Planning
Release Timeline Builder
Build a backwards release plan with upload, pitch, content, pre-save, and post-release milestones.
Planning
Tool inputs
Generated output
Release Timeline
Release plan for "Your New Single" by Your Artist Name — Set date
- Set release date: Finalize masters, artwork, credits, ISRC/UPC strategy, and collaborator approvals.
- Set release date: Upload to distributor and leave time for metadata or artwork fixes.
- Set release date: Submit the Spotify editorial pitch in the Alternative pop lane and prepare curator/press outreach list.
- Set release date: Launch pre-save or campaign link. Start teaser content and email capture.
- Set release date: Post short-form hooks, behind-the-scenes clips, and personal story pieces.
- Set release date: Confirm DSP delivery, schedule release-week posts, and prepare launch email.
- Set date: Publish the "Your New Single" announcement, drive fans to one link, and capture screenshots/social proof.
- Set release date: Follow with alternate clips, live/acoustic versions, press updates, and playlist thanks.
Capacity check
- 18 short-form posts means about 3 repeatable formats over the campaign.
- $1,000 budget should prioritize content and measurable traffic before speculative playlist spend.
Next best move
Velveteen handles distribution, release validation, royalties, and label-style pitching in one workflow. Use this result to tighten the release, then move it into a real distribution plan.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I start a release plan?+
For a single, start at least six weeks before release day. For an album or major release, eight to twelve weeks gives you enough runway for pitching, content production, and pre-save campaigns.
What is the most common mistake in release planning?+
Starting too late. Most artists begin planning the week before release. By then, the Spotify editorial pitch window has closed, press cycles have passed, and pre-save momentum is impossible to build.
Do I need a big budget to run a release plan?+
No. A structured plan helps even with zero budget. Organic content, direct fan outreach, and strategic pitching are all free. The plan matters more than the spend.
What should happen after release day?+
At least two to four weeks of continued content, audience engagement, and playlist pitching. Most streams happen after release week, not during it.
Related guides
All guidesPillar guide
First release guide
A producer's walkthrough of releasing your first song: distributor, metadata, the 7-day Spotify pitch cutoff, pre-save, and what to actually do in release week.
Pillar guide
Music release strategy
The strategic frame: why singles-led release plans suit most independent artists, how format and cadence interact with Spotify's systems and your fans, and when to make an album an event.
Guide
First 1,000 streams
How to earn your first 1,000 Spotify streams with real listeners: followers, Release Radar, pitching, and pre-saves, plus why buying streams backfires.
Guide
Release timeline
The real timeline for a first release: the 7-day Spotify floor, why 3 to 4 weeks out is best practice, and a week-by-week plan working backward from release day.