If you’re curious about what elements you should have in place before starting a release plan with us, here are a few things:
1. You should have some music ready. You should minimally have a single ready, and if you’re planning on releasing a full album, either have an exact date for the rest of the music to be ready, or the final mixes and masters in hand. It’s difficult to determine if we are a good fit to work together if there is no music available for us to listen to!
2. You should be actively working on growing your social media. Specifically, you should be posting minimally to TikTok and Instagram. It doesn’t have to be daily, but it does need to be consistent. Also, the posts need to be thought out and not just posts for the sake of posting. You obviously don’t want to overthink, but you also don’t want to put out low-quality just to have “something out there”. Push for organic growth as much as possible. Ads DO work to increase your numbers, but purchased followers are generally of a lower quality than people who find you organically.
3. High-quality photos are a must. Don’t just use a cellphone; use a professional photographer. Bad visuals can kill your campaign right off the bat. Frequently, a photo is a potential listener’s first encounter with a band. You need to make sure you give off a good impression.
4. High-quality album art is also a must. If you have bad album art, this also reflects poorly on the band as well. If you don’t have a high budget, there are always options. You don’t have to hire a major name to get great album art.
5. An advertising budget should also be considered prior to starting a PR campaign. PR creates awareness and social proof for your band. It doesn’t always necessarily convert to direct sales and streams. Set aside some money to do digital ads for each single.
6. Collect emails. Start collecting emails prior to starting your launch campaign. Why? Email lists are something you can control. These people gave you permission to mail them and as a result WANT to hear from you. You can let them know when a new song drops, you have a show, or your album launches.
If you have any questions or need more details on what else is needed prior to starting a PR campaign, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Curtis or Cori to find out more! You can reach us at either corinne@csquared.info or curtis@csquared.info