Releasing music can feel overwhelming if you are not organised. By keeping track of all required assets and links in one centralised place, both you and your releasing partner can easily locate the files needed for distribution, marketing, and future reference.

This checklist ensures that the essential files and information required by distributors, labels, and streaming platforms are prepared and accessible. It also helps you keep important creative and promotional information in one place, which can be reused across multiple areas of your release campaign such as press materials, streaming platform pitches, and media outreach.

Maintaining a centralised asset list is particularly helpful when working with collaborators or teams, as it allows everyone involved in the release to quickly find the most up-to-date files and information.

By preparing these assets early and storing them in a central location, you make the release process smoother for both you and your team, while also creating a useful archive for future releases. 

It feels like a lot, but really this is all you need:

• Audio files: final masters delivered as 16-bit or 24-bit WAV files
• Artwork: final cover artwork supplied as a 4000 × 4000px JPEG file suitable for streaming platforms
• Label copy/metadata: such as track title and product title, release date, credits
• Lyrics: final, proofread lyrics for each track
• Release notes/artist quote about the release: covering themes, stories, meanings behind lyrics
• Similar artists: comparable artists that help position your music
• Mood/keywords: words that describe the sound, tone, and emotional feel of the music
• Playlist/pitch notes: short summary points that help position the track when pitching to playlists, radio, or media

Download our checklist below and tick these off and maintain control and balance with your release.