The Indie Artist Checklist ✅
10 Must Haves Before Your Next Music Release
The sheer volume of accessible music has skyrocketed in the past year. With 60,000+ songs released on Spotify per day, it’s more important than ever for new artists to set themselves up for success, especially when launching independently. Here’s Intercept’s checklist for what to have under your belt before your career launch.
1.Set Goals. According to Time Magazine, people who set goals are ten times more likely to achieve results than those who simply “work hard.” SHEEESH. Of course nothing is set in stone, but a few goals to keep track of your progress are a great way to hold yourself accountable. Our go-to three?
- Short term – Typically centered around a release plan.
- Long term – Post release promo, tours, next album, etc.
- Stepping-stone goals – the transactional goals that will take you from short term to long term. What are you going to consistently do in between to keep up engagement?
Remember to review your goals daily – they become part of your subconscious and start affecting all the little decisions you make without even thinking about it.
2.Music! To start your career, you’re going to need a final master of your content, whether it be a single, EP, or LP. Make sure that you’re in constant communication with your producers and engineers to ensure the final product will be ready on time for your scheduled release / launch.
3.A Distributor. How are you going to get your music out to the world? There are many different services that will distribute your music to streaming and social media platforms, but make sure you do your research on which best fits your needs and price range. Check out the Intercept website for more information on our distribution process and options. We chosen InGrooves/Universal Music as our partner because they have the best pipes in the business – we HIGHLY recommend 😉
4.PRO Registration. This is one of the MOST CRUCIAL action items for an independent artist – make sure you’re earning your $$$! Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) collect and distribute the writer portion of your royalties back to you from streaming services, social media, performance, and sync licensing for the United States.. ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are some of the most established ones in the U.S., but again we recommend doing your own research to find the perfect PRO fit for your career.
Reminder: These 3 are the only ones in the US. Each country has one or two for their respective nation.
5.Solidify Your Personal Brand. In order to establish a long term relationship with your fans, you want them to connect with not just your music, but with YOU. Acknowledge your likes, dislikes (appropriately), style, hobbies, and what makes you who you are in your public presence. TikTok and Instagram are great platforms to merge your daily life with your music (see next).
6.Activate Your Social Media. In order to form said public persona in this day and age, it requires a strong social media presence. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter are all major keys to developing your brand and promoting your music. Make sure you have profiles set up and active on each site with consistent handle names and a content plan.
7.Marketing Plan. Make sure you have a solid plan of HOW you’re going to market your music. Take photos, design merch (check out how you can do it with Intercept here, create a scannable QR code to a pre save link, make videos to post on TikTok and Instagram Reels – use your creative juices! The content possibilities are endless.
8.Promotion Schedule. Once you’ve gathered content to post, don’t waste it! Schedule out a content calendar at least one month before your release for what you’re going to post and when – saving big things for right around release time, and more general, broad announcements for earlier. There are many sites where you can schedule out posts in advance, and that provide context on best time and days to post. Check out Intercept’s social media resources here *link website page*
9.Consider Third Party Playlisting. Playlist features are a great way to get your music out to a new audience, but with the amount of music being released per day, Spotify can’t place every song themselves. Enter: the rise of Third Party Playlisters. There are many creators that will place your song on different playlists for a fee – but again be SURE to do your research before to avoid any scams, and find the best bang-for-your-buck playlisting sources. Check out Intercept’s playlisting options here
10.Stay Aware, Educated, and Involved. The music industry is constantly changing, and for independent artists especially it’s crucial to stay updated with news industry news. There are many news sources (Music Business Worldwide, Digital Music News, Billboard) that send out daily emails with updates, and are great resources to stay in tune (No pun intended) 😆. Always know your rights and where you stand in the industry today.
Stay tuned for the next Intercept Music Blog updates – we’ll be diving deeper into social media strategy, best artist practices, music creator rights, featured artists, and more!