The Independent Artist Release Checklist
What actually needs to be done before you drop a song
Most songs do not fail because they are bad.
They fail because the release was rushed, unfinished, or poorly prepared. We have seen strong records miss opportunities simply because the groundwork was not handled early enough or clearly enough
At LAVNDR CLOUDS, we treat every release like a system, not a moment. Excitement is part of the process, but discipline is what carries a record once it leaves your hands. This checklist exists to make sure nothing important gets skipped when timing feels urgent and momentum feels fragile.
Whether this is your first release or your fiftieth, the fundamentals stay the same.
Start with the foundation
Before audio files or artwork, get organized.
Create a single master folder for the release. This folder should hold final audio, artwork, visual assets, splits, metadata, and notes. Not drafts. Not placeholders. Final versions only
Lock in the basics early:
Final song title
Release date
Primary and featured artists
Explicit or clean designation
Changing these details late causes problems with distribution, pitching, and rights registration. Fixing them early costs nothing. Fixing them later costs time.
Finalize the audio properly
Every release should be delivered with intention.
At minimum, prepare:
Final WAV master
Clean version if applicable
Instrumental
If you have the ability to include an acapella, do it. You may not need it immediately, but future opportunities often depend on assets artists did not think they would need.
Avoid uploading temporary files with the assumption that they can be swapped later. Treat every version as if it is the final one, because in most systems, it is.
Treat visuals as part of the release, not an afterthought
Artwork is positioning.
Your cover art should be final and formatted correctly at 3000 by 3000 pixels. No screenshots. No late exports. No “we will update it later.”
Beyond the cover, prepare:
Three to five approved press images
Optional visualizer or lyric video
Platforms respond to preparedness. Empty spaces do not get rewarded.
Lock splits and rights before anything else moves
This is where many releases quietly fall apart.
Before distribution or pitching, confirm:
All writers and producers
Publishing splits in writing
PRO and IPI information
One stop documentation if applicable
This step is not optional. Skipping it does not make a release faster. It only delays opportunities when interest shows up later.
We have seen songs stall because paperwork was never finished. Do not let that be the reason a record stops moving.
Prepare the release for platforms and sync
Even if sync is not your immediate goal, prepare for it anyway.
Complete all intake forms required for:
DSP distribution
Sync and licensing readiness
This includes having clean metadata, instrumentals, and ownership clarity. You do not get to choose when opportunities appear. You only get to choose whether you are ready.
Write the copy that explains the record
Every song needs words.
Not generic press copy, but clear language that explains:
What the song is
Who it is for
Where it fits sonically and culturally
Prepare:
A concise song description
Artist intent or context
Comparable artists or playlists
This copy feeds pitching tools, editorial submissions, and partner conversations. If you cannot explain the record clearly, platforms will not do it for you.
Upload early and avoid panic
Late uploads limit options.
As a general rule, releases should be uploaded at least three to four weeks before the release date. Earlier uploads create flexibility. Flexibility creates leverage.
Calm timelines lead to better outcomes.
Register the record before release
Make sure the song is registered with:
These registrations are not exciting, but they are how money finds you later. Skipping them does not make you independent. It makes you unpaid.
Pitch with intention
Editorial pitching is not a guarantee, but preparation improves odds.
Complete submissions through:
SoundCloud and other applicable platforms
Pitching is storytelling supported by preparation. The better the release is positioned, the easier it is for a platform to understand where it belongs.
Release day is a checklist too
On release day, verify before celebrating.
Confirm:
The song is live on all platforms
Metadata is accurate
Artwork displays correctly
Links are clean and shareable
Once everything checks out, then you can exhale.
Final thought
Releases reward preparation.
There are no shortcuts around the fundamentals, and no platform will compensate for skipped steps. The artists who build lasting momentum are the ones who take the process seriously, even when nobody is watching.
If you want a structured version of this workflow, you can download and adapt our internal release checklist.
Build carefully. Release cleanly. Repeat.
