For numerous reasons, singles and EP are published more often than albums in the era of streaming.
The first reason is that albums are pricier to produce and production takes a longer period.
Singles and EPs, on the other hand, are easier and less expensive to produce, and they’re a wonderful opportunity to experiment with different genres. On this front, the release procedure is identical to the production process.
It’s simpler to tailor the releasing process and make it as interesting as possible with singles and EPs. Here are five things to do before releasing your single or EP:
Set a deadline and work backwards from there
While singles don’t usually require much preparation, EPs should be prepared at least three months in advance.
As a general guideline, you should complete mastering and have the tracks ready for release before beginning any promotional efforts. This will allow you to focus on promoting your EP or single rather than splitting your time between the creative and commercial aspects of your endeavors.
The first step is to select a release date once you have the song ready to launch. Check to see if the release date is at least three months away. Then work your way backwards.
Make a cover and a title
The second step is to design the title of your EP. You may begin working on the cover after you’ve decided on a title. You can hire a graphic designer, but if you have a specific concept or a ready-to-use picture, you can do it yourself.
There are many professional-level design tools available on the internet.
Because it will be your main visual component during the promotion effort, the cover should be the first thing ready to go. Furthermore, a music video or lyric video that is aesthetically congruent with the EP may be beneficial.
Prepare a press release and contact the media
Writing your press release is the third stage. Your press release will be the most essential component of your outreach when you contact any kind of media. As a result, it should include any pertinent information about you and your release that a journalist may need.
Your press release should be no more than one page long. Keep it concise, to the point, and informative. Remove any sentences that do not offer the journalist with fresh information. Make sure the EP or single’s cover, title, release date, and any information about the idea behind the release are all included in the press release. Because EPs are made up of a few tracks, you may speak about each one separately, which is excellent if the songs have unique inspirations or backstories. I strongly advise you to do an online search for some of your favorite musicians’ press releases.
When your press release is complete, conduct some research about which newspapers may be interested in your release. Finding magazines that published about comparable artists is a fantastic approach to obtain good results from your study. There’s a good chance that the same outlets will be interested in your work. Journalists tend to avoid any release that isn’t a complete album in most instances, although there are exceptions. There’s a possibility your story will be published if a journalist thinks it intriguing to write about. The idea is to come up with a unique perspective that journalists will want to write about.
Having a genuine connection with the journalist is another element of being published. You may still follow them on social media, read their posts, comment on their photos, and make sure they know who you are when you send them the first email even if you haven’t seen them in person.
Make contact with your email list
The fourth stage entails contacting your email list. Your email list is one of your most important assets since it allows you to communicate with your most devoted followers (ideally). Your biggest fans will be the ones to make the initial purchase, attend your shows, and, most importantly, be your advocates and the driving force behind your brand’s word-of-mouth marketing. Make certain they are aware of the impending release before anybody else.
Make a social media announcement about it
The fifth and last stage is to use social media to publicize the release of your EP or single. I would avoid advertising the releasing date too much in advance or too near to the actual release day. Unless you have a really comprehensive strategy with a lot of compelling visual material and information to offer, two weeks to a week is a suitable time to announce your release. You want to keep your audience alert, but not overwhelmed. So, after you’ve made your announcement, a decent rule of thumb is to publish every other day.
Final thoughts
These are the five stages to getting your single or EP ready to go on the market. EP and single releases are unique and adaptable, allowing you to try new things and expand your release strategy. At the end of the day, it’s all about your goals. So don’t be afraid to experiment with new methods to prepare.
