Music Release Checklist: Tasks, Assets, and Metadata

A music release checklist is a sequential list of every task, asset, and metadata field required to release a song professionally. It covers audio delivery, visual assets, distribution, editorial pitching, promotional planning, and post-release follow-through. Artists who follow a checklist avoid the scramble that kills momentum on release day.

Why Checklists Prevent Failed Releases

Most releases do not fail because the song is bad. They fail because something was late, missing, or formatted wrong. The cover art arrived the day before distribution, the pitch went out after the editorial window closed, or the featured artist's name was misspelled.

Each of these mistakes is preventable. This checklist covers the complete release process, phase by phase. For the strategic framework behind why each phase matters, see How to Plan a Music Release Step by Step. This guide is the execution layer: what to do, what to deliver, and what to double-check.

The 8-Week Overview

Phase 1: Audio (Weeks 8-7)

Everything downstream depends on final audio. Do not start visuals, distribution, or marketing until the master is locked.

Master audio file. WAV, 16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1kHz or higher. Never upload MP3 as a master because the platforms compress further, compounding quality loss.

Instrumental version. Not required for streaming but valuable for sync licensing, promotional uses, and playlist editors who need to hear the production without vocals.

Clean version. If your track contains explicit language and you want radio play or playlist consideration in certain markets, prepare a version with explicit words removed. Label both versions correctly and assign separate ISRCs.

Stems. Individual track exports (vocals, drums, bass, synths) for remix opportunities or future sync requests. Store these even if you do not plan to release them. Artists who delete project files after mastering regret it when a sync opportunity arrives months later.

Split sheet signed. Do not release music without written agreement on ownership percentages. This conversation is uncomfortable before release and catastrophic after. Get it in writing before you upload anything.

Phase 2: Visual Assets (Weeks 7-6)

Visuals communicate your brand before anyone hears a note. Poor artwork signals amateur status to playlist editors, press, and listeners.

Cover Art

Quality requirements are identical for singles, EPs, and albums. What changes is whether you need one cover or multiple. If you are rolling out singles before a full project, each single may need its own artwork that coheres with the album design.

Other Visual Assets

Spotify Canvas. A looping video (3-8 seconds) that plays on mobile. MP4 or MOV, 9:16 vertical, 720x1280 minimum. Canvas videos increase save rates by keeping listeners engaged on the now-playing screen.

Press photos. At least 2-3 shots in different compositions (portrait, landscape, close-up). Minimum 3000 pixels on the longest edge. These should match your current visual identity.

Phase 3: Metadata and Distribution (Week 6)

Metadata is the information attached to your release that platforms display and use for search, categorization, and royalty routing. Every field matters, and errors cost time and money. Upload early: distributor processing takes 2-7 days, and uploading at week 6 gives buffer time for corrections.

Metadata Fields That Trip Up Artists

Track title. The song name only. No promotional text ("NEW" or "OFFICIAL"), no version info in the main title field, no featured artists. Those go in designated fields.

Artist name. Must match your existing profile exactly. One character difference in spelling, capitalization, or punctuation creates a duplicate profile that takes months to merge.

Featured artists. Use the designated featuring field, not the main artist name or the track title. Spell their name exactly as it appears on their profile. Incorrect formatting causes discovery issues on every platform.

ISRC code. One code per recording, forever. If you release the same song through a new distributor, use the same ISRC because a new code splits your streams between two listings. Different versions (remix, acoustic) get different codes.

Genre and subgenre. Be specific: "Indie Pop" is better than "Pop" for discoverability in your actual lane. Do not game genres to access bigger pools because you get lost instead of discovered.

Explicit flag. When in doubt, mark explicit. Incorrectly marking an explicit song as clean leads to removal from playlists or age-gating issues. Clean versions should be separate releases with separate ISRCs.

Songwriting credits. List all songwriters with their legal names or registered pseudonyms. This must match what you register with your PRO. Mismatched credits between your distributor and PRO registration cause lost royalties.

Distribution Checklist

Confirm your distributor account is active with a verified payment method. Enter all metadata, upload cover art and audio files, set the release date, and enable pre-save. Verify territory selection (worldwide unless there is a reason to restrict), then submit.

Monitor your dashboard for rejections. Common triggers: cover art with text too small to read, featuring credits formatted incorrectly, and audio files in the wrong format.

For how to choose the right distributor and avoid overpaying, see Music Distribution Guide.

Phase 4: Editorial Pitching (Weeks 5-4)

Editorial playlists are curated by humans at Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. The pitch window is limited. Submit too late and editors will not review your song before release.

Verify your access to Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists. Confirm your song appears as an upcoming release. Write your pitch with specific genre, mood, story, instruments, and cultural context.

"Pop" tells an editor nothing. "Indie pop with shoegaze textures and lyrics about leaving a hometown" gives them context for which playlist fits.

Submit Spotify editorial pitch at least 7 days before release, ideally 3-4 weeks. Submit Apple Music and Amazon Music pitches through their respective artist dashboards. Save your pitch copy for refinement on future releases.

Phase 5: Promotional Assets (Weeks 3-2)

These are not required for distribution but are required for an effective release marketing campaign.

Pre-save link. Set up through your distributor or a service like Feature.fm or Linkfire. Customize the landing page with artwork and countdown, add the link to every bio, and test it on all platforms.

Teaser clips. 3-5 short video clips (10-30 seconds) for social media. Studio footage, lyric fragments, cryptic hints. Build curiosity without revealing the full song.

Announcement graphics. Static images with release date, cover art, and pre-save call to action. Size for Instagram feed (1080x1080), Stories (1080x1920), and X (1200x675).

Short-form video. Batch film 8-12 vertical videos (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) in one session. Different outfits, different backgrounds, different content angles. Schedule them across the release window.

Phase 6: Launch and Release Week

Release day is the starting line for promotion, not the finish line.

Day of release. Confirm the song is live on all platforms and update your smart link with live streaming URLs. Publish "it's out" posts across every platform and send your email announcement. Post stories throughout the day and engage with early listeners.

Days 2-7. Share the song in different formats: lyric clips, acoustic versions, behind-the-scenes of how you made it. React to early feedback and share any playlist additions. Launch paid ads if applicable.

Phase 7: Post-Release (Weeks 1-4 After)

Most artists stop promoting after release day. This is where consistent artists pull ahead. The algorithm continues evaluating your song for weeks.

Keep posting: acoustic versions, lyric breakdowns, live performance clips, fan reposts with credit. Send a follow-up email in week 2 with the streaming link. Review stream data and save rate weekly.

At week 4, run a retrospective: what performed best, did the editorial pitch land, where did the timeline break, and what would you change? Write the answers down and update your checklist for next time.

Checklist by Release Format

Single

Master audio, cover art, complete metadata, pre-save campaign, Spotify Canvas, smart link, 8-12 short-form videos, and 3 weeks of planned social posts. This is the standard.

EP (4-6 Tracks)

Everything from the single checklist, plus: master audio for each track, track order finalized, cohesive artwork across the project, press release, updated EPK, and at least one focus track identified for playlist pitching.

Album (7+ Tracks)

Everything from the EP checklist, plus: a single rollout plan (which tracks release before the full album), individual artwork for pre-release singles, a music video or visualizer for the lead single, and complete lyrics for all tracks. Add a credits document listing every contributor and physical product assets if applicable.

FAQ

How early should I upload to my distributor?

Six weeks before release is ideal. This gives buffer time for metadata corrections and ensures you are eligible for editorial pitching through Spotify for Artists.

Can I change metadata after release?

Some fields can be updated (credits, genre). Others require taking the release down and re-uploading. The sooner you catch errors, the less damage.

What if I miss the editorial pitch window?

Submit anyway. Late pitches are less likely to be reviewed, but your song still enters Release Radar and Discover Weekly automatically. Editorial is not the only path.

Can I reuse this checklist for every release?

Yes. That is the point. Copy it, adapt it, and improve it after each release based on your retrospective. By your fifth release, setup takes 30 minutes.

Read Next

• How to Plan a Music Release Step by Step

• Pre-Save Campaigns and Release Marketing

• Music Distribution Guide

Automate the Checklist:

Orphiq's release planning tools generate your release checklist automatically when you set a date. Stop rebuilding the same list every cycle.