Music Marketing Checklist for Independent Artists
AArtlink Team
•Music Marketing Checklist for Independent Artists
Use this checklist before every single, EP, or album release. The goal is simple: one clear campaign, one stable link, and enough tracking to learn what worked.
4-6 Weeks Before Release
Confirm the release foundation
- Final master delivered
- Distributor submission complete
- Release date confirmed
- Artwork ready
- Artist name, title, and metadata checked
- Spotify for Artists access confirmed
- Apple Music for Artists access confirmed
Build the campaign page
- Create a pre-save campaign
- Add artwork and release date
- Add Spotify pre-save destination when available
- Add Apple Music pre-add messaging when relevant
- Add a short campaign description
- Choose one primary CTA
- Set the campaign URL
Useful Artlink pages:
2-3 Weeks Before Release
Prepare promotion assets
- Announcement caption
- Short-form video teaser
- Artwork reveal
- Behind-the-scenes clip
- Email or text list message
- Press or playlist pitch copy
- Story templates
- UTM links for each channel
Update owned channels
- Pin the pre-save on your bio page
- Add the campaign to your website
- Add the link to email signatures if relevant
- Prepare QR codes for shows, flyers, or merch inserts
Useful Artlink pages:
Release Week
Before release day
- Post a final pre-save reminder
- Email your list
- Update social bios
- Check that the campaign page loads on mobile
- Confirm platform destinations
- Confirm tracking pixels if using ads
On release day
- Update the campaign into a live smart link
- Add Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, and other destinations
- Change the primary CTA from pre-save to listen
- Post the live smart link
- Send release-day email or text
- Reply to fans who engage
Useful Artlink pages:
1-4 Weeks After Release
Review performance
- Which channels drove page views?
- Which channels drove platform clicks?
- Which streaming services did fans choose?
- Which cities or countries responded?
- Did paid traffic convert?
- Which content format worked best?
Keep the campaign alive
- Share alternate clips
- Pitch playlists and press with the smart link
- Add the song to your artist bio page
- Retarget page visitors if you run ads
- Use the data to plan the next release
Common Mistakes
- Waiting until release day to create the link
- Sharing only a Spotify URL
- Creating separate campaign links for every channel
- Forgetting Apple Music and YouTube Music fans
- Not updating the pre-save into a smart link
- Measuring only social likes instead of platform clicks
FAQ
What is the most important music marketing asset?
For release campaigns, the most important asset is one stable campaign URL that works before and after release day.
Do independent artists need pre-saves?
Pre-saves are most useful when you can promote them consistently. If you only post once, the impact will be limited. If you have a real rollout, they help capture intent before release day.
Should I use one smart link or many?
Use one canonical smart link per release campaign. Add UTM parameters to measure channels without fragmenting the campaign.