Release date planner
Most new music comes out on a Friday, and your distributor and the stores need time before that date. Pick a date below to see the Friday, the last day to pitch Spotify editors and a calendar file with the milestones before it.
Suggested: a Friday four weeks from today.
Used in the calendar events.
The dates are worked out in your browser and the calendar file is built there. Nothing is uploaded or stored by WBBT.
Why Friday, and when it does not matter
In 2015 the record industry body IFPI made Friday the shared global release day for new music, so that fans in every country get it at the same time. Playlists such as New Music Friday are built around it. Many artists release on a Friday for that reason, but it is a habit rather than a rule, and you can choose another day.
The deadlines the planner shows
Spotify asks you to deliver a song at least seven days before release so that its editors have time to listen, and a pitch sent by then also reaches your followers' Release Radar. The planner marks that date. WBBT's Free plan needs a release date at least 14 days ahead, and WBBT advises at least two weeks for a planned campaign, with more for a new label application or a specialist delivery. Other plans can differ: the Release Wizard shows the earliest date your account can choose, and if you are unsure, check with your distributor.
Two further steps come from WBBT's own release timeline: have the masters and artwork finished about five weeks out, and submit three to four weeks before the date. This leaves time to fix a file if the review sends it back. These are planning habits, not store rules.
The calendar file
Download the .ics file and open it in Apple Calendar, Outlook or any calendar app that reads the iCalendar format. Each milestone becomes an all-day event on its date, so it lands on the same calendar day in every time zone. Milestones that are already in the past are left out of the file.
Questions
What day of the week should I release a song?
Friday is the usual choice because it is the shared global release day for new music, and playlists such as New Music Friday are built around it. It is a convention, not a requirement.
How far ahead should I deliver a song to Spotify?
Spotify asks for delivery at least seven days before the release date to pitch its editors. WBBT advises at least two weeks for a planned campaign, and the Free plan needs a release date at least 14 days ahead.
How long before release should I submit to WBBT?
The WBBT journal suggests submitting three to four weeks before the date. The Free plan minimum is 14 days, and the Release Wizard shows the earliest date your own plan allows.
Does the time zone change my release date?
The planner works with calendar dates, so its answers are the same wherever you are. Each store decides the exact hour a release goes live, so confirm the timing with your distributor if it matters for an announcement.
How do I add the milestones to my calendar?
Choose Download .ics and open the file in your calendar app. Each milestone arrives as an all-day event.
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