As an artist, the way in which you current and distribute your music can impression success as a lot because the songwriting itself. That’s why it’s essential to grasp easy methods to leverage every kind of launch format to construct and have interaction your viewers.
On this weblog, we’ll break down the variations between a single, EP, and album that can assist you resolve how and when to launch every. We’ll talk about causes to think about each format and give you some actionable tricks to optimize your launch technique.
Why launch format nonetheless issues within the streaming period
Streaming might have modified how followers uncover and eat music, however the way you package deal your releases nonetheless issues.
At this time’s listeners uncover and hearken to music in additional fragmented methods. From creating sharable playlists of disparate singles to discovering hooks by way of short-form video content material, it’s a stark distinction to the times of taking an opportunity on a brand new CD or vinyl and listening by way of on one sitting.
Buying new followers and constructing momentum requires a mixture of launch codecs—utilizing singles to seize consideration, open up alternatives and construct momentum, then utilizing EPs and albums to deepen the connection and strengthen your fanbase. Understanding the variations between every format helps you launch and promote your music extra successfully.
What’s a single?
A single consists of 1 to 2 tracks (often only one) and runs beneath 10 minutes complete. It’s the oldest format for distributing music. First offered on wax cylinders and brittle shellac discs and ultimately on sturdier vinyl. This was merely out of necessity, as the boundaries of early disc-cutting expertise prevented distributors from printing multiple music per aspect.
It was the rock revolution of the Fifties that solidified the 45 rpm (revolutions per minute), 7-inch single’s standing in music historical past. After the format’s introduction by RCA Victor in 1949, the rapidly rising teenage demographic started snapping up 45s at a gradual clip on account of their portability.
Why launch a single?
Singles are an effective way to check new materials, have interaction your fanbase, and construct momentum towards a bigger launch. Singles are additionally an effective way to realize an algorithmic increase, by staying energetic with extra frequent releases.
Suggestions for releasing a single:
Releasing a single could seem easy, however with a lot new music hitting platforms each day, it pays to be intentional. Listed here are some key suggestions to assist your single stand out, attain the correct listeners, and construct momentum for future releases.
Make every single really feel like an occasion:
- Cowl Artwork: Create a number of codecs of your cowl artwork for merch, social posts, and a movement model for Spotify Canvas or Apple Movement Artwork.
- Story: Determine the story inside your single that makes it stand out. Whether or not it’s in regards to the writing course of, the lyrics, or the instrumentation, create a story which you can reference in press pitches and inside your up to date bio.
- Video: File a music video to your monitor. Assume past the long-form, conventional music video to incorporate short-form content material as properly.
- Premiere: Manage a cross-channel premiere for the day your monitor goes reside. Intention to debut your monitor in a number of codecs, from an in-person launch present to a Q+A article about your monitor.
Optimize your metadata for discovery:
- Monitor title: Create a novel and memorable title to your monitor so followers can simply discover it
- Style: Present correct genres/subgenres in addition to “seems like” references (if relevant) to assist platforms place your music.
- Art work: Together with your title and monitor title in your cowl artwork could make it extra memorable and findable for followers.
Pitch to playlisters and journalists:
- Pitch to Spotify Playlists: Spotify has a variety of official playlists with hundreds of thousands of devoted followers. You’ll be able to pitch your launch for consideration with a minimum of 7 days discover.
- Pitch to Unbiased Curators: Apart from official playlists, Spotify has a powerful neighborhood of impartial curators who’re at all times on the lookout for extra beneath the radar music. However watch out to keep away from fraudulent playlists!
- Pitch to journalists: Create a press launch with an up to date artist bio and photographs to pitch journalists on premiering and/or reviewing your single.
What’s an EP?
An “prolonged play” launch (EP) consists of 3-6 songs and runs between 10-Half-hour. Whereas it’s extra cohesive than a set of singles, an EP remains to be shorter than an album. Since their introduction in 1948, the EP has seen intervals of decline and resurgence all through historical past.
Why launch an EP?
An EP is a brilliant, versatile launch format that serves a number of functions. For rising artists, it’s a pure subsequent step after releasing a single: lengthy sufficient to showcase your sound and enchantment to at this time’s short-attention span listenership, whereas being extra inexpensive than an album. For established acts, an EP can bridge the hole between full-length initiatives, providing followers B-sides, remixes, or unreleased tracks to remain engaged. And since there aren’t any strict guidelines, an EP additionally provides you area to experiment, whether or not that’s reside recordings, collaborations, or songs that didn’t match on an album however nonetheless should be heard.
Suggestions for releasing an EP:
An EP is a wonderful follow-up to a single launch. With a shorter runtime than an album, it retains the eye of recent listeners whereas leaving followers wanting extra – in a great way. Listed here are a number of suggestions for releasing your subsequent EP.
Construct hype with a waterfall launch: You’ll be able to construct anticipation and lengthen the impression of your EP by dropping singles forward of the particular launch.
Promote prefer it’s an album: Deal with your EP like an album. You’ll be able to lean into the world, visuals, and themes on a better stage than a single launch.
Schedule a small tour across the EP: Chew dimension albums include chew dimension excursions! In the event you’re on the lookout for a approach to promote in-person, there’s nothing higher than scheduling a 3-4 present run round your area.
What’s an album?
An album comprises seven or extra tracks, sometimes exceeding Half-hour in size. It’s meant to be a whole creative assertion, showcasing a cohesive physique of labor that displays an artist’s imaginative and prescient, sound, and progress. Albums usually symbolize a milestone in an artist’s profession and are used to inform a broader story or discover an idea in depth.
Why launch an album?
Regardless of the predominance of singles in at this time’s streaming and social media tradition, albums are nonetheless a vital launch format for artists to construct their id and inform a narrative. Albums function milestones in an artists profession and are sometimes the head of promotion on the subject of output.
Suggestions for releasing an album
In the event you’re making ready to launch an album, first off, congratulations. That’s a big achievement and an important milestone in your profession. Listed here are some methods to make sure your album arrives to an engaged fanbase that’s able to take it excessive – from sharing it with associates to exhibiting as much as your exhibits and shopping for your merch.
Plan months forward: Not like a single or shorter EP, albums want time to plan to make sure success. Plan for a minimum of a months’ value of promotion, together with press outreach, video content material, visuals, and promotional occasions.
Contemplate monitor order and music circulation: You’ll be able to guarantee your album seems like a coherent physique of labor somewhat than a mixtape by listening again to tracks and analyzing the transitions to optimize your monitor order. In a straight-through hear, an album ought to circulation seamlessly.
Pitch press: Press protection remains to be essential for album promotion. Replace your digital press equipment (EPK) with particulars in your album then ship it out to music journalists who’ve lined comparable artists. Optimistic quotes and bylines can go a good distance in propelling your popularity and recognition.
Which format is best for you?
For brand new artists, releasing a single is commonly the simplest approach to entice listeners. Since full albums are tougher to realize traction with early on, singles act as a low-barrier entry level—a simple approach for followers to find your sound. When you’ve constructed a small however rising viewers, you’ll be able to increase into an EP, then ultimately a full-length album.
For extra established acts, singles play a distinct however equally vital function. A typical technique is the “waterfall launch,” the place you drop a number of tracks from an upcoming EP or album forward of the complete launch. This helps re-engage your viewers, construct momentum, and provides every monitor its personal second to shine whereas constructing pleasure for an album.
In the end, your launch technique ought to align together with your finances, timeline, and targets. Singles are sooner and cheaper to supply, making them very best for frequent releases or testing new sounds. Albums, however, are higher fitted to artists with a longtime fanbase and longer timeline for recording, releasing, and selling.
Key Takeaways: Selecting the Proper Launch Format
Whether or not you drop a single, EP, or album usually comes all the way down to your output, finances, targets, and timeline. Contemplate the next when selecting a launch format.
- New artists: Begin with singles to develop your fanbase regularly.
- Constructing momentum: EPs are an important bridge between singles and full-length work and construct in momentum.
- Established artists: Use singles and waterfall releases to create hype round EPs and albums
- Price range-conscious? Singles require much less money and time than albums, except you’re significantly quick within the studio.
- Have a backlog of songs? Frequent single drops preserve content material flowing. Or contemplate an EP which may function a mixtape and doesn’t want a coherent story throughout songs.
- Prepared for an announcement piece? Albums are perfect for deep creative expression and storytelling.
On a really excessive stage, right here’s how one can strategy every launch format:
Singles are finest for debut artists seeking to develop or established artists seeking to keep energetic. Singles are quick and simple to churn out, making them very best for fan acquisition and experimentation to be taught what sort of songs resonate together with your fanbase.
An EP is a wonderful bridge between codecs, providing growing artists a approach to capitalize on their progress and provides followers a extra full image of their sound. For extra developed artists, EPs could be helpful experiments, mixtapes, or one-offs that drive engagement. Many established artists generally package deal a brand new single with older b-sides, reside tracks, or covers to bulk up a launch.
An album is a heavy elevate, but it surely’s finest at capturing an artist’s sound and concepts in a sure time interval. From a promotion standpoint, it’s finest to launch albums on the heels of singles so your launch is met with anticipation and pleasure. Trying to advertise an album after it drops — with none lead singles, is a troublesome activity.
Conclusion
Utilizing quite a lot of launch codecs over time may also help you construct and keep momentum at strategic factors in your profession. Whereas singles are a simple approach to achieve new followers and activate your programmed viewers, EPs and albums are important milestones in capturing a artistic interval of concepts, inspiration, and themes.
You’ll be able to strategy singles distinctly, like bricks for constructing your sound, or use them to tease out an upcoming long-form undertaking. It’s a freedom of at this time’s streaming panorama which you can strategy launch codecs in a fluid approach. Launch singles to compile them later or launch an album to observe it up with various variations in singles. It’s as much as you to seek out what resonates together with your viewers and feels fulfilling.
Need assistance releasing your subsequent undertaking? CD Child makes it straightforward to distribute singles, EPs, and albums to each main platform.
