How to promote your CD release (successfully): A Helpful Guide
Promoting your CD release (album release or EP release) can be a tricky and difficult task. That’s why we’ve combined all the options you should consider when promoting your CD release.
So how to promote the CD release? Those are the steps:
- Sessions content
- Set release date
- Contact your CD manufacturer
- Start working on your artwork
- Setup pre-order site
- Release a single
- Publish videos
- Post post post
- Use your mailing list
- Get press release
- Use mock-ups
- Sign up for digital distribution
- Promote via radio stations
Let us break each of the steps a bit below.
1. Sessions content
During your recording sessions make sure you take loads of photos/videos just so you can use it later. This content will not only come in handy during launch but also pre launch and after the actual release date. Also, later on when you start designing your CD or vinyl artwork this content might a life saver.
2. Set release date
By setting your release date for your album or a single release you’re kind of forcing yourself to meet it. Keeping a deadline in your mind means you’re likely to work more quickly and efficiently.
Just make sure you pick a realistic timeframe and stick with it.
3. Contact your CD manufacturer
Contact your CD manufacturer to confirm turnaround times, explore possible sleeve options and get the latest templates you’ll need for your artwork.
It’s never too early to get in touch with your CD pressing plant as many artists are surprised by certain turnaround times (don’t let it be you).
4. Start working on your artwork
With artwork often being a main problem when it comes to smooth CD releases make sure you’re working along with your artwork designer and CD manufacturer to avoid any graphic mistakes. Single release or an album release – always design ahead!
If you need a help with artwork – download our artwork guide here.
5. Set pre-order site
By creating a pre-order site you’re not only letting your fans know about the upcoming CD release but you can also start collecting money from pre-sales. This is a great way of financing your CD release. You can do it via bandcamp or directly through your website (woocommerce).
6. Release a single
You have to keep the appetite for your CD release growing and there’s no better way than releasing a single from the upcoming CD.
Ideally, make a music video to go along with it. Place it on streaming playlists and distribute it to your social channels.
7. Publish videos
A lot of people nowadays consume music and other kinds of content in a form of video. Create at least one music video of your single and multiple videos of behind the scenes, interviews or even short goofy ones (people love to laugh) prior to your release.
8. Post post post on your social media
This seems very obvious but many fail to execute it properly. You should start posting info, photos/videos (from recording sessions mentioned earlier) to all your social media channels.
If you gather enough varied content you can never be “too much” when talking to your fans.
9. Use your email list
If you haven’t you should start collecting email addresses from your fans ASAP. Email is a great channel of communication between you and your fans. Keep them in loop, share the journey and encourage them to place pre-orders with you. Promoting your single or album release via email is an excellent and pretty much free to spread the word about your music.
10. Get press release
In the age of the internet there’s never a lack of music review sites, forums etc. Get in touch with their authors and try to get an article written about your upcoming release.
Place the article on your website too and offer a link back (backlinking is great for Google positioning) to the author. It might be helpful to get PR company involved to help you out with your release.
11. Use mock-ups
Once your artwork is finalised create a few mockups showing how your CD will look like once pressed. People love to see tangible products from your music. We, at CD Unity do the mockups for free for our clients.
12. Sign up for digital distribution
Even though, we’re covering here CD release the digital distribution is equally important. By choosing the right partner to distribute your songs you’re not only gaining coverage at streaming services but also ISRCodes. We partner with Ditto, in our opinion best distributor out there who let you keep 100% of royalties.
13. Promote your release via radio stations
You might think that the radio stations are not effective anymore to promote your CD release but they get fooled. There are still lots of people who love to listen their radio shows and this is the perfect opportunity for you to let them know about your musical endeavours. Get in touch with your local radio station and start conversation.
Final words
Hopefully this guide will help you plan your (successful) CD release without missing out on anything.
Remember, your responsibility in promoting CDs doesn’t end when the release is out.
You have to be as active as before, seeking new ways to reach your fans and satisfy your existing fans.
As we’ve mentioned before, make sure you create a lot of content during the creation of your release. It’ll only make your life easy later.
If you plan your CD release and don’t know what sleeve type would be best for you, browse our sleeve type options and get in touch to get your new music out in prepared and successful way.
Thanks,
Tom
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Hey, I’m Tom, and I’ve been involved in the music industry for over two decades now! I help bands produce top-notch records by lending my expertise in CD manufacturing, music business and mastering. But that’s not all – I also have a soft spot for writing and sharing knowledge with others. I hope you’ll find the content I create enjoyable to read and that it provides some valuable insights into the world of music.
