Should Artists Be Releasing Singles Instead of Albums or EPs?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ค. 2021
- Should musicians still be releasing albums? When should you release singles vs albums and EPs?
Former Sony Music VP of sales and label manager Todd McCarty talks about music release strategy and tips for new artists releasing music on streaming sites like Spotify and Apple Music.
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Find a release strategy that works for you. Put some separation between recording and promotional activities, and bring focus to your plans. If you’re looking to attract new fans, make singles your focus. If you’re looking to strengthen your brand and separate yourself from the competition, consider an album. If getting signed is your goal, consider the 6/8 strategy Eric German recommended.
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About Todd McCarty
I'm the industry insider on your team. A former Senior VP of Sales at Sony Music (USA) and long time label manager of large indie label Fearless Records.
Get a quote for working 1-on-1 with me - found.ee/WorkWithUs
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As an instrumental artist I enjoy releasing albums more because I have a big imagination when it comes to coming up with concepts and love the idea of storytelling. I am an album type of artist.
Great video! Thanks! My friend and I are about to finish our first album about 4-6 original songs. I googled "what's better for a new band to release single vs Ep vs album. The answer was basically single. It makes sense especially if nobody knows your band and attention spans are short.
Thanks for checking out my video, and I hope you like the other ones too. 🙌
You should make the music that you want to make, and release it however way you want to release it. I wouldn't do things just to appease the masses. If you want to do things for the people then I would suggest maybe working in McDonald's were they tell you what they want and you hand it to them. If you're an artist you're supposed to do your thing. If people like it, that's great. And usually if it's something interesting, people will enjoy it, so, you should really be focusing your energy on making something that you like, and doing it as best you can. That's really all you can do.
Fully agree be the artist, creative soul you are as this is the only truth you have... if it is good others will know if they get a chance to hear your music... Kurt Cobain wrote for himself and Nirvana. He did not write cookie cutter AI politically correct 3 and 1/2 minute singalongs.
Be Well Kenn
This a/b side topic with two singles on the same das is really helpful. Thankkkks
no problem, thanks for checking out the channel 🙌
PHENOMENALLY AWESOME INFORMATION!!!!!! WE APPRECIATE YOU MY DUDE!!!! Peace 🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽🔥🔥🔥🔥🧨🧨😎😎👑
🙌
Thanks Todd-Cliff
No problem!
Albums don’t matter no more like that. EP’s make more sense in today’s world.
I agree with you for most genres. I'm a big fan of the EP, breaking your releases into smaller campaigns. So agreed for most people watching this video. However, there are lots of different genres of music out there where albums still make a lot of sense and their fans prefer them. So I don't want to assume everybody watching is playing popular music and trying to make a living from streams. For example many artists that fit into the "prog rock" genre have very long songs, not at all geared for the algorithm, or a playlist or radio format. Vinyl, CDs, merch, and touring are 90% of their income and streaming is not preferred by their audience.
@@BandBuilderAcademy no one buys cds. Is mostly Dj’s and a few hipsters buy vinyl of new music and new artist if it’s available. Albums serve no purpose unless your getting nominated for a Grammy. To say you Grammy nominated. It serves no purpose in 2023. People ain’t checking for albums cuts that most likely will never be preformed at shows by the artist. Each song should have a purpose. An album is a waste of extra songs people ain’t listening too or using in any sense. Those songs go no where.
@@BandBuilderAcademy just put a collection of singles together and call it and album. Singles Playlist get more play than albums. I definitely don’t buy a whole project on Apple iTunes no more unless I like that majority of songs or singles from a project. Like you said albums are for the super fan if not many. I just downloaded or stream the singles and songs I like only that’s it. Not the whole album. I rather build my own playlist than listen to album. Most people cheery pic a few songs from albums nowadays and stream or buy it (digital download).
thank you so much I am so glad to see this today
No problem 😎
Fantastic information! I def plan to start with a single to see how people respond and create hype for an album
Interesting about not dropping every week ! I’ve noticed everyone does that and I think it’s not the move anymore
Very valuable tips, Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! Todd
Really informative video! Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback Carl!
Awesome insights... excellent presentation !
Thanks Marti!
Great advice. Thank you.
No worries, glad it was helpful 🙌
So me and my band have recorded 4 songs at the studio so far. We have recently released 2 singles one per month. And do shows wherever we can as we're still relatively new on the Christian scene.
Keep it up Allen. Thanks for checking out the video, and I hope you check out all the others on here too. cheers, Todd.
Been thinking about the 2 song single idea as well, it’s like a digital 45. #VintageAnderson
This was a lightbulb moment for me. I get what I’m doing wrong now. Thank you. Fortunately, I saw it just before releasing my EP, so I’ll stretch it out a little more now. Thank you for this channel
Cool, glad it helped you :) More to come in the new year. Sorry I haven't posted a video in a few weeks. Busy with the holiday sale and new member content! But I'll be doing more soon. Thanks for tuning in.
There's more to it than that. You can follow all the guidelines you want, but if the music is uninteresting, it won't matter one bit. Not suggesting your music is uninteresting. I tend to go by the old expression, "the cream always rises to the top", and it's so true. People don't care how your music got there, or what strategy you used when considering how to release it. What they care about is whether it's good or not. If it's good It'll eventually be found.
😮While I fully agree chances of success with a not great song are dismal... I am tempered by the concept of the old adage of "cream rising to the top..."
There's some really wonderful music sittin' in an old shed somewhere far away off a lonesome cyberspace highway...
Kenn Harris
This an excellent article right, 80% of he said has been my guides even before I came bumped into this video out curiosity to see if I’m doing the right things at the right time.
When you release singles back to back and you’re financially strong, you may start experiencing low monthly listeners even after your last release because you may not have the time & money to promote it… of course you’ll start feeling you’re giving too much into the music industry without gaining anything hence you won’t put more energy on your last releases if you’re the type that puts out singles out there within short periods of time.
But of course you’re already have a large audience or fan base you can go with it if suits you capabilities 😊
Good to know albums still have a place of significance in the market!
Agreed. To add a thought. Apple and Amazon still make a good effort to feature albums. Spotify not so much.
Great information 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 thank you very much ☺️ I can't open the PDF
Thanks for checking out the channel. Email me todd@bandbuilderacademy.com and mention the PDF in the email and I'll send it to you. 🙌
Great info! Subscribed
Thanks for the sub!
Thanks for the encouraging advice. Great channel. One question: is it useful to have two different brands/names as a release strategy?
Hey Roger. It's difficult enough trying to build and maintain your primary project. Adding another one creates more work and energy, and that takes away from your primary focus. It's very difficult even for major artist or consumer brands to get their second project going and maintaining both. Avoid it if possible.
@@BandBuilderAcademy Thanks for the quick response. Great advice
@@RogerEverndenMusician no problem 🙌
thank you sooooo much
Happy to help 😎
Very helpful
thanks for checking it out Don
Thank YOU
Well thought out and presented
New Album out and will use strategy in future.
? Is there a rational of releasing a finished album, but staggering the release dates over 8-12 mos ie best first... that would have the effect of singles to EPs to albums more succinctly packaged vs multiple singles then EPs prior to release all as an full album ? Or do the algorithms work best in the staggered approach...
When bored ck out
Rock Star Requiem
Kenn Hariis
Again TY very good and appreciated concepts... Kenn
@kennharris997 The strategy can work for an album the same way it could an EP. For new/developing artists - it's OK to spread a 12 song album over 8 or 9 months. If you're established and have hundreds/thousands of fans, waiting 12 months for an album can be excruciating.
I don't recommend releasing an entire album 1 song at a time. Leave some songs as surprises on album release day. Give the fans who waited, the payoff of 3 or 4 unreleased tracks the day the album releases.
Good advice. Thanks for the info. Me, I have one solo album and one album that’s a collaboration with another person. I have played drums on many other albums but that’s not my personal recordings. I have both albums for sale on my website but haven’t got distribution and publishing yet. So not on Spotify, ext. also not a band, just want to make my music searchable! Should I just put out one song from each album first? I can make videos myself. I thought about sharing on Facebook short clips of songs and asking people what they think they’re going to listen to longer? Was a idea I had? Any thoughts? Not looking to get a record deal!
Hey Matt, this is not the place to be giving specific advice on what you should do. You can look into Band Builder Academy or a consultation 1-on-1 with me - found.ee/WorkWithUs cheers, Todd
This video really helped me out! A question: If I release singles before the EP, Is it recommended to use different Cover Art for each Singles then the main Cover Art for the EP when I release the EP or use the Main Cover Art for all the singles and the EP? Thanks.
Glad to hear that Rico. It's a good question. I do recommend using unique cover art for songs that come out before the EP, and it's nice if those single cover-art have a similar look-feel-theme as the EP cover. That ties it together nicely. When you release your EP, by default each of the songs listed under that EP will utilize the EP cover art, leaving two versions of the song on the service (both with the same ISRC). (a stand alone single version with it's own cover art, and an EP/Album version utilizing the EP/Album cover art.). That said, if you need to save money, it's fine to use the EP art for your pre-release singles too. There is no rule that you have to have unique art for your singles that come out before the EP/album version. Todd
@@BandBuilderAcademy Hey Todd thanks a lot for replying, perfect that is a very good answer. Actually that's is what I was thinking I will do a cover art and add the titles of each song in a specific area of the EP Art then release the singles by cutting those parts out as single arts. Then when release the EP the whole art will be revealed. I really appreciate it now I feel confident of actually doing it. Thanks a lot keep up the good info. I saved this video a year ago to get insight when I needed to release my music. I recorded all six song and Im almost ready to start releasing like you suggested. Really good info. Thanks again.
1:01
1:19 Albums
1:50 Single
2:06
2:34 Fan Psychology
2:57 Single Snowball
3:16
3:36 Stream of Singles
4:33 Video
5:23 6/8
5:32 EP a year
6:32
7:17
7:57 Double Single
What would you suggest for artists who have albums available in online stores and streaming services already, but not singles, and who don’t have metrics showing a large count for streaming (your third bullet point)?
For your current albums, each track is already available to consume as a single on the digital services. So until you are ready to record/release new music, put some promotion into your best track(s) and use those to gain fans. Going forward, if you feel the album approach is best for your business (perhaps you have a strong physical business), it's fine to stick with an albums approach, but I would soften the ground before you album release with 2 or 3 single track campaigns in the months leading up to the full album release. These track campaigns will build awareness with new fans steadily leading up to the release date. It gives you some time to grow your fanbase ahead of the album release. You also get several chances for you and your distributor to present your pitch to the music services.
@@BandBuilderAcademy Great! Thanks for the advice and quick response!
No worries 😎
I haven’t dropped a single yet only snippets on my socials, I picked 7 songs with just me on it but should I drop it as EP or mixtape?
I won't get into what's best for specific artists here in the comments, but it's great to hear your getting ready to distribute your original songs. When music services get your music from a distributor the streaming services will label it as a single, EP, album, or compilation (for multiple artists). Mixtape won't be an option.
@@BandBuilderAcademy okay, appreciate that a lot
Is it a good idea to release the audio before music video?
I have a video on that here: th-cam.com/video/eu5IKwsdE1w/w-d-xo.html
I don't mind but I'm scornful of artists that release an album and then extract singles off it.
How about rereleasing a album with a new song as a single promoting that
That's mentioned at 6:33, and it's what the 6/8 strategy is about. You release singles first and then bundle the stand-alone singles into an EP or Album. th-cam.com/video/iYcmaOwX-8Q/w-d-xo.html
@@BandBuilderAcademy I just like the fact that my songs are split into 3 Albums.releasing singles is like all over the place,and even more 💵 with paying for artwork etc 🤷♂️
Hey my friend, where’s a link to book a paid 1-1 with you? Thanks and have a great day, Alejandro
Here you go Alejandro 🙌 - bandbuilderacademy.com/services/
Damn I’m making a 13 song album 😂🤦♂️
Yo Spelling counts: 😎my bad.....
Rationale not rational