Release planning · 5 min read
Your release-day playbook
A simple timeline from the first announcement to your first-day insights.
Everyone can read this guide. Pre-release campaigns, fan email capture and insights need Pro or Lifetime.
- 01
3–4 weeks before: prepare
Confirm your release date with your distributor, create an upcoming-release smart link, and add your artwork and working pre-save destination if you have one.
Enable fan email capture if you want listeners to hear from you. Test the page as a fan, not only in the editor.
- 02
One week before: check the details
Check artwork, spelling, service destinations and the release date. Preview the page on your phone and make sure the shared URL is your fan link.
Release timing varies by distributor, streaming service and territory. Check your chosen release date and time carefully; do not assume every listener sees the music at the same local midnight.
- 03
Release day: verify and update
Open each streaming service and confirm the correct release is available. Edit your existing smart link to add or replace destinations with live listening URLs.
The countdown follows the saved release time, but a countdown ending is not proof that every service is live. Do not rely on it to discover missing URLs or automatically authorize Spotify saves.
Keep sharing the same fan-facing URL. Editing the page does not require replacing the link in your posts or bio.
- 04
After launch: check what works
Open your private Owner Insights link from Smart Links, or use Dashboard → Insights. Owner Insights requires Pro or Lifetime; keep the owner link private and share only the fan link.
Visits, taps and sign-ups are recorded as they happen, not in a 24-hour batch. Refresh or reopen the view for the latest totals. Streaming-button taps are not confirmed plays or royalties.
Use the results to choose your next post, then send an update only to fans who agreed to receive your messages.