So here we are.
I want to release my third full album and, with the experience of the first 2, i'm now in the position for giving some useful tips for other musicians that are now thinking to do the same.
1. Gather all the new music. I usually record all my "ideas" while playing the piano and save them with generic names on them. Then, after months, i listen and select carefully the ideas "worth" working on. This is the very first step. You can't go anywhere without new music you are satisfied with.
2. Plan the studio sessions. I have a reference here, a professional studio i worked in also for my previous release. Usually i need to book a couple of month in advance in order to have the date. So, planning the recording session maybe a good idea even if now all the songs are not "perfect". There's time to work on that and having a date helps to be more efficient on the development of the music.
3. Start thinking on "when" the release date will be set. In my experience, it usually takes something like 6 months of work to have everything set up. And i mean also a good marketing activity in promoting the new album. So be sure to consider also this time, when planning a realistic date.
4. While you are refining your music, start thinking to the graphical issues (artwork) of your new release. Will it be a digital only release? Or a release with a very limited run of physical CDs? Will it be the "classic" 1,000 copies? This decision, clearly impact all the artwork activities. A digital release is usually faster to plan and realize. If you are enogh skillled with Photoshop or Gimp you can even think to do-it-yourself also for the CD cover. You don't need any template to send to the CD printing company and this will save you time. So, if you still haven't decided whether it will be a digital or physical, well.. this is the time!
5. Ok, now the music is in advanced development, it's time to think to... titles. I usually have more than "one single" title for each song. And selecting good titles (both for the album and for the single songs) is an activity that may be time consuming. I usually give a lot importance to titles, i want them to be evocative and give a meaning to the music you will be listening. So, while you are contacting some designers for the artwork of the CD, start working on this issue also.
6. If the decision on point number 4 went on the physical CDs, it's now time to evaluate WHO will duplicate it. And here is another key activity. If you are doing this for the first time, be prepared to ask estimates to several companies out there. There are few specializes in short runs, most of them will start working (and being affordable too) only with amounts which range from 500 and up. There's also an interesting option in case you decide to have very-short limited edition of your new album which consist in hand-made packaging. I find it interesting even if more time consuming (of course!).
7. Time to RECORD!! (and to put your hand on the master!)
8. Once you spent hours and hours to listen to your brand new release and to be happy in finding how much you love your sound (!), it's time to give an end to the point number 3: SET a release date and start working ONLY on promoting your release and to finalize all the activity to put everything in place. Send, as soon as possible, all the artwork and the master to the CD manufactoring company.
9. Consider that (if you use some aggregators for digital distribution) it will take at least 3 weeks for your release to be on iTunes, so move accordingly.
10. Be aware of your national regulations! In Italy (even if you are not a member of any collection society) you must follow some procedure in order to sell your CD in Italy. It's not complicated, but it takes TIME and TIME is the most valuable resource (much more than money) as all of us are in time shortage! ;)
And that's it! (more or less..).
Enjoy the incredible feeling of holding in your hands your first CD.
Picture by Aaron Beall (www.abeall.com)
