Spotify has added one thing fairly big to your music promo toolkit.
They’re going huge with Countdown Pages, which Spotify describes as “your final pre-release vacation spot.”
Listed below are an important issues you need to know:
That can assist 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 offer followers a more in-depth look
- Merch provides
- Fan notifications when your music goes dwell
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
Some of the attention-grabbing elements 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 area and time for efficient music promotion. Not busy-work.
Now you may drop new singles, merch gadgets, and Clips over an extended period 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 carry collectively many components of Spotify’s on-platform promo in a extra coordinated approach. However additionally they may remove the necessity for artists to make use of Third-party pre-save instruments and smartlinks?
I say “may” 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 practical: I do know an enormous share of you might be STILL solely gonna put up hyperlinks to Spotify.
So effective. Should you’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 if 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 below one artist identify. Spotify stated they’d wish to increase past that sooner or later. However presently you may solely use Countdown Pages when you have:
Right here’s how one can test in case 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 will have
What sort of artists ought to use Spotify’s Countdown Pages?
The case to make use of Countdown Pages is fairly sturdy.
Spotify claims that on common, practically 70% of listeners who used the on-platform pre-save possibility went on to stream the album in its first week.
And early testimonials present how efficient Countdown Pages may 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
Be mindful although, these stats usually apply to highlight artists and status labels who get to test-drive the instruments earlier than an enormous rollout. But it surely’s additionally true that platforms usually reward creators who undertake new options. As a result of growing your visibility builds consciousness for his or her instruments too.
So my easy advice is:
Should you meet the minimal listener standards, use Countdown Pages!
Even in case you’re a debut artist. If nothing else, it’ll aid you manage your promo supplies, encourage you to create vertical video content material that helps the discharge, and maintain you on schedule.
And in case 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 dwell.
How one can benefit from your Spotify launch with Countdown Pages
First, clearly, you’ll have to create a Countdown Web page.
Then there are some extra steps you need 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, take a look at these Countdown Pages examples!
