After all of your hard work, it’s finally happening. You’re about to release an album you’ve spent months — maybe years — perfecting. But then it hits you: the excitement of this release could be over by the end of the weekend.
It’s no secret. Attention spans are getting shorter by the minute, and everyone is fighting for consumer attention and affection. How do you combat this when, on a good day, your listeners have the focus of a squirrel? It may seem as though your album is destined to get lost in a sea of other new music, but with a bit of planning ahead and some creativity, you’ll be able to stay top of mind for longer!
Deluxe Editions
One way to extend the life of your new album is by offering multiple versions after your initial release date with bonus content. Take a look at Trippie Redd’s album Pegasus, initially released on October 30, 2020.
On February 19, 2021, he released a second version of the album called Neon Shark vs Pegasus, which expanded the album from 26 tracks to 40, and included several songs with Travis Barker.
If you don’t have the time or resources to double your track listing or collaborate with a world famous musician, consider including one or two bonus tracks, or even live versions of certain songs on your album.
Taylor Swift’s Deluxe version of Evermore includes two bonus tracks, "right where you left me" and "it's time to go." Her initial release was on December 11, 2020, but this Deluxe Edition came out on January 7, 2021.
Limited Edition Offers
Another strategy is adding a sense of exclusivity to merchandise related to your new album. This could be limited quantities of a colored vinyl, or maybe a unique version of your album only available for a short amount of time - the choice is yours! With our Fan Insights , you can easily identify your top fans and offer them first claim on some of these specialty items.
Snoh Aalegra’s cassette of Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies is a perfect example of a limited edition version of an album.
Mini Albums
If you have enough material, consider spreading out your album over the course of a few weeks with mini albums, or EP’s, instead of releasing all of your songs on one full LP.
Let's take a look at K-pop artist SEVENTEEN, who have currently released eight mini-albums.
Most of these run only about 20-30 minutes, and have 6 or 7 songs on each. Granted, having 8 separate albums is probably a bit more extensive than what you may have in mind, but it’s another example of creativity in your release strategy going a long way to making you stand out.
K-Pop band Twice also made a similar move. Their most recent release, Taste of Love, is their 10th mini album and is only 6 songs long.
No matter if you’re a chart topping pop artist like Taylor Swift, or an indie band just starting to gain traction, there are endless ways for you to keep fans interested in your album, even after the first couple weeks. Give one of these strategies a try, or if you have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team and let us help you come up with even more solutions!
