How early should I pitch to Spotify?

At least 7 days before release, from Spotify for Artists, for the song to be added to your followers' Release Radar. You can pitch one song at a time.

Can I set up a pre-save on Spotify for a single?

Spotify's own Countdown Pages are for new albums and EPs only — singles aren't eligible — and need at least 3,000 monthly active listeners.

Is my checklist saved?

Yes, in this browser (local storage), so it's there when you come back on the same device. It isn't sent anywhere.

Music Release Checklist

Every step of a release, from the final master to the week after, with a date for each counted back from your release day. Tick things off as you go — your list is saved in this browser — and download it as a PDF.

Release name (optional)

Release day

0 of 19 done.

Six to eight weeks before

Finish and approve the final master
Check the file you'll deliver: format, sample rate, bit depth, loudness, true peak and clipping.
Track Ready Checker →
Finish the cover art
Square, high resolution, RGB, with no URLs, social handles or prices on it. Source (opens in a new tab).
Album Cover Size Checker →
Collect the credits and metadata
Writers, producers, featured artists, explicit or clean, genre, language and the exact title spelling.
Agree and sign the songwriting splits
Who wrote what share — before the song earns anything.
Register the songs with your collecting society and publisher
Rules and names differ by country (PRS, ASCAP, BMI, SACEM, SIAE, GEMA…).

Three to four weeks before

Upload the release to your distributor
Spotify asks for the music to be delivered at least 7 days before release; earlier leaves time for store checks and for pitching. Source (opens in a new tab).
Claim or update your Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists profiles
Photo, bio and links, so the release lands on a finished profile.
Make and upload a Spotify Canvas
You can add a Canvas to any track, including upcoming releases. Source (opens in a new tab).
Spotify Canvas Maker →
Set up a Spotify Countdown Page and pre-save link (albums and EPs)
Countdown Pages are for new albums and EPs — singles aren't eligible — and need at least 3,000 monthly active listeners. Source (opens in a new tab).
Update your EPK and press photosEPK Template →

One to two weeks before

Pitch the song to Spotify's editors
Pitch an unreleased song at least 7 days before release and Spotify adds it to your followers' Release Radar. One song at a time. Source (opens in a new tab).
Send the release to press, blogs, radio and playlist curators
A private link, the EPK, one paragraph on why it matters.
Plan and schedule the release posts
Teaser, release day, a week after — captions and versions for each platform.
Make a lyric video or teaser clipLyric Video Maker →

Release day

Check it's live and correct on every store
Title, artwork, credits, explicit tag, the right artist profile.
Share the links and update your bio links
Profile links, link-in-bio, website, newsletter.

After release

Thank the playlists, press and fans who picked it up
Read the first week's numbers
Where listeners came from, saves, playlist adds.
Plan the next release — or the next single from this one

Download

Your release name, date and ticks are saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to CAPTD.

Promote it with Spotlight

The posts are on the list too: Spotlight writes the release posts — captions, hashtags and versions for every platform — from what you tell it about the release.

Spotlight, CAPTD's workspace for promoting your work, is part of CAPTD's paid plans — see pricing.

Open Spotlight

How to use this

What it does

Lists the steps of a music release in order — master and artwork, credits and registration, distribution, profiles, Canvas, pre-saves, pitching, outreach, posts, release day and after — and dates each one from your release day. Platform rules come from the platforms' own pages: Spotify asks you to pitch an unreleased song at least 7 days before release for Release Radar.

What you'll need

Your release day
Optionally, the release name for the PDF

Steps

Enter the release day.
Work down the list and tick each step — the ticks stay in this browser.
Download the PDF or copy the list to share with your team.

Reading the result

Each date is the latest sensible day for that step. A step past its date shows as overdue. The week timings are suggestions, not rules — except where a step cites the platform.

Tips

Start six to eight weeks out; three weeks is tight but workable for a single.
Upload to your distributor early so you can pitch from Spotify for Artists before the 7-day cut-off.
One song per pitch — pick the strongest.

Learn more

How far ahead should you plan a release?

Spotify asks for music to be delivered at least 7 days before release, and for an unreleased song to be pitched at least 7 days ahead to reach your followers' Release Radar. Everything else — artwork, credits, press, posts — needs time before that.

Many independent artists plan a single over six to eight weeks and an album over three months or more.

Why musicians use it

Most release problems are timing problems: a pitch sent too late, artwork rejected two days out, credits missing on release day. A dated list catches them while there's still time.

Common mistakes

Uploading the week of release. too late to pitch to Spotify's editors or fix a rejected cover.
Leaving the credits for later. missing writers and producers are hard to correct once it's out.
No plan for the week after. the first week's posts and thanks keep a release moving.

FAQ

How early should I pitch to Spotify?: At least 7 days before release, from Spotify for Artists, for the song to be added to your followers' Release Radar. You can pitch one song at a time.
Can I set up a pre-save on Spotify for a single?: Spotify's own Countdown Pages are for new albums and EPs only — singles aren't eligible — and need at least 3,000 monthly active listeners.
Is my checklist saved?: Yes, in this browser (local storage), so it's there when you come back on the same device. It isn't sent anywhere.

Sources — checked on 21 October 2026

The week-by-week timings are CAPTD's suggestions; only the cited steps are platform rules.