When is the Best Time to Release Music?

When it comes to releasing new music, timing is a fundamental tool.
What are the best months to release it? The best months to release may vary on a variety of factors that are dependent on an artist or band and their release strategy and goals. However, a useful tool can be to consider the genre and style of music and determine which months are generally attributed to the feeling that your song conveys.

Warmer months are a nice go-to for releasing your new material. One of the main reasons is because these months coincide with more touring opportunities and festival dates. The hot atmosphere creates a really good atmosphere for promoting new releases. Considering the vibrant and upbeat atmosphere of the summer months, songs that are short and sweet may fare better during this period.

A lot of artists opt for fall. Everyone’s returning to the office and school and ready to discover new tunes. And yes, of course: music industry professionals are also back to work, ready to provide opportunities for emerging artists like you and me. The somber moods of fall lend themselves well towards deeper and slower releases. The fall months are also a great time for bigger releases such as EPs or albums. Fall is also a popular touring time for artists getting in their final tours before the holiday period if live performances are a part of one’s marketing plan.

New year, new music. Despite being the coldest and slowest months, the start of the year is ideal for new releases, especially if you’re an independent artist. Everyone’s ready for changes and fresh music. Besides that, industry professionals may be looking for new talents.

• Avoid releasing in the second half of December unless it's holiday music. Industry professionals and fans are often less engaged during this time.

• Releasing in December also runs the risk of a single appearing “outdated” since come January the single will appear as though it is older than it actually is - therefore releasing in December (unless a holiday release) may be better off avoided

• Avoid major public holidays for releases.

• Give yourself at least a month to prepare for a single release, and 3-6 months for an EP or album release.

• Friday is generally considered the best day of the week to release music, as it coincides with Spotify's "New Music Friday" playlists and chart resets. But take this with a grain of salt, this generally applied to artists with large audiences. If you’re a smaller, independent artist, feel free to release on any day of the week (Wednesday is our favorite)!

• Be aware of competition from major artists releasing around the same time, which could overshadow your release. This can be avoided by releasing days of the week other than Friday and aiming for a January release.

By strategically timing your music releases throughout the year, you can maximize your chances of reaching and engaging your audience effectively.