5 Advice I Wish I’D Known Earlier About Music Releases

What is one piece of advice you wish you had received earlier in your music career, specifically related to music releases?:

My early career was a harsh lesson in music industry realities. I naively believed that recording a great album would guarantee success. I was so confident in this approach that I invested heavily in a professional recording, even convincing my mother to take out a second mortgage on her home. But without an audience or an effective way to sell my music, I had no way to recoup my investment, and my career was over before it even started.

This concept—that great music doesn't equate to success—was further exemplified later in my career while working in digital sales at a record label. Time and time again, I saw great albums go unnoticed and generate low sales, regardless of the promotional budget. It was then I realized the crucial role branding plays in sales, visibility, and cultivating a loyal audience.

How would it have changed your approach?:

Looking back at my time as a musician, I desperately needed guidance on the business aspects of the music industry. Instead of focusing solely on creating music and getting discovered, I wish someone had told me to prioritize building a fanbase and generating demand for my work before investing in expensive recordings and promotional campaigns.

If I could rewind time, I would dedicate myself to honing my musical skills, performing live, cultivating an audience, building my brand, and gaining a deep understanding of the music business. This is why I now dedicate my time to helping musicians develop their careers, so they don't make the same costly mistakes I made.

BIO:

Greg is the co-founder of Musician Indie Coalition, a business-based artist development company that works to help aspiring musicians develop full-time music careers and Skill Tree Records, a video game soundtrack label. He has worked on over 200 music releases throughout his 17 years in the music industry. His early career was spent working for legendary GRAMMY award-winning composer, producer, and musician Nile Rodgers, as production coordinator for Nile Rodgers Productions and then VP of Nile's record label, Sumthing Else Music Works.

One piece of advice we wish we had received earlier in our music career is to focus on building a strong release strategy before putting music out into the world. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of finishing a song and rushing to release it, but having a well-thought-out plan for promotion, distribution, and audience engagement makes all the difference. If we had understood the importance of timing, storytelling, and connecting with listeners through multiple channels, we would've approached our releases more intentionally—allowing the music to reach and resonate with a larger audience.

We also wish we had been warned about the traps of paid PR campaigns and "pay-for-play" or "pay-for-stream" services on platforms like Spotify. Many of these offers are overpriced, ineffective, and often scams that prey on artists' desire for quick exposure. These shortcuts rarely lead to genuine fan engagement and can drain resources better spent on building authentic connections with listeners. Avoiding these money pits early on would've allowed us to invest more in creating meaningful content, engaging live performances, and organic marketing strategies that truly grow a lasting fanbase.

Instead of focusing on one perfect album and taking sometimes even years to work on it, you should focus on consistently writing more material, and releasing singles regularly.

This keeps the fan engagement up and also gives you the opportunity to test styles and direction. The commitment of one song at a time allows you to take more risks and push the boundaries artistically as the time and financial commitment is smaller.

A tip I wish someone had given me sooner in my music journey is to "approach your releases as a campaign, not just a drop." At first, I put all my energy into making and finishing songs. I saw the release as the final step thinking, "Once it's out there, people will discover it." But the reality? The real work kicks off after you complete the track.

Had I understood how crucial it is to build buzz and keep the ball rolling—hinting at the release, weaving a story around it, chatting with fans on social media, and reaching out to blogs and playlist makers—it would have changed my game plan. Rather than just uploading and crossing my fingers, I would have viewed each release as a chance to bond with listeners and boost my image.

This change in thinking would have helped me create a more steady presence and led to better outcomes with fewer releases instead of the "put it out there and move on" approach I started with. It goes beyond just the music; it's about the bond and the plan that backs it up.

I wish someone had told me to focus on building a consistent release schedule rather than aiming for perfection with each track. Early on, I delayed releases trying to make everything flawless, but consistency keeps your audience engaged and growing. If I'd understood this earlier, I would've planned my releases more strategically, allowing time to build momentum and connect with listeners between drops. Regular output fosters creativity, strengthens your fan base, and helps you learn faster from real-world feedback. Progress over perfection is the key to growth in the music industry.

5 Advice I Wish I’D Known Earlier About Music Releases

5 Advice I Wish I’D Known Earlier About Music Releases

Great Music Doesn't Guarantee Success

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Build A Strong Release Strategy

Release Singles Regularly

Treat Releases As Campaigns

Focus On Consistent Release Schedule