Spotify has added one thing fairly big to your music promo toolkit.
They’re going massive with Countdown Pages, which Spotify describes as “your final pre-release vacation spot.”
Listed here are an important issues it is best to know:
That will help you construct hype for an upcoming launch, Spotify has mixed the next options on one web page:
- Pre-saves
- A preview of the tracklist
- A timer counting all the way down to launch
- Clips to offer followers a more in-depth look
- Merch presents
- Fan notifications when your music goes reside
In Spotify’s phrases, this software will “shut the hole between the place music is teased and the place it’s truly streamed.”
Simplifying the waterfall launch
Probably the most attention-grabbing points of Countdown Pages is… they’re dynamic.
So Countdown Pages streamline the distribution mechanics of a waterfall launch, which is the place you as soon as needed to “develop” an album over time by first releasing a single, then a brand new single bundled with the older tune, then a 3rd single together with the earlier two tracks, and so forth.
It’s not rocket science, however managing waterfall releases in that method was one additional stress throughout a season the place you actually ought to save your psychological house and time for efficient music promotion. Not busy-work.
Now you may drop new singles, merch objects, and Clips over an extended length and use the identical vacation spot — the Countdown Web page — to spice up engagement and pre-saves.
No extra Third-party pre-saves?
Countdown Pages convey collectively many parts of Spotify’s on-platform promo in a extra coordinated method. However additionally they might eradicate the necessity for artists to make use of Third-party pre-save instruments and smartlinks?
I say “might” since you could have a big phase of followers preferring totally different music platforms to Spotify, and also you don’t wish to ostracize them out of your launch promo simply because Spotify made your life less complicated on their platform.
However as a lot as I warn musicians that “your followers aren’t ALL on Spotify,” let’s be sensible: I do know an enormous proportion of you might be STILL solely gonna put up hyperlinks to Spotify.
So high-quality. For those who’re that kinda artist, by all means, simply use Spotify’s Countdown Web page and neglect about smartlinks and pre-saves.
Besides you probably have a small fanbase. Or whenever you’re launching a single. Or when doing a “cut up proper” collaborative launch.
As a result of…
Who’s eligible to make use of Countdown Pages?
Countdown Pages are solely obtainable for albums launched below one artist title. Spotify mentioned they’d prefer to develop past that sooner or later. However at the moment you may solely use Countdown Pages you probably have:
Right here’s easy methods to examine when you’re eligible:
- Log into Spotify for Artists
- Go to Viewers then Segments
- Click on Lively viewers to see what number of energetic listeners you could have
What sort of artists ought to use Spotify’s Countdown Pages?
The case to make use of Countdown Pages is fairly robust.
Spotify claims that on common, practically 70% of listeners who used the on-platform pre-save choice went on to stream the album in its first week.
And early testimonials present how efficient Countdown Pages could be:
Countdown Pages generated 6X extra pre-saves than our off-platform purchase hyperlink for a number of artists on our roster. The software has been instrumental in serving to to succeed in our chart objectives.
—Emily Puterbaugh
GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF STREAMING & DIGITAL SALES, SECRETLY GROUP
Consider although, these stats typically apply to highlight artists and status labels who get to test-drive the instruments earlier than a large rollout. Nevertheless it’s additionally true that platforms typically reward creators who undertake new options. As a result of rising your visibility builds consciousness for his or her instruments too.
So my easy advice is:
For those who meet the minimal listener standards, use Countdown Pages!
Even when you’re a debut artist. If nothing else, it’ll provide help to arrange your promo supplies, encourage you to create vertical video content material that helps the discharge, and preserve you on schedule.
And when you do have already got 5k+ month-to-month listeners, a Countdown Web page is perhaps simply the factor to succeed in them once more the place they already are (on Spotify!), get them excited, and create a straightforward pathway for them to return to your album as soon as it’s reside.
How you can profit from your Spotify launch with Countdown Pages
First, clearly, you’ll have to create a Countdown Web page.
Then there are some extra steps it is best to take to get essentially the most out of your Spotify Countdown Web page previous to your launch date.
These embrace:
For more information and inspiration, take a look at these Countdown Pages examples!
