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2-Song-Per-Year Strategy & Plan

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2-Song-Per-Year Strategy & Plan

  • Goals:
    • Release 2 high-quality songs per year.
    • Maintain a growing and engaged fanbase.
    • Focus on creativity and fun rather than aggressive marketing.
  • Time Commitment:
    • Light production work.
    • Casual social media interaction.
    • Enjoyable and stress-free schedule.

Yearly Breakdown

First Song Release:

Months 1-2: Songwriting and Early Production

  • Creative Flow: Dedicate some time each week (2-3 hours on weekdays and weekends) to songwriting and experimenting with ideas.
    • This can include jamming with friends, revisiting old song ideas, or starting fresh.
  • Casual Instrument Practice: Play your instrument regularly but keep it low-pressure. Aim for 30-60 minutes of casual practice 3-4 times per week.
  • Start Early Production: Once you have a song idea that you’re excited about, start working on a basic demo in your DAW. Focus on creating a simple but effective arrangement to create a demo.
  • Create 1-5 songs, then narrow it down to your strongest track to take from demo to completion.
  • Capture the process along the way: Record 1 short video and take a couple of pictures with each studio session. Make it easy, light, and fun. We just want to be In Real Life (IRL).

Month 3: Recording & Mixing & Final Cover Art

  • Recording the Final Track: Set aside time (maybe a couple of weekends) to record the final version of the song. (This is if you are recording vocals, drums, guitar, or any other instrument)
    • You can either record at home or book a few hours in a small studio.
    • Keep the recording process fun and casual, without the pressure of perfection.
  • Mixing: If you enjoy mixing, do it yourself over a few weeks. If not, hire a freelance mixer to handle it.
  • Artwork & Visuals: Create some simple artwork for the song—whether it’s a fun DIY photo or an illustration that matches the song’s vibe. You could use a service like Canva or hire a freelance designer for an affordable, simple cover. Then, create a moving image or short video of your cover art. You’ll then resize for Spotify and socials.

Month 4: Distribution upload & Pre-Release Promotion

  • Upload to distribution:
    • Pick a distributor - Try Distrokid and create an account. Upload your song and artwork, and pick a release date four weeks out. Once approved, you can create a pre-save link.
  • Teasers on Social Media:
    • Share snippets of the song (either rough demos or clips from the studio) with your growing following on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
    • 2-3 posts over the month are enough to build some casual excitement.
  • Pre-Save Campaign: If you’re releasing on Spotify, encourage your fans to pre-save the song. You can even incentivize them with a small giveaway (like personalized thank-you notes or a mini Q&A session).

Month 5: Release the First Single

  • Release Day:
    • Share the track across streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
    • Post on social media to let your fans know the song is out. Keep the messaging light and fun, reflecting your approach to music.
  • Music Video (Optional): If you’re up for it, shoot a DIY music video or lyric video. This can be as simple as filming yourself playing the song in a cool location or making a simple animated lyric video.

Month 6: Post-Release

  • Casual Promotion: Share fun and organic content around the release, such as fan reactions, live acoustic versions, or behind-the-scenes clips.
  • Engage with Fans: Reply to comments, do a few live sessions on Instagram and TikTok, and chat with fans about the release in a laid-back way.

Second Song Release:

Month 7: Songwriting and Inspiration

  • Take it Easy: Enjoy the process. There’s no rush here, so spend time experimenting with new sounds, themes, or even genres.
    • Collaborate with friends or other musicians if it adds to the fun.
    • Work on songwriting (2-3 hours on weekdays and weekends)
  • Build the Song Slowly: When you feel inspired, start building the structure of your second song, adding layers and instruments as you go.
  • Try to create 1-5 songs, then we’ll narrow it down to your strongest track.
  • Capture the process along the way: Record 1 short video and take a couple of pictures with each studio session. Make it easy, light, and fun. We just want to be In Real Life (IRL).

Month 8: Early Production and Recording

  • Demo Creation: Once the songs are mostly written, start creating simple demos.
    • Try out new production techniques or just keep it basic. There’s no wrong way as long as you’re having fun and moving forward.
  • Recording: As with the first song, set aside some time to record. Keep the process simple—record at home or in a small studio, depending on your resources.
  • Narrow your songs down to your strongest tracks to take from demo to completion.
  • Capture the process along the way: Record 1 short video and take a couple of pictures with each studio session. Make it easy, light, and fun. We just want to be In Real Life (IRL).

Month 9: Mixing and Finishing Touches

  • Mixing & Mastering: Either mix the song yourself (if you enjoy it) or hire someone for a quick and affordable mixing job.
  • Artwork & Visuals: Create some simple artwork for the song—whether it’s a fun DIY photo or an illustration that matches the song’s vibe. You could use a service like Canva or hire a freelance designer for an affordable, simple cover. Create a moving image or short video of your cover art.

Month 10: Distribution upload & Pre-Release Promotion

  • Upload to distribution:
    • Pick a distributor - Try Distrokid and create an account. Upload your song and artwork, and pick a release date four weeks out. Once approved, you can create a pre-save link.
  • Teasers: Share lighthearted behind-the-scenes clips, a sneak peek of the new song, or even a teaser lyric on social media.
    • 2-3 posts in the month leading up to release should suffice.
  • Social Engagement: Engage with fans in a relaxed way, sharing a bit of your creative process or fun facts about the song.

Month 11: Second Song Release

  • Release Day: Announce the second single across your social platforms and share links to streaming platforms.
  • Optional Visual Content: If you feel up to it, create a simple lyric video or performance video for YouTube.

Month 12: Post-Release

  • Casual Promotion: Share fan reactions, and fun moments related to the song, or repost fan covers or videos that feature the track.
  • Live Performances (Optional): Consider doing a couple of live-streamed performances of your songs or playing them at local gigs.

Ongoing Social Media Strategy:

Even with a relaxed release schedule, you can maintain a small but dedicated following by keeping up with light social media engagement.

  • Instagram/TikTok (1-2 posts per week):
    • Share clips of yourself practicing, playing, or jamming on your instrument.
    • Share personal stories about your music or life to keep things casual and relatable.
  • YouTube (1 video per song):
    • Release one or two YouTube videos per year. This could be for your single releases, behind-the-scenes vlogs, or even a cover video if you feel inspired.
  • Live Streaming (Optional, Monthly):
    • Once a month, hop on a casual Instagram or TikTok livestream and play a few songs or just chat with your followers.
  • Email Newsletter (Optional, Every 3 Months):
    • If you have an email list, send an update every 3 months with your new music, upcoming plans, and some fun behind-the-scenes stories.

Spotify Strategy:

  • Pre-Save Campaign (For Both Releases):
    • Encourage fans to pre-save each song to help with Spotify’s algorithm and potentially land on small curated playlists.
  • Playlist Pitching (Before Each Release):
    • A few weeks before each release, pitch your song to Spotify Editorial Playlists via Spotify for Artists and submit to some independent playlists.
  • Post-Release Playlists:
    • After each release, keep an eye on your Spotify data to see where your song is performing well and focus future pitching efforts on those areas.

Summary of 2-Song-Per-Year Plan

  1. Two Relaxed Releases: You’ll release one song in the first half of the year and another in the second half.
  2. Light Production Work: Spend time writing, recording, and mixing the songs at your own pace, with the goal of releasing high-quality tracks without the rush.
  3. Casual Social Media Engagement: Share content a couple of times a week, focusing on keeping it fun and low-pressure. You’ll still build a small, dedicated following by being consistent and engaging.
  4. Enjoy the Process: Whether it’s collaborating with friends or experimenting with new sounds, this plan encourages you to enjoy making music without the pressure of constantly releasing.

This plan allows you to balance life with music in a way that feels sustainable and fun, while still pushing your artistry forward!

If you resonate with this and want to dive deeper into elevating your career, book a FREE Consultation Appointment with me here 

https://KjSawka.as.me/student-consultation