How to Avoid These 6 Release Mistakes

6 common release mistakes artists make (and how to avoid them)

By Ryan DiLello of DIY Musician Blog

Releasing your music and finding an audience takes the right mix of tools and knowledge. From gathering your assets for submission to promoting your music and growing your fan base, there’s a lot of room to go wrong — even if it’s not your first time.

Drawing on our experience serving over two million artists worldwide, we’ve rounded up the most common mistakes we see artists make and resources to help you avoid them. Read on to feel prepared at every turn.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Over 100,000 tracks are released daily — a promotion plan is essential to stand out
Cover art and metadata errors are a leading cause of release delays and rejections
Most artists collect only 1 of 6 possible royalty types, leaving revenue unclaimed
A consistent artist brand helps fans recognize and connect with you across every release
Social media strategy should align with clear goals to avoid burnout
Releasing music consistently builds momentum and makes fan growth easier to track

1. Submitting cover art or metadata that doesn’t meet requirements

Errors in your cover art or other metadata (i.e. essential information about your music) can lead to release delays and rejections. Before you submit your music, be sure your cover art meets platform requirements and your metadata is accurate and consistent.

It’s not only about getting your release live on time. Clean and accurate metadata gives you a strong foundation for unlocking opportunities down the road — from arranging publishing deals to signing with a label. Good data makes everything easier.

Resources to help:

How to distribute your music: Get a practical, step-by-step guide to releasing your music
Copyright 101: Learn what music copyright is, how it works, and why it matters
Cover art 101: Learn how to effectively design and format artwork for your music
Metadata 101: Learn what metadata is, how to maintain it, and why it matters
Credits 101: Learn what songwriter credits are and why they’re important

2. Releasing music without a plan to promote it to your fans

Over 100,000 new tracks hit streaming platforms every day. That means just getting your music out there isn’t enough to find your fans. You need a plan to cut through the noise if you want to boost your streams.

Resources to help:

The 30-day release plan: Follow this detailed guide with a daily list of promo to-do’s
Post-submission essentials: Learn what to do after submitting your music for distribution
How to run a Spotify pre-save campaign: Launch a campaign to reach 100 pre-saves
How to pitch Spotify editorial playlists: Get a 5-step template to craft an effective pitch
How to reach 10,000 streams on Spotify: Learn tactics and strategies for reaching key streaming milestones from your first handful of streams up to 10,000

3. Missing out on revenue from uncollected music royalties

Many independent artists release their music and focus solely on collecting recording royalties from streaming platforms through their distributor. But that’s only one of six common music royalties that together, add up to quite a bit of easy revenue. You’re probably earning other forms of royalties already — through streaming, live performances, radio play, and more. You just need to take the steps to collect them.

Resources to help:

Royalties 101: Learn the 6 common types of royalties and how to collect them
CDB Boost: Automatically collect additional royalties with CDB Boost
Social Video Monetization: Claim royalties from fans using your music on social video platforms with CD Baby’s Social Video Monetization service
Publishing 101: See how music publishing works and what you need to get started
Revenue checklist: Explore 10 ways you can start earning more from your music — beyond royalty collection

4. Not building an artist brand that fans can identify

No amount of marketing — be it paid ads, social posts, emails, or live shows — can make up for a lack of artist branding. Every appearance is a chance to make your identity and creative world stick with fans. But if your social profile has no consistent aesthetic, your live show feels different every time, and your releases don’t tell a story, fans have no clear way to get to know you.

Resources to help:

Artist branding: Learn what an artist brand is and how to build one
Networking: Get yourself out there and create opportunities
How to get press coverage: Learn how to tell an impactful story behind your release
How to write an artist bio: Learn how to write about yourself and your music
How to create an electronic press kit: Impress journalists and media people with an EPK

Social media enables you to reach global audiences in a matter of seconds. It’s also incredibly effective at making local music scenes more accessible and navigable. Maintaining your social media presence gives fans a way to discover your sound and stay connected with you — beyond the music.

But make no mistake, burnout is real. If you feel overwhelmed or drained by constant posting, it’s time to reassess your strategy. Think: what do you want to accomplish and how will social media help you get there?

Resources to help:

Social media makeover: If your profiles are stale, this easy checklist helps with a refresh
How to build an email list: Tired of algorithm chasing? See what email can do for you.
How to promote your music on social media: If you’re just starting out or reassessing your strategy, this is an excellent (re)introduction to social media for musicians
Social media promotion inspo: Learn how to make content that feels authentic to you
Fan funnel: Align your social media content with a marketing funnel to grow and retain your fan base

6. Releasing music too infrequently to build momentum

It’s difficult to grow your fan base if you aren’t releasing music on a consistent basis. It’s also hard to gauge your growth if you don’t have metrics to prove it. Artists that don’t do either end up having to rebuild their foundation every time they start promoting a new release — and that’s not sustainable.

Resources to help:

How to choose a release format: Learn the differences between a single, EP, and album and how each fits within your release cycle
How to waterfall your release: Get the most out of your next album by releasing lead singles that stack up to build momentum
How to release a single: Learn the latest tactics for promoting your single
How to release an album: Learn the latest tactics for promoting your album
Music metrics that matter: You can’t grow what you don’t measure. Learn what metrics matter most across various channels

Put these lessons into action. Your next release starts here.

For nearly three decades, CD Baby has focused on giving independent artists the tools and knowledge to confidently avoid these pitfalls and build careers on their own terms.

When you’re ready to release your music, we offer distribution to 150+ platforms worldwide with pay-per-release pricing and no annual fees.