The holiday season is right around the corner — and it’s one of the best (and busiest) times of the year to release new music.
If you’re planning a release for late November through New Year’s Day, give yourself plenty of time to prepare your release and submit it for distribution.
Plan your 2026 holiday release
If you’re planning to release music between November 27, 2026, and January 1, 2027, we recommend submitting at least six weeks before your planned release date.
Submitting your release less than six weeks in advance increases the risk that it will not be available on your intended release date due to the overwhelming volume of music platforms receive at this time of year.
Minimize risk of delays and submit by the following deadlines
The chart below shows when to submit your music to CD Baby so it has time to reach platforms by your planned release date. The recommended CD Baby submission is the date by which you should submit your release to CD Baby for review. The platform delivery deadline is when your release must reach streaming platforms to go live on your planned release date.
Platform processing times vary, so meeting a delivery deadline doesn’t guarantee your music will be available on your planned release date. In all cases, be proactive and submit your music as early as possible.
Check licensing for covers and samples
It’s common for artists to release covers of classic seasonal and holiday songs. A cover song is your recording of a song written by someone else. You may need to obtain a mechanical license to distribute your cover across different platforms. You can secure cover licenses for most songs using Easy Song and consult our Help Center article for additional information on licensing requirements.
If you’re sampling a track for your release, you’ll need to obtain permission from the rights holders of both the recording and composition. Learn how to legally clear a sample.
If the song is old (published before January 1, 1927), there’s a good chance it’s in the public domain — meaning it’s no longer protected by copyright and you can record and release a cover of the song without a license. But always confirm the copyright status of your song. You can explore a list of public domain songs and get more information at pdinfo.com.
Promote your music over the holiday season
Once you’ve submitted your music for distribution, use the additional lead time to promote your music. Let your fans know about your holiday release plans to keep your momentum going and lock in your streams at a busy time of year.
- Announce your release on social media: Use these 10 ideas for inspiration
- Send an email blast to your fans: Follow these email list best practices
- Build a full marketing campaign: Start with this 30-day release campaign plan
Make the most of the season with CD Baby
The end-of-year holidays are a perfect opportunity to connect with fans and spread cheer through your music. Follow the checklist below to ensure a successful release at this time of year:
- Submit your release at least six weeks in advance
- Secure any necessary licenses for cover songs
- Before you submit, review your metadata — the details about your music, such as artist name and track title — and your audio and cover art
- Promote your music ahead of the release date