Making and Planning for your Album Project
Have you ever wondered what is involved in the
preparation of recording an album? Here is some information that may be useful
for those that are looking to put out an album.
Let me enlighten you with the details that follow:
Making
the Album: consists of Pre-Recording (Cost),
writing or choosing the songs you wish to record, rehearsing and/or arranging
the songs, and choosing to record either at home or at a recording studio.
Recording:
You
should record your chosen songs, make mixes, get feedback, and make decisions on what to change/add/re-record, and
make the final mixes.
A
Key element is Mastering of the Album. Choose
mastering studio or service, decide on the amount of "space" between
songs, decide the final album song order, and master the album.
Legal
Matters: In recording an album, you must make sure that all
your legal affairs are in order. It is
very important to document who owns the copyright in the song if it’s an original
song, document who owns the sound recording if original (the masters), clear
the legal status of all non-original work - cover songs, samples, and loops, clear
the legal status of all non-original artwork used on the album, and clear the
legal status of all non-original text (i.e. printed lyrics to a cover song needs
separate license/permission grant, printed lyrics to original song needs
songwriters permission), get permission for guest musicians (if needed), and
also register original songs at a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) to
ensure performance royalties. You would
also need to Register CD with your states Copyright Office. If you do not do the above, you may find
yourself being sued for millions of dollars.
Take
time in Choosing a CD Printing House. Decide
on a CD printing house, determine CD run and cost. This is a very crucial part of your CD album
doing well. Determine formats required
for album art and text, CD art and text, and put the CD info into this format,
decide on type of packaging you will want be it jewel case or sleeve and what
type of booklet you will use (1 panel, 2 panel, multi-panel), also get artwork
design templates from the CD printing house or use their online design services.
Artwork
Design: Name the album, get UPC barcode if incorporated into
your artwork (the printing house may provide, but also services like CD Baby sells
as well), Work on artwork depending on packaging: cover, traycard, ondisc, liner
notes (A MUST HAVE), Copyright and Publishing information/notices for: music
(original or covers), artwork, and text, Performance Rights Organization the
songs are registered to (if applicable), track listing, your website and how
you can be contacted- Band Name
- Album Title
- Where it was recorded
- When it was recorded
- Where it was mastered
- Who played what
- Running times for songs
- Guest musicians
- Other albums for sale
- Song notes
- Lyrics
- Thank yous’
You
want to make sure you definitely have a CD Replication/Duplication situation
set up. You
will need such documents as: Proof of artwork, a signed copyright release &
grant approval, and you will also need to send Mastered Album with art info to
Replicator (leave time for shipping, etc.) and/or upload through Printing
Houses' website.
A
you are Preparing for the Album Release the key elements are as
follows: Prepare for Online sales, choose your CD/online sales distributor and
sign up, fill in relevant details about the album and songs through the distributor’s
website in preparation of CD, and upload your artwork.
Prepare
Audio for Promotion by making MP3s from mastered WAVs &
tag and name MP3s correctly (add album art, ID3 tags, etc.)
One of the most crucial parts of the album will be
the Marketing & Promotions campaign
online, offline, national, and international.
Here is a list of things to be successful in your marketing campaign.
- Plan PR campaign
- Prepare PR docs such as press releases
- Update the band "resume", fact sheets, and other PR documents with the new album information
- Make online/offline press kits for album review submissions
- Compile list of album review sites
- Compile list of blogs, pod-casts, and websites
- Inquire about submission guidelines or reach out to blogger, pod-caster, website owner
- Reach out, send, and keep track of albums sent for submission
- Follow up with all review sites
If reviews come in, update the album press release
and website with review quotes and clippings
Launch
Your Website featuring your new CD project. Reach out to all blogs supporting your music
genre, reach out and share pre-release with fans, add snippets of songs to your
audio player. announce that the CD or album project is out and where it can be
purchased (hard copies and MP3’s), thank those who helped and cross-promote, ask
fans to spread the word, and post any album reviews
Update
Your Web Presence: Update all social networking site via Facebook,
Twitter, etc. and reach out and share pre-release with fans
Additional
Promotion & Support: Do promotional giveaways/contests
through blogs so that your fans can win free copies of the album/CD.
Get
Mainstream Airplay
Reach out to all radio airplay stations and find out
policies on submitting music.
Determine
a date for your Album Release, plan an album release
and listening gathering. Make sure to
invite the media and all press for publicity, make sure to have written CD press
releases, send press release to press regarding party at least 1 month in
advance (3 is best!), send announcement to fan mailing list regarding party/new
CD release, and update band website with CD Release party and feature new CD on
site.
Tour
to Support: Plan tour (local, concentric circles, or
go-where-the-fans-are)
This is the complete package of steps needed to do
your album or CD project. Of course,
people might do them in a different order, but, I suggest doing following these
steps in this order.
