Spotify has added one thing fairly large to your music promo toolkit.
They’re going huge with Countdown Pages, which Spotify describes as “your final pre-release vacation spot.”
Listed here are an important issues it’s 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 right down to launch
- Clips to present followers a better look
- Merch affords
- Fan notifications when your music goes stay
In Spotify’s phrases, this instrument will “shut the hole between the place music is teased and the place it’s truly streamed.”
Simplifying the waterfall launch
One of the vital 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 music, 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 further 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’ll be able to drop new singles, merch gadgets, 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 manner. However in addition they might get rid of 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 easier on their platform.
However as a lot as I warn musicians that “your followers aren’t ALL on Spotify,” let’s be reasonable: I do know an enormous share of you might be STILL solely gonna submit hyperlinks to Spotify.
So effective. If you happen to’re that kinda artist, by all means, simply use Spotify’s Countdown Web page and neglect about smartlinks and pre-saves.
Besides when you have a small fanbase. Or while you’re launching a single. Or when doing a “break up proper” collaborative launch.
As a result of…
Who’s eligible to make use of Countdown Pages?
Countdown Pages are solely accessible for albums launched underneath one artist identify. Spotify mentioned they’d wish to increase past that sooner or later. However at present you’ll be able to solely use Countdown Pages when you have:
Right here’s learn how to verify when you’re eligible:
- Log into Spotify for Artists
- Go to Viewers then Segments
- Click on Energetic viewers to see what number of lively listeners you might 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 might be:
Countdown Pages generated 6X extra pre-saves than our off-platform purchase hyperlink for a number of artists on our roster. The instrument has been instrumental in serving to to succeed in our chart targets.
—Emily Puterbaugh
GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF STREAMING & DIGITAL SALES, SECRETLY GROUP
Have in mind although, these stats typically apply to highlight artists and status labels who get to test-drive the instruments earlier than a large rollout. However 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 suggestion is:
If you happen to meet the minimal listener standards, use Countdown Pages!
Even when you’re a debut artist. If nothing else, it’ll assist you arrange your promo supplies, inspire you to create vertical video content material that helps the discharge, and maintain you on schedule.
And when you do have already got 5k+ month-to-month listeners, a Countdown Web page could be 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 stay.
How one can take advantage of your Spotify launch with Countdown Pages
First, clearly, you’ll have to create a Countdown Web page.
Then there are some extra steps it’s best to take to get probably the most out of your Spotify Countdown Web page previous to your launch date.
These embody:
For more information and inspiration, try these Countdown Pages examples!
