Start before release day
Most of the momentum for a single is won in the two weeks before it drops. Set up a pre-save link, and start teasing the song with short vertical clips so the algorithm — and your fans — know it’s coming.
Line up your assets
- A Spotify Canvas (3–8s vertical loop) — how to make one.
- Two or three 9:16 teaser clips built around the hook for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.
- A main music video for YouTube and your release page.
- Cover art and a short story about the song.
Release day
Put the song everywhere at once, and lead with video. Post the hook clip on every short-form platform, pin it to your profile, and add the Canvas in Spotify for Artists. The goal on day one is watch-through and saves, not just plays.
The two weeks after
- Repurpose relentlessly. One music video becomes a dozen clips — different hooks, captions, and edits.
- Pitch playlists and submit to Spotify editorial before release via Spotify for Artists.
- Reply and duet. Engagement compounds reach on short-form.
Why video does the heavy lifting
Every step above needs video, and it’s usually the bottleneck for indie artists. The fastest fix is to start with one finished clean 16:9 professionally produced music video, then plan separate short-form crops and edits around its strongest moments. If you’re weighing formats, start with our guides to aspect ratios and lyric vs music videos.