Your release day is the most important moment in your music marketing campaign. It’s when your fans are most engaged and algorithms are watching to evaluate how your music resonates with new listeners. With a bit of planning, your release day can set you up with the momentum to solidify and start scaling your fanbase.
To help you make the most of it, here are 10 promotional tactics to plan for release day.
1. Send an email blast
Email is one of the most effective ways to reach your fans directly on release day—no algorithm involved. Draft your release announcement email in advance and schedule it to send on release day.
2. Host a listening party or release show
Your release day is a celebration, so make it feel like one. Hosting a listening party or booking a release show gives fans a shared moment to experience your new music together. You’ll need to approach a release show differently from a listening party—additional guidance below.
3. Plan a YouTube Premiere
If you have a music video ready, upload it ahead of time and schedule it as a YouTube Premiere. Premieres allow fans to watch together as soon as the video goes live and chat with you in real time. This encourages fan engagement and builds community on your big day.
4. Post short-form videos teasing your songs
Short-form video is one of the best ways to reach new listeners. Create several clips for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Highlight the hook to a new song, add lyrics on screen, or show behind-the-scenes moments synced to your track. These videos help introduce your music to people who may not already follow you.
5. Make an announcement post across your social media channels
Let everyone know your release is officially live. Post across your social platforms and use the caption to thank and tag collaborators, share a short story behind the release, and call on fans to listen. Mix in behind-the-scenes or live photos alongside your cover art to boost engagement.
6. Arrange for a premiere in a music review site
If you’re pitching blogs or press outlets, ask about a release-day premiere. Premieres can introduce your music to new audiences and lock in coverage when it matters most. Reach out a few weeks in advance, focus on sites that fit your sound and size, and be sure to reshare and tag any coverage you receive on release day.
7. Run a merch giveaway
A new release brings fresh designs and graphics that your fans will love on new merch. You can incentivize fans to share your latest release by running a giveaway. Offer up a merch item or two and ask fans to enter by sharing your release, tagging a friend, or posting your song to their social media.
8. Create a playlist around your release
Your fans might be wondering what you’re listening to or what influences and friends shaped your latest release. Let them know by creating an official artist playlist of your new songs mixed in with songs of your choosing! Promote your playlist over socials and encourage fans to follow or save the playlist and continue to update it with every new release.
9. Reach out to friends and fans directly
Message friends, family, and fans with a link to your latest release. It’s a great way to keep your network warm and let people know you’re active.
10. Go live on Instagram and TikTok
Going live sends notifications to your followers and creates an immediate way to connect in real time. You can stream your release, play songs live, answer questions, or walk fans through the story behind the music. Live streams help deepen fan relationships and make release day feel interactive.
Ready to start your next release?
Your release day is a celebration. However you choose to promote your new music, focus on connecting with fans and cultivating your audience. From there, it’s about doubling down on what’s working to reach and convert new fans — maintaining the momentum.
Ready to start your next release? Create a CD Baby account and distribute your music to over 150 platforms, without annual fees. We’ve supported millions of independent artists worldwide through successful release days and beyond. Get your music heard, today!