What Every Music Creator Needs Before Releasing Anything

Marie Mills
Jul 19
3 min read

Keywords: music release checklist · independent music marketing · artist infrastructure · pre-release strategy · music website essentials · branding for musicians · digital business setup · music monetisation system · split sheet template · music publishing admin · back-office for artists

Before you drop a track, upload an EP, or tease a project online, take a moment to check the foundation. If you are rushing to release music without structure, you are building hype with no system behind it, and that leads to stress, missed money, and missed momentum.

The truth is talent alone is not enough. In today’s industry, what you have in place before the release determines how far that music travels.

Here’s what every serious artist, producer, or label should have locked in before the music goes live.

You Need a Digital Base That Works While You Sleep

Your fans need somewhere to land, explore, and connect. That means more than a SoundCloud or link-in-bio. You need a real artist platform.

Your site should:

Introduce your brand and story clearly
Centralise your content — music, video, visuals
Allow for bookings, fan engagement, and merch sales
Collect emails to build your list for future drops
Be mobile-ready and easy to navigate

Without this, every release becomes a one-off push. With it, every release grows your platform.

Your Pre-Release Checklist Must Be More Than Hype

Too many artists finish the track, post a few teasers, and hit upload. That is not a release strategy. That is burnout waiting to happen.

Before you go live, make sure:

Your track is fully registered with your distributor
Your cover art and video assets are ready
Your emails and content are scheduled
Your booking or contact system is functional
Your platform is linked in every bio
Your admin and legal setup is handled

A release should activate your whole business. Without preparation, it becomes noise not growth.

Admin and Legal Work Is Non-Negotiable

If your business is not protected, your release could cost more than it earns. Proper admin and legal support is what turns a creative idea into a professional product.

Here’s what you need:

Split Sheets

Every collaboration needs clear ownership splits. A split sheet documents who owns what percentage of the composition. It should be signed before the release, especially if you plan to register publishing or collect royalties.

Publishing Shares

Decide who owns what share of the publishing, the writing, and composition side. This impacts your ability to collect royalties, sign with a publisher, or get sync deals.

Registration and Metadata

Register the track properly with your distributor and your performing rights organisation. Add all contributor names, publishing info, and metadata. This ensures

you get paid from every play.

Contracts and Agreements

Use written agreements for producers, vocalists, writers, or any features. Even a basic work-for-hire template protects your ownership and creative freedom. This is not about mistrust. This is about structure.

This Is What some1else Does

Most creators don’t have time to handle admin. That’s why CO‑101 created some1else, a back-office service that handles the legal and operational side of your music business so you can focus on creating.

We support artists and platform owners with:

Split sheet prep and signature support
Publishing setup and registration help
Metadata tracking and file organisation
Contract templates and document management
Secure digital filing for each project
Ongoing release admin

This service is exclusive to CO‑101 platform clients. It’s quiet support with real structure, designed for music creators who want to protect what they build.

Without a Monetisation System, You Are Giving It Away

Streams are not a business model. Before you release, you need to plan how the music supports your income.

Ask yourself:

Where does my traffic go?
How am I collecting data and emails?
What else can I offer fans?
What systems do I have in place to handle demand?

A platform like CO‑101 helps you put that system in place. It combines creative freedom with real tools, from branded websites to back-end automation and AI-powered support.