Step-by-Step Guide to Releasing Your First Song

GuidesOctober 21, 2025

Releasing your first song is one of the most exciting milestones in any artist’s career. But it can also feel overwhelming: How do you get your track on Spotify and Apple Music? Do you need a label? How do you make sure people actually hear it?

The good news is that you can release your music independently, without a label. With the right plan, your first release can set the stage for long-term success.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to releasing your first song.

🎶 Step 1: Finish Your Recording

Before you release anything, make sure your track is fully finished and polished. That means:

Recording in a home studio or professional studio.
Mixing to balance levels and clean up the sound.
Mastering to make sure it sounds great across all platforms.

👉 A professional master can make the difference between a song that sounds amateur and one that stands up against major label releases.

🎨 Step 2: Create Your Artwork

Your artwork is the first impression fans will see on Spotify, Apple Music, or social media.

Make sure it’s eye-catching and professional.
Follow DSP guidelines (usually 3000x3000 pixels, JPG or PNG).
Keep it consistent with your brand and future releases.

If design isn’t your strength, consider hiring a freelance designer on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.

📦 Step 3: Choose a Distributor

To get your song on streaming platforms, you’ll need a digital distributor. Some of the most popular options include:

DistroKid – Flat annual fee, unlimited uploads.
TuneCore – Annual subscription, strong reputation.
CD Baby – One-time per-release fee, good for occasional releases.

Distributors handle:

Delivering your song to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more.
Assigning your ISRC (International Standard Recording Code).
Collecting royalties and paying you.

📅 Step 4: Pick a Release Date

Give yourself at least 4–6 weeks of lead time before your release date. This allows you to:

Submit your track for playlist consideration on Spotify for Artists.
Build anticipation with pre-save campaigns.
Create a marketing plan so your release doesn’t just “drop” unnoticed.

🚀 Step 5: Set Up Pre-Saves and Landing Pages

Pre-saves allow fans to automatically save your upcoming release to their library when it drops, boosting first-day streams and increasing your chances of getting on playlists.

Landing pages let you share a single link that directs fans to all platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Bandcamp, etc.).

Platforms like Sonikit make it easy to create pre-saves and landing pages designed specifically for music releases, helping independent artists look professional from day one.

📢 Step 6: Promote Your Song

Promotion is where the magic happens. Some strategies include:

Social media teasers: Share behind-the-scenes clips, snippets, or countdowns.
Email/SMS marketing: Tell your existing fans when and where to listen.
Paid ads: Run small, targeted campaigns on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
Press & blogs: Pitch your song to independent music blogs, playlists, and local media.

Pro tip: Don’t just post “out now.” Tell a story around your song, what inspired it, what it means to you, or why fans should care.

📊 Step 7: Release Day

On release day:

Share your landing page link everywhere.
Post across social platforms multiple times (morning, afternoon, evening).
Send a reminder email and/or SMS blast.
Engage with fans who comment, share, or tag you.

This is your big moment — make it an event.

🔄 Step 8: Post-Release Strategy

Your promotion doesn’t end on release day. Keep momentum going:

Share milestones (first 1,000 streams, first playlist add, etc.).
Release a lyric video or live performance video.
Share user-generated content from fans.
Keep promoting for at least 4–6 weeks — not just the day it drops.

Releasing your first song can feel like a huge task, but by breaking it down into clear steps — recording, distribution, marketing, and engagement — you can make it a smooth and exciting process.

Remember: the release itself is only the beginning. The real goal is to connect with fans, grow your audience, and build momentum for your next track.

And with tools like Sonikit, you can manage pre-saves, landing pages, SMS campaigns, and fan analytics — giving you the marketing power of a label while staying independent.