Release Readiness Checklist
A Release Date Is The Last Step In A Chain
A pre-launch self-audit for masters, rights, credits, artwork, distribution, profiles, content, outreach, and the team calendar.
Ready Inputs
What Good Enough Looks Like
The goal is not perfection. It is accurate, current, legally usable material that supports the next professional decision.
Readiness Checklist
- Final master and alternate/radio edit where needed
- Confirmed artist name and release title
- Writers, publishers, producers, featured artists, and credits
- Master and publishing authority
- ISRC/UPC and distributor status
- Approved artwork in required sizes
- DSP profiles claimed and current
- Private listening and public smart-link plan
- Six-to-eight-week content and outreach timeline
Red Flags
- Release date announced before distribution approval
- Credits still described as ‘probably right’
- Artwork uses unlicensed images or fonts
- No clean/radio version for the target lane
- No budget for the requested campaign
- No one owns artist approvals
- Launch-day plan ends at midnight
Minimum Useful Package
Do Not Hide The Missing Pieces
Mark each item complete, usable with limits, missing, or not applicable. OTA can scope around honest gaps much better than surprise gaps.
Minimum Useful Package
- Final music
- Confirmed rights and credits
- Artwork
- Distribution path
- Release date
- Campaign assets
- Owners and deadlines
Next move: Use the paid Release Readiness Review when the song, lane, budget, or timing needs an outside go/no-go decision.
Turn The Checklist Into A Decision
Use the paid Release Readiness Review when the song, lane, budget, or timing needs an outside go/no-go decision.