PLANING YOUR ALBUM A - Z ( PART 1 )
INTRODUCTION
Planning your album A - Z is a check list to help you plan your next album, to get it distributed, heard, publicized and win fans world wide.
If you're sitting down to tackle making an album, there is a lot to think about; from clearing the rights for your cover songs, to converting the cover art to the right format. These issues can trip you up, or cause the album to take a lot longer than you planned. Some musicians get so lost in handling the technical production of the album that they forget generating publicity and buzz
about a new release.
This checklist organizes everything that goes into making an album from beginning to end,
to help you plan everything ahead of time, so there are no surprises. Planning ahead will not only help you make the album as good as it can be, it will let you focus on promoting your album to maximize your sales. Think of it as your checklist before heading out on a long trip. You don't need to do everything that is listed below, but the goal here is to list out everything you may want to do so you're reminded of what you should tackle and when.
The checklist may be a bit overwhelming at first since it lists everything. But, keep in mind that doing it yourself does not mean do it all yourself. As Derek Sivers, the founder of CD Baby, likes to say whatever excites you, go do it yourself; but if something drains you, find someone else who enjoys it and get them to do it for you. The good news is that there are a lot of paces where you can get help in this book, your city or town from others. So work with your fans, friends, and family to help you succeed so you can focus on the music.
HERE IS THE CHECKLIST: it's been divided into three phases:
-Preparing for the Album Release
-Making Your Album
-The Album Release Show and Post-Release
I. MAKING YOUR ALBUM
A. PRE-RECORDING & PLANNING
STEPS
1. Decide what you are making,
single album or an album series
2. Choose your song
3. Record at home or at a
professional studio
4. Rehearse
5. Fine tune your gear &
instruments
B. RECORDING STEPS
1. Make mixes, listen, get
feedback and repeat
2. Make final mixes
C. MASTERING AND
POST-PRODUCTION STEPS
1. Choose a mastering house
2. Have the right formats and ask
what files they need
3. Decide the order of the songs
on the album
4. Decide on the amount of space
between the songs
D. LEGAL STEPS
1. Document who owns the song
and sound recording
2. Get permission to record any
cover songs, samples, or
loops
3. Clear the lega status of all the
artwork
4. Clear the legal status for all
the text
5. Get permission for guest
musicians (if needed)
E. REPLICATION AND DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION STEPS
1. REPLICATING AND
DUPLICATING CDs
a. Determine how many CDs to
make and the costs
b. Decide on type of packaging
(jewel case, sleeve, etc.) and
what type of booklet (1 panel,
2 panel or multiple panel)
c. Get artwork design templates
from the CD Manufacturer or
use their online design services
d. Determine formats required for
album art and text,
CD art and text, etc., and use
this format
2. PRINT YOUR OWN DISCS
3. DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CARDS
F. ARTWORK AND DESIGNS
1. Choose a name for the album
2. Get UPC barcode
3. Work on the artwork
4. Replicate the CD
a. Send/mail the mastered album along with the artwork.
b. Proof artwork
c. Sign copyright release and
grant approval
II. PREPARING FOR THE ALBUM
RELEASE
A. PICK A RELEASE DATE
B. Prepare for online sales
1. Pick your CD/digital
distributor and sign up
2. Create your album profile and
upload your album artwork
C. PREPARE AUDIO FOR
PROMOTION PURPOSES
1. Make Mp3 from mastered
waves
2. TAG AND NAME Mp3s
CORRECTLY
D. PLAN YOUR RELEASE SHOW,
LISTENING PARTY AND/OR
TOUR DATE
E. GET YOUR ALBUM
MERCHANDIZE AND
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
1. Album-related Tshirts and
merchandise
2. Promotional materials:
posters, postcards, stickers,
flyers
F. PLAN AND PREPARE THE
PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
1. Plan PR campaign
2. Set up Google Alerts with your
new album name and song
titles
3. Update your "Music Resume"
documents (Part I)
4. Prepare PR documents such
as press releases
5. Compile your target PR lists
G. START YOUR PUBLICITY
CAMPAIGN (Part I: Your own
network)
1. Work with your street team and
fans
2. Update your website (Part I)
3. Update your web presence
(Part I)
4. Write your mailing list
H. START YOUR PUBLICITY
CAMPAIGN (Part II: Involving
the outside world)
1. Set up a tracking system
2. Send out your CDs, MP3s, and
press releases
3. Put up posters and flyers
4. Follow up
5. Update your "Music Resume"
documents (Part II)
III. THE ALBUM RELEASE and
POST-RELEASE
A. SUBMIT CD FOR ON-LINE
SALES
B. ADD YOUR CD TO GRACE NOTE
AND FREEDB
C. LEGAL (Part II)
D. UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE AND
WEB PRESENCE (Part II)
IV. REPEAT
A. PRE-RECORDING & PLANNING STEPS: Before you hit up the studio to record there are few things you should consider.
1. Decide what you are making, single album or an album series: When it comes to increasing sales for you music, this formula turns on quantity. It's take a lot of time and energy to covert a person into a fan that is willing to purchase your music, but it takes less time and energy to getting a fan who already purchased some of your music to purchase additional music from you, this is where a back catalog to sell comes in.
Instead of confusing all your time, money and energy on one album, think of it as a collection that can be packaged and released multiple times. For instance, set out to make one main album and a series of additional album or EPs ( A short album or approximately four songs ) with materials base on the on the main album. That way, while you'll focus on the main publicity efforts on creating awareness of the main album, you can also build your discography and back catalog with a series of EPs such as:
-Songs that didn't make the cut (outtakes and b-sides).
-Live versions of some of the songs found on the man album.
-Original demos of the songs found on the album.
-Remixes of some of the songs on the main album.
-A "commentary" album where you talk about the music much like a director talks over the movie on a DVD.
2. Choose your song
It should go without saying that your album should contain your very best music. This is where the concept of producing an album series becomes helpful. It is easier to cut the songs that are not the best but still give them a home or another release that is part of the series (outtake and b-sides)
In addition, you need to decide if you're recording all original songs or if you're including cover songs.
If one or more of the songs are covers, then you will need to clear the rights so you can record it. If they're original songs, then you'll still need to keep track of who wrote and who owns the sound recordings as recommended in "Legal (Part I)."
3. Record at home or at a professional studio: Professional studios cost money, but they have the know-how and talent to make your recording sound "radio-quality." However, time is a factor since studios typically charge by the hour spent. Recording at home costs money up front, but pays off over time the more you record. Of course, one of the hidden dangers of recording at home is you can spend months or years
"perfecting" just one song!
4. Rehearse
If you choose to record at a professional studio, rehearse and arrange the songs before you step into the studio. This will save you time and money.Some musicians write out parts using sheet music, while others record their practices or preproduction demos as guides they can refer to later while at the studio.
5. Fine Tune Your Gear and Instruments
Whether you're recording at home or at a professional studio, make sure your gear is up to the task. You don't want to use instruments or cables that crackle or cut out or amps and speakers that play right "most of the time." If you play drums, make sure you have fresh heads. Put new strings on your guitar a few days before your recording section if you're recording at a studio, bring extras of everything as time is money, and
always make sure you have fresh batteries! At a recording studio, the meter will be running while you're running to the store for supplies. Get them ahead of time.