BigBadBirdAm I Ready to Release?
Interactive diagnostic checklist that scores your release readiness and tells you exactly what you still need to do.
Distribution
Track uploaded to distributor
Your final master is uploaded to your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.) with the correct release date set.
Metadata and credits confirmed
Song title, artist name, featured artists, songwriters, producers, genre, and ISRC codes are all correct.
Release date confirmed
Your release date is locked in your distributor dashboard. Ideally 3-4 weeks from now to allow time for editorial review.
Smart link created
A single link (Linkfire, Feature.fm, or similar) that routes listeners to their preferred streaming platform.
Assets & Branding
Cover art finalized
3000x3000px, RGB, looks good at thumbnail size. Uploaded to your distributor.
Spotify Canvas created
A 3-8 second looping video for Spotify. Increases stream time and save rate.
Audio clips prepared
Hook clip (7-15 sec), extended hook (30-45 sec) for social content. These power your entire content campaign.
Visualizer or music video ready
A visual paired to your music for social media — looping visualizer, lyric video, or full music video.
Press photos available
At least 2-3 high-res photos of yourself for press, playlist curators, and social media.
Editorial & Playlists
Spotify editorial pitch submitted
Pitched via Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release (ideally 3-4 weeks). Include genre, mood, and a compelling story.
Independent playlist curators pitched
Reached out to 15-30 relevant independent playlists via SubmitHub, Groover, or direct outreach.
Content & Social
Release content batch-created
At least 10 pieces of content ready: teaser clips, process reveals, hook teasers, countdown posts, release announcement.
Captions and hooks pre-written
Scroll-stopping captions written for every planned post. First lines are the most important.
Pre-save campaign set up
Pre-save link created and shared. Pre-saves directly influence Spotify algorithmic playlisting on release day.
Social profiles updated
Bio, profile photo, and links updated across all platforms to reflect the upcoming release.
Promotion & Outreach
Press/blog outreach started
Sent press releases or pitches to relevant music blogs, online magazines, and local press.
Creator outreach initiated
Identified and messaged 10-20 content creators whose audience matches your music.
Email list notified
Your email subscribers know about the upcoming release. If you don't have a list yet, mark as N/A.
Legal & Admin
Splits agreed and documented
If this is a collaboration, all contributors have agreed on ownership splits and it's documented in writing.
All credits listed
Every contributor (writers, producers, featured artists, engineers) is credited correctly in your distributor metadata.
How to use the Release Checklist
1. Go through each item
Answer each question honestly: Done, Not Yet, or N/A if it doesn't apply to your release. The checklist covers distribution, assets, editorial, content, promotion, and legal.
2. Get your readiness score
Your score is weighted — critical items like uploading to your distributor and submitting to Spotify editorial count more than optional items. You'll get a tier: Not Ready, Almost, Good to Go, or Fully Loaded.
3. See what's missing
Any items you haven't completed are shown in priority order with estimated time to finish. Focus on the critical items first, then work your way down.
Frequently asked questions
What does the release readiness score measure?
The score is a weighted percentage based on how many critical release tasks you've completed. Items like uploading to your distributor, submitting to Spotify editorial, and having a pre-save link carry more weight than optional items like press photos.
Do I need to sign up to use this checklist?
No. The Release Readiness Checklist is completely free and requires no sign-up, no email, and no account. Just answer the questions and get your score instantly.
What if some checklist items don't apply to my release?
Mark them as N/A (Not Applicable). Items marked N/A are excluded from your score calculation so they don't penalize you.
How does this relate to the Release Countdown Planner?
They're complementary tools. The Release Countdown Planner gives you a timeline of when to do everything. The Release Checklist checks whether you've actually done it. Use the Planner to plan, then the Checklist to verify before release day.