What is the Best Day to Release Music? How to Pick the Perfect Release Day
Planning to release new music is exciting, but it can also be stressful.
After putting so much effort into your track, EP, or album, you want to make sure it reaches as many ears as possible.
So it’s no surprise that in the lead-up to a new release, you might be wondering: what’s the best day to release music?
To answer that we consulted industry experts and we dove into our own data from LANDR Distribution users who release music to streaming platforms with us every day.
We found some surprising results that didn’t always align exactly with the industry’s best advice.
So let’s break it down together—whether you’re dropping a single, EP, or album—and dive into how you can build a killer release plan.
Table of Contents
What’s the best day to release music?
Traditionally, industry insiders agree that Friday is the best day to release music. Why Friday? Because music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music update their playlists and new releases on Fridays.
The data we analyzed from LANDR Distribution users confirms these assumptions, with Friday being the biggest day for streaming when compared to other days of the week.
This chart shows variance in streaming activity between days of the week using data from LANDR Distribution users.
So it really does make sense to target most releases for a Friday release day.
However, Tuesday was a surprising outlier, nearly matching Friday’s streaming levels.
So if you’re an upstart project or you’re concerned about getting lost in all the noise, you could release on a Tuesday to avoid getting missed on a busy Friday.
Let’s explore a few considerations for releasing albums, singles and EPs.
Best day to release a single
When it comes to releasing singles you can’t beat a Friday release, especially because most artists are crossing their fingers for an editorial playlist placement and releasing on a Friday can increase those chances.
Spotify playlists like New Music Fridays and its other Friday-specific playlists are particularly important because they get a lot of extra attention on Fridays.
That’s why timing your single for a Friday and submitting it for playlisting in Spotify for Artists is a tried and true plan of action.
Singles thrive on instant buzz. Releasing on Friday helps your track get attention from playlist curators and listeners who browse new releases to discover fresh music for their weekend playlists.
It’s safe to say that for singles, Friday is the best option.
Best day to release an EP or Album
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Releasing an Album or EP can present a few extra considerations. Not every song you release from your album can be considered for pitching, and you’ve already submitted a single from that release, you might be able to pick another track to drop.
So in that case you may not have to drop your album on a Friday.
For example, if you have a tight deadline or if you’re worried about your release getting missed in the noise on a busy Friday, you could consider releasing on a different day.
Using the data from LANDR Distribution users’ streams, Tuesday presents a good option to catch mid-week music fans looking for new music while working or studying.
Friday still rules for albums, but careful planning is key. Albums and EPs need more lead-up than singles, often involving more detailed promotions, visual elements, and events.
The best day to release an album truly is on a date that allows ample time for promotional activities beforehand, ensuring your album lands with maximum impact.
Consider your audience’s listening habits
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Streaming platforms like Spotify and distribution service providers like LANDR offer detailed analytics about your audience’s listening habits.
Paying attention to data points like where, when, and how often your tracks are getting streamed can offer insights about how to promote your music best.
When it comes to release dates, your audience may favor a particular day to listen to your music, so consider releasing music that mirrors any trends in your listeners’ behaviour.
Pay attention to seasonal trends too, you may get more listeners during the holidays, summer, spring or fall.
So if you have listeners that gravitate towards your sound during a particular season, it’s never a bad idea to time your release for busier periods.
Speaking of seasonal trends…
What’s the best time of year to release an album?
Releasing music at different times of the year carries a different meaning. For new artists, the best time is generally between March and May, since it gives time before the busy late spring and early summer release season for new artists to build traction.
In general, it sets the year off on the right foot and signals that you’re serious about your project for the foreseeable future.
Releasing music in the spring and summer
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Every artist dreams of getting “summer anthem” status. Writing the song that soundtrack’s everyone’s road trips, cabin weekends and summer vacations can be a game-changer.
It’s why so many major artists like to release their albums in May or June as a way of cementing their spot in summer playlists and building hype ahead of busy summer festivals and touring schedules.
It’s a strategy that’s used by major acts, so if you’re a newer project that’s up and coming, releasing a little bit earlier during spring between April and May can help you get ahead of the curve.
Not to mention how much these seasons encourage music fans to find new music to frame the fresh context that spring provides.
Releasing music in the fall
For different reasons, fall is also a popular release time. That’s because fall is a period where people are staying in, enjoying sweater weather, going back to study halls and often gravitating to more low-key music.
So you’re putting out something that’s a bit more low-key, nostalgic and laid back, fall is a great time to release music.
Releasing music in the winter
Dropping an album in December can be risky. If your music isn’t holiday-themed, it may not get the attention it deserves.
Streaming levels actually drop in December as listeners tend to be on holiday vacation and gravitate towards specific holiday-themed music.
Aside from the holiday season, wintertime presents several challenges in that most listeners aren’t expecting new music or necessarily looking for it.
If anything, a release into the new year can help set you on the right foot, but it’s not widely considered to be a great time to drop a serious release.
There’s no right or wrong time to release music
But releasing it on a particular day or time of year carries a certain meaning.
It’s hard to describe but some music carries a more overtly “fall or winter vibe” versus music that carries a “spring or summer vibe”.
Choosing your release day ultimately comes down to your taste and sound as an artist, alongside the constraints and time demands of planning a serious release.
So put careful consideration into your next release and share your music with the world!
Alex Lavoie is a drummer, music producer, songwriter and marketing professional living in Montreal, Quebec. He works as a staff writer at LANDR by day and writes indie post-punk tunes in his band UTILS while moonlighting as drummer for folk-rock outfit The Painters. Connect with Alex Lavoie on LANDR Network!
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