Spotify has added one thing fairly enormous to your music promo toolkit.
They’re going massive with Countdown Pages, which Spotify describes as “your final pre-release vacation spot.”
Listed below are crucial 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 provide followers a better look
- Merch affords
- 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 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 area and time for efficient music promotion. Not busy-work.
Now you possibly can 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 convey collectively many parts of Spotify’s on-platform promo in a extra coordinated means. However in addition 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 section of followers preferring totally different music platforms to Spotify, and also you don’t need 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 lifelike: I do know an enormous share of you might be STILL solely gonna publish hyperlinks to Spotify.
So wonderful. When you’re that kinda artist, by all means, simply use Spotify’s Countdown Web page and overlook about smartlinks and pre-saves.
Besides if in case you have a small fanbase. Or while 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 beneath one artist identify. Spotify mentioned they’d prefer to increase past that sooner or later. However at the moment you possibly can solely use Countdown Pages if in case you have:
Right here’s the right way to examine for those who’re eligible:
- Log into Spotify for Artists
- Go to Viewers then Segments
- Click on Lively viewers to see what number of lively 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 sturdy.
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 targets.
—Emily Puterbaugh
GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF STREAMING & DIGITAL SALES, SECRETLY GROUP
Take into account although, these stats usually apply to highlight artists and status labels who get to test-drive the instruments earlier than an enormous rollout. However it’s additionally true that platforms usually 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:
When you meet the minimal listener standards, use Countdown Pages!
Even for those who’re a debut artist. If nothing else, it’ll aid you manage your promo supplies, inspire you to create vertical video content material that helps the discharge, and hold you on schedule.
And for those who do have already got 5k+ month-to-month listeners, a Countdown Web page is likely to 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.
profit from your Spotify launch with Countdown Pages
First, clearly, you’ll must create a Countdown Web page.
Then there are some extra steps you need to take to get essentially 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!