Music pre-saves, pre-adds, and pre-orders, are promotional strategies used in the music biz to promote and distribute music before its official release date. This promotional tool is a way for your fans and listeners to show their support for your upcoming music release and in some cases, get a sneak peek!
This article will cover:
Breakdown of pre-save, pre-add, and pre-order
Eligibility for iTunes and Amazon Pre-Orders
Breakdown of pre-save, pre-add, and pre-order
Platform offering |
How it works |
How to sign up |
|
Spotify Pre-save (streaming) |
When a fan clicks your pre-save link, they're brought to a page that allows them to “pre-save” your upcoming track or album. This ensures your track is added to your fan's Spotify library the moment that track is released. | Spotify pre-save can be set up via Show.co. Learn how here. |
|
Apple Music Pre-add (streaming) |
Pre-adds allow listeners to hear one or more songs from a release before it is available for streaming on Apple Music. When a fan uses this feature, Apple Music will automatically add the complete release to their library once it’s available. |
To enable your release for pre-add on Apple Music, you must sign up for iTunes Pre-Order (they go hand-in-hand). Requires one instant gratification track. |
| iTunes pre-orders allow listeners to purchase your album before the release date. This may also include access to an instant gratification track. Once the album reaches its release date, the tracks automatically download to a customer's library. | Sign up within the CD Baby submission flow (see eligibility info below). | |
| Works much like iTunes Pre-Order! 👆 The pre-order date you select for iTunes will also apply for Amazon Music. | Sign up within the CD Baby submission flow (see eligibility info below). |
Eligibility for iTunes and Amazon Pre-Orders
In order to be eligible for iTunes or Amazon pre-order, the following must be true for your album:
- The release date must be more than 7 days from your pre-order date (i.e. the pre-order must run for a minimum of 1 week).
* We recommend giving yourself at least a 30 day lead time to account for inspection, processing, delivery, etc. It takes a minimum of 5 business days from the date of delivery for pre-order albums to appear on iTunes. You will need to approve your album before we can deliver it to iTunes. - Your pre-order can run for a minimum of one-week and a maximum of six months before it must hit its release date.
- Pre-orders are available for ALBUMS ONLY, NOT SINGLES
Instant Gratification Tracks
Pre-orders can have one "Instant Gratification" track which allows anyone to purchase or stream the track during the pre-order period regardless of whether they pre-order the full album. You will have the option to select this track during the sign up process.
Albums are only eligible for an instant gratification track if they have 11 or more tracks.
Instant gratification tracks must be less than 10 minutes in length.
The instant gratification track can never be changed or disabled once the listing has been delivered to iTunes.
iTunes Pre-Order Sign Up
If your album meets the eligibility requirements above, the option to add iTunes pre-order will become available within the album sign-up process. If you do not see this option👇during the sign-up process, your release is not eligible for pre-order given the specifications you entered.
Below is an example of a live iTunes pre-order with an instant gratification track 👇. The album will become available for pre-add on Apple Music the moment it’s available for pre-order on iTunes, and any instant gratification tracks will be streamable as well.
Here's what the Apple music pre-add will look like for the same album 👇
Amazon Pre-Orders
Amazon pre-orders are linked to the pre-order date that you set for iTunes. So your pre-order will go live on both iTunes and Amazon on the same day. A customer will be able to purchase the music but it won't be available for download until the specified release date. The instant gratification track can be streamed in the meantime.
Here is an example of a pre-order on Amazon
*Note: Once we deliver your release along with your pre-order date to the digital partners it is out of our hands. If you run into issues please reach out to our support team, though there may be limitations to what we can do.
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