Studio season: your first 30 days of HyperTribe Solo for £1.
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Release countdown calculator
Pick the date. Get every deadline counted back from it, and add the lot to your calendar. Built from the countdown in our guide, Plan your release back from the date.
- 8 wk beforeDecide the dateWrite it down. Check your distributor's delivery time. Pick one song to lead.
- 6 wk beforeFinish everything you can touchFinal master, artwork, title and credits spelled the way you want them everywhere.
- 4 wk beforeDeliver the music and build the listUpload to your distributor. Start collecting emails or messages from the people who already care.
- 3 wk beforeWrite your one-line storyWho you are, what the song is about, why now. One sentence.
- 2 wk beforePitchEditorial pitch through the artist tools (at least 7 days before release is the minimum). One ask each to the few shows, blogs and playlists that fit.
- 1 wk beforeShow people it's comingPost the date and a short piece of the song. Tell your list. Brief two friends on exactly what to share.
- release dayRelease dayOne link, one message. Reply to everyone. Thank people by name.
- 1 wk afterSay thank you and follow upMessage everyone who shared or played it. Two lines. Note what worked.
- 2 wk afterPlan the next onePick the next date now while the energy is still there.
No sign-up, nothing stored. Everything happens in your browser.
Questions about the countdown
How far ahead should I pick my release date?
Eight weeks is enough for an independent single if the track is finished at six weeks out. Ten to twelve if it's your first release or your distributor needs longer. The calculator warns you if the date is too close.
Where do these deadlines come from?
From the release countdown we plan with the artists we work with: decide the date at eight weeks, finish at six, deliver and build the list at four, write the one-line story at three, pitch at two, tell people at one, then the day, the thank-you a week after and the next date two weeks after.
Why does it say to pitch at least seven days before release?
Because the biggest streaming service states that an unreleased song pitched through its artist tool at least seven days before release is added to your followers' release playlist. Two weeks out is safer.
Does the calendar file work with Google Calendar and Apple Calendar?
Yes. It's a standard .ics file with one all-day event per deadline. Open it and your calendar app will offer to add the events.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up. If you want the plan done with you week by week, that's what HyperTribe is: £1 for the first 30 days, then £29 a month.