Distribution Lead Times
Getting your music live on streaming platforms takes time. This guide explains how far in advance to submit your releases for the best results.
Why Lead Time Matters
Section titled “Why Lead Time Matters”Submitting your release early unlocks important opportunities:
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Editorial playlists | Spotify and Apple Music curators need time to discover and consider your music |
| Pre-save campaigns | Fans can save your release before launch, boosting day-one streams |
| Store processing | Each platform needs time to ingest, encode, and quality-check your content |
| Marketing coordination | Gives you time to plan social posts, press outreach, and launch events |
| Error correction | If there’s an issue, you have time to fix it before release day |
Recommended Timelines
Section titled “Recommended Timelines”Minimum: 2 Weeks
Section titled “Minimum: 2 Weeks”Submit your release at least 2 weeks before your intended release date. This allows time for quality review, platform processing, and resolving any issues before launch.
What 2 weeks gets you:
- Time for LabelGrid quality review (review times vary by plan)
- Basic store processing across major platforms
- Eligibility for Spotify Release Radar (requires 7-day minimum)
- Buffer to catch and fix any metadata or audio issues
Recommended: 3-4 Weeks
Section titled “Recommended: 3-4 Weeks”For the best results, submit your release 3-4 weeks in advance.
What 3-4 weeks gets you:
- Everything above, plus:
- Full consideration for editorial playlists
- Time for pre-save/pre-order campaigns
- Comfortable buffer for any unexpected delays
- Specialist store eligibility (Beatport, Juno)
- Time for playlist pitching and pre-release promotion
Album Releases: 4-6 Weeks
Section titled “Album Releases: 4-6 Weeks”Albums require more processing time and benefit from longer campaigns.
What 4-6 weeks gets you:
- Everything above, plus:
- Time for staggered single releases
- Maximum pre-order window
- Press and media lead time
Lead Times by Platform
Section titled “Lead Times by Platform”Different platforms have different processing speeds and requirements.
Major Streaming Platforms
Section titled “Major Streaming Platforms”| Platform | Typical Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | 2-5 business days | 7-day minimum for editorial playlist consideration |
| Apple Music | 1-3 business days | Supports pre-orders up to 366 days in advance |
| Amazon Music | 2-5 business days | Syncs with Amazon store listings |
| Deezer | 2-5 business days | Standard processing |
| Tidal | 2-5 business days | Hi-res audio processing may take slightly longer |
Video Platforms
Section titled “Video Platforms”| Platform | Typical Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Music | 2-5 business days | Content ID registration may add additional time |
| TikTok | 1-2 business days | Sound becomes available for user videos |
| Meta (Facebook/Instagram) | 2-5 business days | For Stories and Reels audio |
Specialist Stores
Section titled “Specialist Stores”These platforms have longer processing times and specific requirements.
| Platform | Typical Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beatport | 3-7 business days | Feature placement typically requires 2+ weeks advance |
| Juno Download | 3-5 business days | Similar to Beatport |
| Bandcamp | 2-3 business days | Faster than most specialist stores |
Social and Sync Platforms
Section titled “Social and Sync Platforms”| Platform | Typical Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SoundCloud | 1-3 business days | If SoundCloud distribution is enabled |
| Peloton | Varies | Fitness content licensing requirements apply |
Pre-Order and Pre-Save Setup
Section titled “Pre-Order and Pre-Save Setup”Pre-orders and pre-saves require extra lead time.
Pre-Save (Spotify)
Section titled “Pre-Save (Spotify)”| Timeline | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum | Release must be submitted and approved before pre-save links work |
| Recommended | 2-3 weeks before release to maximize fan engagement |
Pre-Order (Apple Music/iTunes)
Section titled “Pre-Order (Apple Music/iTunes)”| Timeline | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum | 366 days before release date |
| Recommended | 2-4 weeks for singles, 4-6 weeks for albums |
Holiday and Peak Season Timing
Section titled “Holiday and Peak Season Timing”Processing times increase during busy periods.
Holiday and Peak Periods
Section titled “Holiday and Peak Periods”Major platforms typically have slower or limited processing around major holidays (Christmas/New Year, Thanksgiving in the US) and during peak submission periods.
Recommendation: For holiday releases, submit 4-6 weeks in advance to account for potential processing delays.
High-Volume Periods
Section titled “High-Volume Periods”These periods see increased submission volume:
- New Music Friday prep (Tuesday-Wednesday)
- Month-end (royalty reporting cutoffs)
- Award season (eligibility deadlines)
Planning Your Release Calendar
Section titled “Planning Your Release Calendar”Single Release Timeline
Section titled “Single Release Timeline”| Weeks Before | Action |
|---|---|
| 4+ weeks | Finalize audio, artwork, and metadata |
| 3-4 weeks | Submit release to LabelGrid |
| 2-3 weeks | Once approved, share pre-save links |
| 1-2 weeks | Ramp up social media promotion |
| Release day | Announce, share links, engage fans |
| Week after | Monitor streams, pitch for playlists |
Album Release Timeline
Section titled “Album Release Timeline”| Weeks Before | Action |
|---|---|
| 8+ weeks | Finalize all tracks and artwork |
| 6-8 weeks | Submit album, plan single releases |
| 4-6 weeks | Release lead single, begin pre-order |
| 2-4 weeks | Release second single, build anticipation |
| 1-2 weeks | Final promotional push |
| Release day | Album launch |
EP Release Timeline
Section titled “EP Release Timeline”| Weeks Before | Action |
|---|---|
| 5-6 weeks | Finalize EP and artwork |
| 4-5 weeks | Submit to LabelGrid |
| 3-4 weeks | Approved, begin pre-save campaign |
| 2 weeks | Optional: release focus track |
| Release day | EP launch |
Tips for Better Timing
Section titled “Tips for Better Timing”- Submit early - Earlier is always better
- Plan for delays - Add buffer time for unexpected issues
- Coordinate marketing - Align release with promotional activities
- Check platform requirements - Especially for specialist stores
- Monitor delivery status - Track your release through LabelGrid
- Last-minute submissions - Limits your promotional options
- Holiday releases without planning - Processing slows down
- Changing release dates - Requires redistribution (2-7 days)
- Ignoring specialist stores - Beatport/Juno need extra time
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”My release isn’t live on release day
Section titled “My release isn’t live on release day”Possible causes:
- Not enough lead time - platforms still processing
- Release stuck in review - check your LabelGrid dashboard
- Metadata issues - fix and resubmit
What to do:
- Check delivery status in LabelGrid
- Wait 24-48 hours for processing to complete
- Contact support if still missing after 48 hours
I need to change my release date
Section titled “I need to change my release date”Changing a release date after submission:
- Resets the release to DRAFT status
- Requires resubmission and new approval
- Triggers redistribution (2-7 days)
My release is on some stores but not others
Section titled “My release is on some stores but not others”Platforms process at different speeds. If it’s been:
- Less than 7 days: Normal - keep waiting
- More than 7 days: Contact support with specific missing stores
Related Guides
Section titled “Related Guides”- Creating a Release - Start your release
- Advanced Date Settings - Territory-specific timing
- Supported Stores - Available distribution outlets
Questions about timing? Contact our support team
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