of this text is to offer one thing comparable; albeit less complicated. By taking this stuff into consideration, your music shall be given the optimum probability to achieve as many ears as attainable with or with out the help of a Babel Fish.

(Ed. Observe: First off, what defines an EP because it pertains to digital distribution to Apple and Spotify? See beneath:

In iTunes:

To ensure that a launch to be thought-about an EP, it should meet one of many following two necessities:

– The discharge has a complete of 1 to 3 (1-3) tracks, a number of of the tracks is/are 10 minutes or longer and full launch is lower than 30 minutes.

– The discharge has a complete of 4 to 6 (4-6) tracks and the complete launch is lower than 30 minutes.

– In case your launch meets the above necessities and also you do not need “- EP” within the title of your album, iTunes will robotically insert “- EP” within the title when delivering your album to the shop.

In Spotify:

– Your music shall be categorised beneath the EP class if:
– The discharge is beneath 30 minutes.
– The discharge has 4-6 tracks.
– Spotify won’t change the title of your launch.)

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Stage 1: Life, The Universe and Every thing…Collect Your Belongings!

Okay, so in spite of everything this time writing and recording, your EP is prepared. You’re only a few quick steps away from sharing it with the world. Earlier than you determine simply when that date shall be, let’s speak about what else you’re going to be doing to advertise the document.

Listed below are a number of inquiries to ask your self at this level:

What’s my price range?
How a lot cash am I in a position to spend on this document? Is there sufficient to rent any assist or am I higher off going at this alone? Figuring out the reply to this query will assist determine an preliminary content material plan. It’s going to additionally offer you an concept of how a lot time it’s best to unfold the discharge over. The extra you’re dealing with your self the extra time it’s best to give your self to perform every part.

Will There Be Extra Cash Coming In As soon as The Launch Cycle Begins?
Are you going to be doing any touring? Have you ever had any luck, or is there any demand, for merch? Album gross sales are powerful and streaming revenue is nice, however the numbers dictate {that a} appreciable variety of streams are required to really generate revenue. Since you possibly can’t financial institution on that revenue, ignore it for now. Different extra concrete alternatives for producing money needs to be what you’re making an attempt to estimate on this step. This may enable you to determine if it’s value elongating your marketing campaign a bit to permit for extra content material creation or further assist as soon as the primary single is out.

What Content material Will I Have?
Along with the music, will there be remixes, music movies, stay content material or behind the scenes stuff? Additionally on a associated notice, you’ll need art work and social media “skins” and “copy” able to roll at this level.

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Stage 2: And One other Factor…Set The Timeline!

It is best to begin pondering timeline as soon as the music enters the mastering part. Nonetheless, dates for an unbiased artist shouldn’t be dedicated to till you have got all belongings in hand (or at a minimal deliverable dates). When you’ve gotten to that time, although, it’s finest to nail down while you wish to launch every part.

Very first thing to think about are singles. In case you have a 5 tune EP, I usually advocate doing two singles forward of the complete launch. This may let you begin producing a buzz main as much as launch week.

In case you did any movies, it’s good to determine if you wish to do separate audio & video campaigns or premiere the tune initially alongside the video. In case you really feel the video is so built-in into the tune that folks will respect the music finest with the visible accompaniment then, by all means, put your finest foot ahead. If you wish to save a number of belongings for after you place out the EP, it is likely to be finest to do them individually and launch the video just a little deeper into the marketing campaign. Remember the fact that you possibly can’t “premiere” a observe from the EP after the entire launch is out, so having a video or, relying on style, even a remix provides you a little bit of an extended tail on advertising post-release date.

When developing with a timeline, you also needs to think about how a lot time is required by your distribution. As an example, when you’re utilizing TuneCore three weeks superior discover shall be required to utilize their “Options Submission” kind. There’s normally a component of superior deliverables requirement for many streaming and obtain companies as nicely.

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Stage 3: The Restaurant At The Finish Of The Galaxy…Time To Launch!

Congratulations! You fought the urge to only throw your music up on-line all willy-nilly-like and, in consequence, your launch is doing nicely now that it’s lastly out. What’s subsequent? Right here are some things you are able to do to proceed selling your EP.

Play Reveals! –  I can’t stress how necessary enjoying stay is while you’re making an attempt to ascertain your self. There shall be 1000’s of artists placing out new music ON THE SAME DAY that you just do. Creating a private relationship with an viewers in a stay setting will enable you to set up loyalty with followers and convey them again to your digital presence.

Proceed to Attain Out – Your music is out now, so premieres and “first seems” are off the desk. That doesn’t imply you can’t preserve searching for new press. Hold digging for contacts and discover folks writing about music which may be into your sound. In case you’ve had a few good press clips at this level, you now have quotes from different tastemakers in your toolbelt to persuade this new wave of writers to cowl you. Identical principal applies to Spotify playlisting.

Get Social – You may at all times use social media to advertise your data and entice new followers. Simply because your music is out doesn’t imply you must cease posting about it. I by no means advocate coming off as sales-y along with your digital presence, but when anyone writes about your music, submit it and thank them. Do some stay movies you possibly can rise up on Fb and Instagram. If nothing else, preserve posting to indicate your persona. Each little bit helps.

Hope you discovered this little information helpful as you put together to place your new music out. Till subsequent month, So Lengthy And Thanks for All The Fish!

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