Music Marketing Plan: The Ultimate Social Media Asset Checklist for Release Day

Releasing new music is always an exciting moment, but without a solid music marketing plan, the administrative chaos of release day can overshadow the celebration. Successful music promotion relies heavily on visual consistency and readiness. If you are creating graphics on the morning of your release, you are already behind.

To maximize your reach on Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, and TikTok, you need a folder full of assets ready to go way before your drop date. We’ve compiled the essential social media asset checklist to ensure you look like a pro and give your music the best chance of finding a new audience.

1. Final Artwork & The Technical Audit

You must ensure your core assets are high-quality and technically sound.

• Release Artwork (High-Res): Ensure you have the final high-resolution file accessible on both your phone and computer. This should be the exact same file you delivered to your distributor.
  • Standard Spec: 3000 x 3000 pixels (1:1 Square aspect ratio), .jpg or .png.
  • Pro Tip: Static images are good, but motion captures attention. Consider creating an Animated Artwork version to stop the scroll on social feeds.

    

     

  • Social Share Image (Vertical/Portrait): You cannot simply post your square artwork to your Instagram Story; it will look unprofessional with empty space. You need a dedicated version optimized for mobile screens.
  • For Feeds (Instagram/Facebook): 4:5 aspect ratio (1080 x 1350 pixels).
  • For Stories (IG/TikTok/Snapchat): 9:16 aspect ratio (1080 x 1920 pixels).
  • Tool Tip: You can automatically generate these assets using the social media content tool inside Soundplate Clicks.
• Final Metadata Audit: Perform one last internal check on your data. Keep a master spreadsheet containing your ISRC codes, UPCs, songwriter splits, and publisher details. Having this organized now will save you headaches later when registering with PROs or submitting for sync licensing opportunities.

  – Pro Tip: If you need to find the ISRC code of a song that is already out, or check it was delivered correctly you can use this free isrc finder.

2. Music Smart Link & Pre Save Campaign

The music smart link is the central hub of your entire digital marketing strategy. Never share a link to just one music platform; you risk alienating fans who use different streaming services.

Create your songlink for free using Soundplate Clicks.

• Phase 1: The Pre-Save: Before release, this link acts as your Pre-Save campaign. It allows fans to “subscribe” to the release, ensuring it is automatically added to their library the moment it drops. This drives day-one streams, a key metric for triggering algorithmic playlists.
• Phase 2: The Release: On launch day, the link automatically converts to a music landing page featuring Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube, and more.
• Phase 3: The Data: Soundplate Clicks feeds you valuable analytics. You will see who your fans are, where they are located, and which platforms they prefer, critical data for future retargeting and optimizing your fan link.

3. Video & Motion Content

In the current landscape of music promotion, short-form video is king. Algorithms on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts prioritize video content over static images.

• Spotify Canvas: This is the looping visual that appears on the Spotify mobile app when a user listens to your track.
  • Why it matters: According to Spotify’s data, tracks with a Canvas are 145% more likely to be shared than those without.
  • Specs: 9:16 Vertical ratio (1080 x 1920px).
  • Length: 3 to 8 seconds (mp4).
  • Note: It must be a hard cut (no fading) to loop seamlessly.
• 15-30 Second “Hook” Videos (Vertical): These are your most critical assets for social growth. You need short, visually engaging clips designed to loop on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.
  • Content: Lip-sync performance, behind-the-scenes footage, or mood/aesthetic clips overlaid with your song’s “hook” (the catchiest part).
  • Specs: 9:16 Vertical ratio (1080 x 1920px).
  • Quantity: Aim for at least 3–5 variations. The more you have, the more you can post without fatiguing your audience.
  • These videos will also be perfect for launching targeted music advertising campaigns.
• Audio Visualizer (Full Track): YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. Upload a high-quality video that visualizes the sound waves of your entire track so fans can listen on the platform.
  • Specs: 16:9 Landscape ratio (1920 x 1080px).
  • Resource: Create a music visualizer video here.

• Packshot Animations: These are 3D-style animated clips (like a spinning vinyl record videos, or animated cassettes) that highlight your track name and artwork. They are excellent for “Out Now” announcements on Instagram Stories to support your videos.
  • Resource: You can create these professional animations in seconds using MusicTickers.com.

4. The Professional Press Kit (EPK)

If you plan on pitching your music to blogs, curators, or journalists, you need a consolidated Electronic Press Kit (EPK). Do not send these files as email attachments; host them in a Google Drive or Dropbox folder and share the link.

• Artist Photos: Journalists need options. Provide professional, high-resolution shots in both Vertical (Portrait) for social features and Horizontal (Landscape) for blog headers and website banners.
• Artist Bio: Keep your bio updated on all music platforms (Spotify for Artists, Apple Music, etc.) to improve your SEO.
  • Short Bio: 200 words for press releases.
  • Long Bio: 500 words detailed history for your website/EPK.
• The One-Sheet: A clean, single-page PDF document. Think of this as a resume for your single. It should include the artwork, track title, release date, a brief description, key accomplishments (e.g., “Previous support from BBC Radio 1”), and contact info.

Turning Your Preparation Into Streams

Success in the music industry is rarely accidental; it is the result of great music meeting great organization. By preparing this social media asset checklist ahead of time, you free yourself up on release day to do what matters most: engaging with your fans and celebrating your art.

Ready to start your campaign?