How to Release a Song: Release Plans and Timelines
Step-by-step release plans for independent artists: what to do in the weeks before release day, on the day, and after, with AI where it saves you time.
- 03 Sept
03 Sept4 of 5 new streaming subscribers now come from outside the US and Europe: 5 places an indie release has room
- The Independent Music 2026 report says 4 out of 5 new streaming subscribers now come from outside the US and Europe.
- North America and Europe's share of global music subscribers fell to about 41% in 2024, from 52.3% in 2020 and 62% in 2015, and UK subscription penetration has flatlined at 48%.
- Audiomack has clocked more than 58 billion Afrobeats streams in Nigeria in the five years since opening its office there and is the country's number one music app.
- 15 Jul
15 JulHow I'd launch a single in 30 days with AI in 2026
- The plan runs 5 phases over 30 days, finish, build, post, release, earn, with the first income arriving by day 45.
- Every post points at a freebie that captures an email address, because a pre-save gives you one algorithm nudge while an email address works for every future release.
- ONCE distributes a single to 30+ platforms for a $2 flat fee per AI release and you keep 100% of your royalties.
- 28 May
28 May10 steps to release a song with AI in 2026: from lyrics to distribution
- The 2026 release math hasn't gotten easier. 120,000 tracks land on Spotify every day, so a system beats a single tactic every time.
- ONCE is the new default for AI music distribution, with chat-based release, real-time copyright scanning, $1 per human track, and $2 per AI track that funds the Artist Compensation Fund.
- The AI Musicpreneur newsletter ships a new AI tool tutorial, a Claude Skill, and prompts every Wednesday, with each issue solving one specific problem in creating and promoting music with AI.