Music Release Checklist: Master to Release Day

A music release checklist covers everything from the final master to the weeks after release day: masters, cover art, metadata and credits, ISRC and UPC codes, distribution, pitching, pre-saves, promotion and follow-up. Working through it in order stops last-minute mistakes that delay a release or put wrong information in stores. The free release checklist builder gives you an editable, printable version that saves your progress in your browser.

How to use this checklist

1. Open the release checklist builder and give the list your release name.
2. Work from top to bottom, ticking items as you finish them; the progress bar updates as you go.
3. Add your own tasks to any section and remove ones you do not need.
4. Press Print checklist for a clean, printer-friendly copy to keep by your desk.

Your ticks and custom items are saved in that browser on that device. Nothing is uploaded, and clearing the browser’s site data removes the list, so print a copy for anything you cannot afford to lose.

Stage 1: The master

• Final mix approved, with no clicks, pops or cut-off tails.
• Mastered file delivered in the format your distributor asks for, usually WAV at 16- or 24-bit.
• Loudness checked with a reference and a meter; our LUFS meter measures integrated loudness in your browser.
• Mono compatibility checked so the track holds up on phones and speakers.
• Start and end silence trimmed consistently across every track.
• Explicit or clean version decided, and a clean edit made if needed.

Our guide on preparing your track for release goes deeper on this stage.

Stage 2: Cover art

• Square image, at least 3000 × 3000 pixels in RGB, which most stores ask for.
• No web addresses, prices, store logos or social handles on the artwork.
• Artist name and title, if shown, match the metadata exactly.
• You own or have licensed every image, font and photo used.
• Readable as a small thumbnail.

Stage 3: Metadata and credits

• Track titles spelled and capitalised exactly as you want them to appear.
• Primary artist, featured artists and remixers entered correctly.
• Songwriter, composer and producer credits collected and confirmed by everyone involved.
• Genre, language and explicit flags set.
• Lyrics prepared, if your distributor or platforms support them.
• Splits agreed in writing before release, not after.

Stage 4: Codes

• ISRC for every track. An ISRC identifies a specific recording; reuse the same code for the same recording on every release it appears on. See the International Standard Recording Code overview.
• UPC (or EAN) for the release as a whole.
• Many distributors can issue both; note them in your records either way.

Stage 5: Distribution and release date

• Distributor chosen and account set up.
• Release date picked with enough lead time. Aim to upload 3 to 4 weeks before release day, so stores can process it and you have time to pitch and run a pre-save.
• Upload completed and every field reviewed before submitting.
• Store and territory selections checked.
• Release format correct: single, EP or album. Our explainer on how many songs are on an EP covers the common rules.

Stage 6: Pitching and pre-release

• Track pitched to editorial playlists through the platforms’ artist tools where available.
• Pre-save or pre-order link created and shared.
• Short bio and release description written.
• Press and blog contacts listed and pitched.
• Social content planned: teasers, behind-the-scenes clips, lyric snippets.
• Artist profiles updated with new photos and links.

Stage 7: Release day

• Check that the release is live and correct on each major store.
• Share the links on every channel and with everyone who worked on it.
• Thank collaborators and early supporters publicly.
• Fix any metadata errors with your distributor straight away.

Stage 8: After release

• Register the songs with your performing rights organisation and any other collection societies you belong to.
• Track early streams and saves in your artist dashboards.
• Keep posting content about the song for several weeks, not just on day one.
• Save every final file, code and credit in one archive for the future.
• Review what worked and add new tasks to your checklist for next time.

A sample release timeline

Checklists work best when each stage has a deadline. Count backwards from your release day:

When	Focus
8+ weeks before	Finish the mix and master; brief the cover artist; agree credits and splits.
6 weeks before	Approve the artwork; collect metadata; get or confirm ISRC and UPC codes.
4–3 weeks before	Upload to your distributor; review every field; set up the pre-save.
3–1 weeks before	Pitch to playlists and press; post teasers; update profiles.
Release day	Check every store; share links; thank collaborators.
1–6 weeks after	Register with collection societies; keep posting; review results.

If you release often, the early stages can overlap: finish the next master while the current song is in its promotion window. Print each release’s checklist once it is complete and file it with the masters, artwork and codes, so you have a record of exactly what went out and when. Before starting the next release, untick the builder’s items or remove and re-add custom tasks so the list reflects the new project.

Worked example: a single on a tight schedule

An artist finishes a single five weeks before their chosen date. The master is approved in week one, and the artwork, metadata and codes are completed in week two. The upload goes in at four weeks out, leaving room for the distributor to process it and for a playlist pitch. Pre-save links go out with the first teaser three weeks before release. On the day, the artist checks the release on each store, spots a featured artist’s name misspelled on one platform and asks the distributor to correct it immediately. Working down a list makes that kind of check routine rather than something remembered by chance.

Plan the budget alongside the checklist

Most checklist items have a cost: mixing, mastering, artwork, distribution, codes and promotion. Put your own quotes into the release cost calculator to see the total, the cost per track and a rough break-even stream count, then check potential earnings with the royalty calculator.

Common mistakes

• Uploading a week before release. You lose the time needed for processing and pitching.
• Mismatched names. An artist name spelled differently on the art and in metadata can cause rejections or split profiles.
• New ISRCs for an existing recording. Reuse the original code when the same recording appears again.
• Unagreed splits. Settle credits and percentages before the song is out.
• Stopping promotion after day one. Most songs need weeks of attention.
• Logos or URLs on the cover. Stores commonly reject artwork with them.

FAQ

For more on getting paid and getting heard, see our music business guide. Start your next release with the free release checklist builder and tick it off one task at a time.