So, you’ve finally written a new song and you’re ready to share it with the world. But where do you start? Releasing a new song can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help make the process a little easier.
- Write and record the song. This is the first and most important step. Without a recorded version of your song, you won’t have anything to release. Make sure you’re happy with the final version before moving on to the next step.
- Mix and master the recording. Once you have a recorded version of your song, it’s time to make sure it sounds its best. Mixing and mastering involves adjusting the levels of different elements of the song (e.g. vocals, instrumentals) to ensure they’re all balanced. You can do this yourself or hire a professional to help.
- Secure distribution. There are a few ways to get your music out into the world, but you’ll need to secure distribution before you can start promoting your song. You can sign with a record label, or use a digital distributor like TuneCore or DistroKid to distribute your music to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
- Promote the song through marketing and social media. Once you have your song out there, it’s time to start promoting it. Use social media to share your new song with your followers, and consider creating a music video or releasing a single to generate buzz.
- Register the song with a performance rights organization. To make sure you get paid for performances of your song, you’ll need to register it with a performance rights organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
- Consider getting copyright protection for the song. If you want to protect your song from being used without your permission, you can get copyright protection. This will give you legal standing if someone tries to use your song without your consent.
- Plan and execute a release strategy. Decide how you want to release your song. Will it be part of an album, or will you release it as a standalone single? Once you’ve made that decision, create a plan for how you’ll release your song and execute it.
Releasing a new song can be a bit overwhelming, but following these steps will help make the process a little easier.
Good luck, and have fun!